Tierra de Barros and Hornachos
Tierra de Barros is the main wine region of Extremadura, around the town of Almendralejo, with the Sierra Grande de Hornachos rising from its open plains.
Tierra de Barros is the main wine region of Extremadura. Its name means “land of clay”, after the fertile, heavy soils that cover the area.
Almendralejo is the main town, a middle-sized city with the charm of a traditional Spanish town. It is the center of the Ribera del Guadiana wine region, and several wineries around it offer tours and tastings.
In the Middle Ages, the whole area —Almendralejo, Villafranca, Aceuchal, Santa Marta, Villalba— was controlled by the Knights Templar and the Order of Santiago, and many towns still have monuments and military or religious buildings from that time.
Hornachos landscape near Sierra Grande
Sierra Grande de Hornachos
The Sierra Grande de Hornachos is a mountain range in the middle of open country, like a green island rising from the land. It is a Special Protection Area for birds (ZEPA), a good place for birdwatching, walking, and relaxing.
More about the Sierra Grande de Hornachos
Towns and villages
Besides Almendralejo, the region has many small towns worth a stop: Villafranca de los Barros, Santa Marta, Villalba de los Barros, and Fuente del Maestre. Aceuchal is known for its garlic.
Wine and food
Tierra de Barros is the heart of the Ribera del Guadiana wine region, and several wineries offer tours and tastings. The area is also known for almonds, garlic, and olive oil, and for simple dishes such as migas and sheep cheese.
Best time to visit
Spring, when the vineyards are green, and September, during the grape harvest, are the best times to visit. Summers are very hot.
How to get there
The region sits between the A-66 and A-5 highways, about 30 minutes from Mérida and 45 minutes from Badajoz. Almendralejo has a train station on the Mérida–Seville line, and the nearest airports are Badajoz (BJZ) and Seville (SVQ).
Almendralejo
Almendralejo has a pleasant old center around the Plaza de España and the church of La Purificación. The town is the headquarters of the Ribera del Guadiana wine region, and its wine museum and the surrounding wineries are the main attractions.
Getting around
A car is the best way to visit the wineries and villages, which are spread across the plains. Almendralejo is well connected by road and rail, and the towns are close together.