#MAGICALVILLAGES-Route of Discovery: Iberian Ham and the Dehesa

Arrival at the rural accommodation that we choose for you to enjoy a GENUINE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE ON THE ROUTE OF DISCOVERY, IBERIAN HAM AND THE PASTURE. This journey will immerse you in the history of the discovery of America, the tradition of exquisite Iberian ham and the beauty of the pastureland, revealing the treasures found in each village on this unique route. We start in Medellín, the birthplace of Hernán Cortés and the starting point of our adventure. This historic place takes us to explore the roots of the discovery of new lands. You will arrive at the accommodation we chose, with time to rest from the trip and choose the best outfit for tonight. We will invite you to dine on one of the typical dishes of the region, in a local restaurant. Return to the accommodation to enjoy your well-deserved rest.

After a wonderful night you will go down to breakfast because you have to regain strength for the day ahead. Today we set off to discover the treasures of Medellín. We start by walking along the Puente de los Austrias and the Guadiana River. Long stone bridge of 400 meters and 20 arches over the Guadiana River. It dates from the seventeenth century, but the original was already built in Roman times and, since then, it has been a link of communication between regions. It consists of 20 semicircular stone arches, with 36 varas of span the largest of them and has a length of 430 meters. We continue through the Roman Theater, from the first century, it is the main attraction of the place. It is located at the foot of the medieval castle and has been opened to the public relatively recently, after various excavations and restoration works. We continue to the medieval castle. At present it is presented as a large space divided into two immense parade grounds, separated by a robust curtain that joins the two main towers of the enclosure. The interior of the rooms is strongly evocative: spiral staircases, strong chimneys, narrow embrasures and stone seats transport us to a time when noble life gave comfort to warrior tasks. We will finish the visit of Medellín at the Church of Santiago and Museum Center. Erected at the back of the Roman theatre, halfway between the castle and the town centre, this old parish house the museum centre where you can take a tour of the history of Medellín. After this fantastic historical tour we will invite you to eat one of the typical dishes of the region, in a local restaurant. After lunch we say goodbye to Medellín and continue our route to the next Magical Town, Jerez de los Caballeros. It rises in the southern mountain ranges, between wild mountains and ancient oak groves. Jerez de los Caballeros Templarios, that is what this town in Badajoz could be called today. You will arrive at the end of the afternoon at the accommodation we chose with time to rest a little before going out for dinner in a Typical Restaurant. After a full day, return to the accommodation for a well-deserved rest.

Have an early breakfast and go out to discover Jerez de losCaballeros. We start by visiting the Templar Fortress. Built by the Templars, on the south side of the walled enclosure. It is a construction built around a large central courtyard. Its history includes events such as the heroic resistance of the last Knights Templar, immolated in one of its towers by what has since been called the "Bloody Tower". Next, we will take a tour of the most beautiful Towers, the Santa María de la Encarnación Tower, San Miguel Arcángel Tower, San Bartolomé Tower, Santa Catalina Tower and the Homage and Clock Tower. We will finish this fantastic tour at the Castle and Templar walls. The castle was built on a Muslim citadel of which several elements survive. Its Templar walls and towers are from the thirteenth century, and we must add some additions carried out by the Order of Santiago. The walls were built by the Templars in the thirteenth century. The walled complex had six gates, of which only the Burgos gate and the town gate are preserved today. After this walk through the history we will invite you to eat one of the typical dishes of the region, in a local restaurant. After lunch we say goodbye to Jerez de los Caballeros and continue our route to the next Magical Town Fregenal de la Sierra. It has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest: the Historic-Artistic Site, the Archaeological Site of Nertóbriga, the Dancers of the Virgen de la Salud and the Menhirs of Ardila. You will arrive at the end of the afternoon at the accommodation we chose with time to rest a little before going out to dine on one of the typical dishes of the region in a local restaurant. After a full day, return to the accommodation for a well-deserved rest.

Have an early breakfast and go out to discover Fregenal de la Sierra. We will start with a visit to the Castle of Fregenal de la Sierra, inside which there is an eighteenth-century Bullring and a Food Market from 1915. Next, we will continue to the Sanctuary of Los Remedios, a building of great beauty located in the middle of the pasture inside which is the image of the Virgen de los Remedios, patron saint of the town since 1506. To this monumental complex is added the archaeological site of Nertóbriga, located 6 kilometres from the town and recently opened to the public, as well as two museums. The first of these is the Museum of Contemporary Art of Fregenal (MACF) (5) which exhibits the award-winning works of the Eugenio Hermoso International Painting Prize. The second, the Mansion of Miniatures, is a private museum where more than 20 miniature houses are exhibited. We will end our visit with a small Hiking Route along the Huertas de la Rivera Trail. (1 hour – 3 km) The main stream that runs through this area, parallel to the road, has the same name. These orchards were once quite important, since part of the vegetables and fruits that were collected in these lands served as sustenance and as merchandise for part of the population. Lawsuits between farmers were frequent, as a result of the waters that irrigate these fields. We will then invite you to eat one of the typical dishes of the region, in a typical restaurant. After lunch we say goodbye to Fregenal de la Sierra and continue our route to the next Magical Town, Segura de León. Located southwest of Badajoz, Segura de León belongs to the region of Tentudía. There was a Roman villa in the place known as the Torreón, near the sanctuary of Cristo de la Reja. You will arrive at the end of the afternoon at the accommodation we chose with time to rest a little before going out to dine on some of the region's specialties, in a typical restaurant. After a full day return to the accommodation.

