Extremadura Guide Eng 2016

tridge stews are made thanks to the abundant hunting in these lands. The “tecula macula” from Olivenza has become a sweet emblem for the whole region. The Iberian pig takes up most part of these regions, providing magnificent hams, cold meat and pork together with the typical “gazpachos”, “salmorejos de boga”, scrambled eggs with wild asparagus or the appreciated Extremaduran “migas”. There are numerous pre historical sites that demon- strate the settlement of the human being, either in high lands and mountainous ranges and in the refuges of Arroyo de San Serván or in the abundant megalithic buri- als, like the case of the dolmen of Lácara between La Nava de Santiago and Aljucén. The arrival of Roma in the Peninsula would mean a radical change for all these Extremaduran localities, in a very special way the case of Mérida , turned into the cap- ital of the Roman province of the Lusitania from which its domination will radiate to the localities which belong to these regions, thus building the most important com- munication ways for that, like the case of the most important one in the west of Extremadura, the Via de la Plata, which will link it with the north and south of the Iberian peninsula. The most impressive, civil, religious, military or hydraulic Roman works date back to this time, one of the most important Archaeological Groups of the Roman world. Therefore, it was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO. With the Muslim invasion, Badajoz would become on of the main nucleus of Moorish domination in these lands, a situation which will last even after the fall of the Caliphate of Cordoba, when the capital of Badajoz, found- ed in 875 by Ibn Marwan , will turn into an independent reign of Taifa until the arrival of Almoravids.

To the north, between Los Llanos de Olivenza and Badajoz, the Guadiana river is the main character and functions as a natural, hydraulic frontier close to this strategic city, a door and a link between Extremadura and Portugal. Olivenza is a special case, a real Extremaduran museum of Portuguese manueline art. Some of these local- ities such as Villanueva del Fresno, Táliga, Alconchel o Cheles also possess magnificent examples of works of art where the Portuguese influence can be clearly observed. Parallel to A-5 dual carriageway, to the east of Mérida and near it, the Cornalvo Nature Park is located, with an extension of 11,600 hectares, between the fertile lowlands of the Guadiana river, the foothills of Sierra de San Pedro, Sierra de Montanchez and crossed by the route of Via de la Plata. This Reserve has a charming, didactic Interpretation Centre dedicated to the water and a beautiful, Mediter- ranean forest. Parallel to A-5 carriageway, the road that crosses most part of the riverside localities to Guadiana river, also links Badajoz with Mérida. From it, you can accede to the local- ities belonging to the region of Lácara, through Ex 100 and other regional roads. Among the festivities hold in these localities, they are worth mentioning Easter and Carnival in Badajoz, Easter in Merida, all of them declared Regional and National Tourist Interest Festivities. It is very interesting Easter in Olivenza, delcared Tourist Interest Festivity of Extremadu- ra. It is famous around the world the International Festival of Classical Theatre, whixh is hold every summer in the Roman Theatre o Mérida. The gastronomy , in such an extensive zone like that, offers the visitant an interesting culinary variety and qual- ity, with excellent stews and dishes whose main ingredient is the lamb, to cook the famous stew known as “caldereta”, among others. Moreover, exquisite hare, rabbit or par-

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General Aspects

Art and History

Natural Spaces

Other aspects

Regions and Cities

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