EXPERIENCE EXTREMADURA
HOW TO GET TO EXTREMADURA How to get here
INDEX HOW TO GET TO EXTREMADURA EXTREMADURA EXTREMADURA CULTURE EXTREMADURA GASTRONOMY EXTREMADURA NATURE
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Extremadura is in the west of Spain and is well connected to the capital, Madrid. Your best option is to come by road, in a private or hired car. This way you can have total freedom to discover every corner of Extremadura.
By Plane The airport is located in Talavera la Real, near Badajoz, with regular flights to Madrid and Barcelona, as well as to other cities at certain times of the year. It has a shopping area, car rental offices, free 24 hour parking, and taxis. www.aena.es Other options are: Madrid – Barajas airport, two and a half hour drive from the north of Extremadura; Lisbon airport, two hour drive from Badajoz; and Seville airport, one hour drive from the south of the region.
By Car
Extremadura Tourist Board Mérida (Badajoz) SPAIN Telf. + 01134 924 33 24 21 info@turismoextremadura.com www.turismoextremadura.com
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There are a number of toll-free national motorways that cross Extremadura easily and in a short time. If you are coming to Extremadura from Madrid or the east of Spain you need to take the A-5. The motorway goes through Trujillo, Mérida, and Badajoz, before entering into Portugal. If you are coming from the north or from the south you need to take the A-66 motorway.
Public Transportation The Renfe network of trains transports passengers through Extremadura and connects the region with Andalusia, Castilla La Mancha, and Madrid. www.renfe.es There are also many buses that will get you comfortably to all of Extremadura’s towns and cities. 2
Roman Theater of Mérida. World Heritage UNESCO
Extremadura has 1,087,778 inhabitants and with an average population density across the region of 42 people per sq. mi. (compared to the Spanish average of 148 people per sq. mi.). The region has urban centers where people come together but it also has havens where you can lose yourself in peace and tranquillity. These are just figures, but the information reveals other appealing qualities about Extremadura, for example: Three places in Extremadura have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Roman city of Mérida, the Monastery of Santa María in Guadalupe and the Old Town of Cáceres. In addition, two spaces are Biosphere Reserve, Monfragüe National Park and Tajo Interantional Nature Park. The Geopark Villuercas, Ibores, Jara has also been recognized by the UNESCO.
Extremadura has 3.000 hours of sunshine per year.
EXTREMADURA
Old Town of Cáceres. World Heritage UNESCO
Extremadura is a region in southwest Spain rich in agriculture nestled alongside Portugal and easily accessible from Lisbon, Seville and Madrid. There is a history of Romans, Visigoths, Christians, Moors and Sephardi Jews that can be seen in the monuments of our towns and reflected in the recipes and ingredients of our meals, tapas and modern cuisine. Archaeological remains, castles, churches and cathedrals, Jewish quarters, towers and bridges are scattered throughout the geography of Extremadura which make for a fascinating itinerary. Our region is divided into two provinces, Badajoz and Cáceres, which are the two largest in Spain. Together they cover an area roughly the size of the Netherlands, but with a population density 15 times smaller. Mérida is the capital and home to the regional government located in the center of Extremadura.
Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe. World Heritage UNESCO
The old town of Cáceres is the best preserved example in the Iberian Peninsula and the third in Europe according to the Council of Europe. People in Extremadura spend more time with their friends and family every week than anywhere else in Spain. The quality of life in Extremadura allows people to devote more time to their loved ones and enjoy important occasions together.
75 % of Extremadura is considered an area of importance for birds.
Extremadura is one of the European regions with the most freshwater coastline, over 930 miles where you can go sailing and windsurfing. Over 150 varieties of orchids grow in this region, making it one of the most varied samples of the species that you can find in the Mediterranean. 3
Extremadura is one of the safest region in Europe.
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Badajoz
Jerez de los Caballeros
EXTREMADURA CULTURE
As well as all this World Heritage, Extremadura keeps many more secrets ready to be discovered. One example is the Real Monastery of Yuste where Emperor Charles V spent his last days, and one of the only four sites declared European Heritage in Spain. There are also the beautiful towns of Jerez de los Caballeros, Plasencia, Trujillo or Zafra, among others. Museums such as the National Roman Art Museum in Mérida or the Ibero-American Museum of Contemporary Art in Badajoz are a must.
In Extremadura, historical and artistic heritage isn’t just kept in museums. Here, the mark left by Roman, Muslim and Jewish civilizations throughout the centuries has left an imprint on towns and cities, as did Portugal, whose influence has further enriched our living heritage. In Extremadura culture is not static. Our heritage is here for you to touch, feel and even explore.