Have an early breakfast and set off to discover Segura de León. We begin by appreciating the medieval Castle of Santiago. Built by the Order of Santiago, there are still some sections of the wall that surrounded it, as well as the moat of the gate. Access to the castle was done through a bridge. The promenade runs along the entire wall and from it you can access the towers and the main gate. From it we can see the town that sleeps under his feet. Next, we will visit the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Assumption. It is the main religious building that can be visited in Segura de León. It is a temple from the thirteenth century and was remodeled in the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. On the outside, the peculiar tower attached to the head of the central nave of the Church stands out. It has 3 naves, with important buttresses on the walls and semicircular arches attached. We will end our tour at Plaza de España and City Hall. The magnificent arcades of San Roque street that reach the square are striking. It stands on 3 arches with granite columns in the Mudejar style and they are preserved next to the imperial coat of arms of Charles V of the original construction. Then we will invite you to eat one of the typical dishes of the region, in a typical restaurant. After lunch we say goodbye to Segura de León and continue our route to the next Magical Town, Calera de León. Located on a hill in the last foothills of the Sierra Morena, surrounded by pastures populated by large holm oak groves, olive groves and, in its mountains, extensive pine forests, chestnut trees and oaks. In this town it breathes history and serenity. You will arrive in the afternoon for an unforgettable Hiking Route that runs through the ecosystems of the magical mountain of Tentudía, the highest peak in Badajoz, revealing enclaves of enormous architectural and heritage interest that are fundamental to understanding the history of southern Extremadura, such as the Conventual of the Order of Santiago de Calera de León and the Monastery of the Virgin of Tentudía. The route will take us into the pasture and the world of the Iberian pig, to find as we ascend, the Atlantic vegetation of oaks, chestnut trees and pines, watching birds and contemplating beautiful views. At the end of the afternoon you will arrive at the accommodation we chose with time to rest a little before going out to dine on one of the typical dishes of the region, in a Typical Restaurant. After a full day return to the accommodation.

Have an early breakfast and go out to discover Calera de León. We start by visiting the Monastery of Tentudía. Founded by Master Pelay Pérez Correa, it has its origin in a hermitage erected in the mid-thirteenth century, to commemorate the victory he obtained there against the Almohads. This emblematic monument, which is presented as a crenellated fortress, houses a Mudejar cloister inside, and a church flanked by two funerary chapels, among other rooms. On the main altar, the tile altarpiece by Niculoso Pisano stands out, dated 1518 and considered one of the most important in the Iberian Peninsula. Next, we will make a spectacular visit to the Santiago Convent. Known as the convent of the Knights of the Order of Santiago or the Casa de la Calera, construction began in 1528. This impressive architectural monument stands above the main square of Calera de León and is declared of National Historic-Artistic Interest. It is made up of the parish church and the solemn granite cloister with its noble rooms. Then we will invite you to eat a typical dish of the region, in a typical restaurant. After lunch we say goodbye to Calera de León and continue to the next Magical Town on our Route, Cabeza la Vaca. It is located in the middle of a small valley, between fields of holm oaks, olive trees, chestnut trees, surrounded by mountain ranges that define its natural environment and the way of life of many of its inhabitants. You will arrive at the end of the afternoon at the accommodation we chose with time to rest a little before going out for dinner, in a Typical Restaurant. Return to the accommodation.

Have an early breakfast and go out to discover Cabeza la Vaca. We begin with a visit to the Church of Our Lady of the Angels. Located in the Plaza Romero de Castilla. Its construction began in the fifteenth century, although it has been carried out over several centuries. From the fifteenth century only the part of the chevet remains. In the seventeenth century it was practically rebuilt, at least its vault. A small tower, completed in the middle of the eighteenth century, is arranged on the façade of the feet. We will continue with our tour and visit the Plaza de Toros. Built at the end of the eighteenth century, an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Monument Category, it gives this town monumentality, but without breaking its aesthetics. Its exterior shape is robust and simple, with its façade whitewashed year after year. It is made of masonry and consists of three doors on its façade: the large or main door, the door of the sun and the door of the infirmary. We will end our tour with a Hiking Route. The Route of the Fountains and Water is approximately 3 km long and lasts one hour. Then we will invite you to eat a typical dish of the region, in a typical restaurant. After lunch we say goodbye to this fantastic Route.