General Info Extremadura, Spain

The Tagus and the Guadiana rivers
The autonomous region of Extremadura lies in the south western part of Spain, and borders Castile and Leon in the north, Castile-La Mancha in the east, Andalusia in the south, and Portugal in the west.

Most of Extremadura is made up of vast stretches of plains with an average height of around 350 metres. There are three mountain formations in the region. The Sistema Central in the north, mainly comprises of Gredos sierra, Gata sierra, Francia sierra, Plasencia sierra and Vera sierra. They are high mountains, some reaching almost 2,000 metres, with deep gorges heading south such as Jaranda, with high mountain passes that include Bejar and Tornavacas. The highest peak in the area is Calvitero that reaches 2,425 metres. The second mountainous area is the central area that is penetrated by the mountains of Toledo, the highest peak of which is Las Villuercas measuring 1,601 metres. The third area in the south of the region belongs to the Sierra Morena mountain range. They are the lowest mountains in the region. The highest peak is Tentudia, at 1,140 metres. The most notable river valleys include Jerte and Tietar, La Vera and Las Hurdes, as well as Ambroz valley. Two major rivers criss-cross the region and filter the waters from other lesser rivers in the area. The rivers are the Tagus, that travels through Caceres, finally entering Portugal, and the Guadiana, that encompasses all of Badajoz within its basin and heads south, forming a natural border with Portugal. The rivers in the region of Extremadura are governed by the various reservoirs in the area, that form a vast hydrological network that supplies water for crops, for generating electricity and for general consumption by the inhabitants. Valdecañas, Torrejon-Tagus, Alcantara, Gabriel and Galan are the reservoirs that lie in the Tagus river basin. Cijara, Puerto Peña (Garcia Sola), Orellana and La Serena are some of the different reservoirs that can be found in Guadiana's basin. La Serena reservoir, in the river Zujar, is the largest in Spain.

Avila

Avila, a World Heritage Site, rises under the shelter of the Gredos Sierra. Behind the walls of this capital of Castile-León, a priceless compound is concealed, made up of Renaissance churches and palaces: a silent witness to the bygone splendour of the city when it was a textile power. Being the birthplace of Santa Teresa de Jesús, the city has a number of religious buildings —inside and outside the walled enclosure— related to the life of the mystic.

Excellent roasts and the famous veal T-bone steak are only a few of the dishes that make up the amazing cuisine of this province, without playing down the wonderful cakes and pastries, especially the renowned "yemas de Santa Teresa" (a sweet made with egg yolk and sugar).

Valverde

The town has managed to preserve the famous "verata" architecture, traditional of the region of La Vera, which includes streets with ditches on the sides, arcaded squares, as well as houses made of stone, adobe and wood, with balconies. The scenery of Valverde de la Vera is not the only reason why the town is so beautiful and unique. The townspeople have managed to take care and cherish its traditional monumental heritage, to the point that this city was declared a Historic-Artistic Site. From its castle, which dates back to the 12th-14th centuries, there are two defence towers that still remain, and which are today part of the church, while the keep was built in the 15th century. The church of Ntra. Sra. de las Fuentes Claras, from the 15th-16th centuries, combines Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and even Arab styles, with Churrigueresque and Romanesque reredos. In the main square, or Plaza Mayor we find examples of traditional architecture. Also remarkable is the Gothic pillory column, symbol of the status of village.

But, without a doubt, Valverde de la Vera is famous for the "empales" of Holly Week. These are penitents, with no clothing but old petticoats and a veil covering their faces, who carry a plough beam tied to their bodies with esparto ropes. Everyone in the town takes part in the Way of the Cross, keeping absolute silence.

Continental climate
Extremadura has a continental climate, tempered by warm and humid winds that sweep up from the Atlantic.

Rainfall is very low and mainly falls in spring and autumn. The summer is very dry. The western part of Extremadura tends to rain more than the rest of the region. However, in mountain areas the climate is characterised by cold winters and cool summers. Rainfall in these areas is quite heavy, and in the northern part of the region and at higher altitudes this is converted into snow.