Additionally, Extremadura is the birthplace of some of Spain‘s great explorers and conquistadors such as Hernán Cortés, Francisco Pizarro and Vasco Núñez de Balboa.
The Vía de la Plata is an ancient route that crosses Extremadura from north to south. In the beginning it joined Itálica (now Seville) with Astorga (in the north of Spain), crossing our region through Mérida. If you decide to follow its path today, old towns, theaters, amphitheaters, temples, aqueducts, thermal baths, bridges or fortress’ are waiting for you.
Hervás
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But the region is much more than its monuments and historical figures. Extremadura has a great number of festivities and events throughout the year. Some examples are the Classical Theater Festival in Mérida, Easter celebrations in every town, the Jerte Valley Cherry Blossom Festival, the famous carnival of Badajoz, and many more.
Trujillo
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Alimentos de Extremadura, what is it? It is a seal of identity for the agricultural products of the companies of Extremadura. It is a common element for the promotion of the agricultural products of Extremadura. It is a marketing brand created by the regional government of Extremadura so that consumers can identify its products. Identity Extremadura is renowned today for its environment, characterized by its water reserves and natural diversity, making it a unique region in Europe. The above, together with the avant-garde nature and the technology of its companies, committed to food safety, gives rise to safe, healthy and wholesome products, recognized by their Alimentos de Extremadura seal of identity. Value Alimentos de Extremadura contains a comprehensive, rich and varied range of food products and drinks from our region. Enhances the value of regional agricultural products, promotes awareness and perception of them among consumers and increases their reputation.
EXTREMADURA GASTRONOMY Eating in Extremadura is merging into an endless landscape of contrasts: sierras and plains, water reserves and immense dehesas that offer you food with a natural taste, and suitable for the most demanding palates. Here you can find the authentic Iberian ham, the torta among a variety of cheeses, and other gastronomic treasures such as the smoked paprika of La Vera, cherries from the Jerte Valley, honey, wine, rice, many juicy fruits, tomatoes‌ One of our star products is the Iberian pig which is raised on the dehesas of Extremadura where it is allowed to roam free and feed on acorns. It is from this animal that the finest ham in the world is obtained, which is characterized by its succulent and intense flavor. In Spain, there are classification systems to ensure top quality products. In Extremadura there are 12. DOP: Protected Designation of Origin is a classification system for quality food and wine products. IGP: Protected Geographical Indication corresponds to a specific geographical location where quality livestock is raised.
Objectives To dynamise the marketing of the agricultural products of Extremadura. To perform promotional activities at points of sale. To carry out joint advertising campaigns in some of the media. To perform sponsorship of acts and events. Collaboration with other institutions. Benefits A new seal is not a substitute for anything; it is complementary to the company brand, by means of which it can make itself different and also link itself to the Generic Communication Plan of the Alimentos de Extremadura brand. The opportunity to promote the sector in a joint and coordinated manner, pooling efforts so that broader horizons can be undertaken at a promotional and advertising level, in which the main sales argument to be emphasized will be the Extremadura origin. 7
You can learn more about our products in our website
www.alimentosextremadura.com/en
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Garganta de los Infiernos Nature Reserve
Los Barruecos Nature Monument
NATURE IN EXTREMADURA Our concern for nature isn’t just a saying; it’s a part of our reality since one in three steps you take is considered a protected nature zone. Due to this concern for our natural surroundings, some form of environmental protection covers almost a third of the area’s environment and there are over sixty protected nature areas such as the Monfragüe National Park, Garganta de los Infiernos and Los Barruecos.
There are thousands of ways to completely immerse yourself in this region‘s natural beauty. For example, walking across the region from the meadows through the plains and steppes and over the mountains to the deep valleys of the North. One of the most picturesque vistas is that of the Mediterranean woodland, the dehesa, with its lush vegetation that is unusually resilient. In this kind of ecosystem flora, fauna and human beings coexist in perfect harmony.
Extremadura is considered one of the most important regions in Europe for birds and thus it is among the most prized destinations for birdwatching enthusiasts and nature lovers from all over the world, drawn by the possibility of observing birds in natural habitats of great beauty.
Crystalline waters, gorges in spectacular landscapes, natural swimming pools, reservoirs for swimming and where you can practice water sports, protected natural areas due to their high environmental value… . Extremadura has walking trails adapted to suit all levels, and many other alternatives.
Monfragüe National Park
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Alcántara
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