Page 416 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

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q Arroyo de la Luz r Mérida
Cáceres. * 6,300. @ n Plaza de Badajoz. * 58,100. £ @ n Calle
la Constitución 21, 927 27 04 37, José Álvarez Sáenz de Buruaga, 924 33
Wed–Sun. ( Thu. _ Día de la Luz 07 22. ( Tue. _ Easter Week, Classic
(Easter Mon), Fiestas (15 Aug). Drama Festival (Jul–Aug), Feria (1–5
∑ arroyodelaluz.es Sep). ∑ turismomerida.org
Arroyo de la Luz is home to one Founded by Augustus in 25 BC,
of the artistic masterpieces of Augusta Emerita grew into the
Extremadura. Its Iglesia de la cultural and economic capital of
Asunción contains a spectac ular Rome’s westernmost province,
altar piece, completed in 1565, Lusitania, but lost its eminence
which incorporates 20 paintings under the Moors. Though a
by the mystical reli gious painter small city, Mérida, the capital of
Luis de Morales. Extremadura, has been named
a UNESCO World Heritage site
Environs thanks to the large number of
Nearby, Los Barruecos Natural The Roman bridge spanning the River Tagus fine Roman monuments.
Park is home to Europe’s largest at Alcántara The best approach is from the
white­stork colony (see pp346–7), west of town, via the mod ern
their nests often built on top of e Valencia de suspension bridge over the
gigantic granite stones. There Alcántara Río Guadiana, bringing you to
are some good picnic spots in the original entrance of the
the surrounding countryside. Cáceres. * 6,000. £ @ n Calle de Roman city and Arab fortress.
Hernán Cortés, 927 58 21 84. ( Mon. The city’s centrepiece is the
_ San Isidro (15 May), San Bartolomé
(24 Aug). ∑ valenciadealcantara.net Teatro Romano (see pp54–5).
One of the best­preserved
The Gothic quarter of this hill­ Roman theatres anywhere, it
top frontier town is given an is still used in summer for the
elegant air by its fountains and city’s drama festival and is part
orange trees. The Castillo de of a larger site with an
Piedrabuena, in nearby San amphitheatre (anfiteatro) and
Vicente de Alcántara, was built gardens. Nearby are the remains
by the Knights of the Order of of a Roman house, the Casa del
Alcántara. On the town’s out­ Anfiteatro, where there are
skirts are more than 40 dolmens, underground galleries and large
or megalithic burial sites. areas of well­preserved mosaics.
Opposite stands the stunning
Environs red­brick Museo Nacional de
Alburquerque, to the southeast, Arte Romano. The semicircular
is sited on a rocky outcrop with arches of its main hall are built
Alterpiece in the Iglesia de la Asunción, a panoramic view from the to the same height as the city’s
Arroyo de la Luz ramparts and keep of its castle. Los Milagros aqueduct. Over
Below is the Old Town and the three floors, the gallery exhibits
15th­century Iglesia de Santa ceramics, mosaics, coins and
w Alcántara María del Mercado. statuary. There is also an
Cáceres. * 1,700. @ n Avenida de
Mérida 21, 927 39 08 65. ( Tue. _
Classic Drama Festival (Aug), San Pedro
(18–19 Oct). ∑ turismoalcantara.es
Alcantara has two important
sights. One is the drystone
Roman bridge, above the
Tagus River, with its honorary
arch and a temple. The other
the restored Convento de San
Benito. This was built as the
headquarters of the Knights of
the Order of Alcántara during
the 16th century and was sack­
ed by Napoleon. Its surviving
treasures are in the Iglesia de
Santa María de Almocovar. Megalithic tomb on the outskirts of Valencia de Alcántara
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p571 and p597

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