Explore the soul of old Spain

Originally published August 7, 2020. Updated June of 2024

All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team, unless otherwise stated.

Looking to venture way off the beaten path in Spain and go to lands that few travelers make it to? Extremadura, in Spain’s remote west, has so much to offer travelers who are seeking a true Spanish adventure.

Sparsely populated with big blue skies, Extremadura Spain feels like it has been stuck in time.

English is very rarely spoken in these parts, and public transportation is not the greatest (it can be done with time pre-planning, and flexibility). But for travelers wishing to explore one of the few remaining relics of Spain of the past, the effort to travel to Extremadura will be well rewarded.

Here are just 5 reasons why rustic Extremadura has so much to offer travelers to Spain. There are so many more so come to Extremadura to discover these for yourself!

At Spain Less Traveled, we love adding Extremadura into our clients’ itineraries. And of course, we would love to help plan your dream trip to Spain!

Where is Extremadura?

Extremadura Spain is located in far western Spain. It has two provinces: Cáceres and Badajoz.

Reasons to visit Extremadura Spain

Read on for just a few of the reasons to travel to Extremadura! And let us help you design the Spain travel itinerary of your dreams, weaving Extremadura Spain into it. Check out the Spain travel services that we offer and book a call today.

Extremadura Spain is home to the country’s best Roman Ruins

Mérida, is not only the capital of Extremadura. At one point it was the capital of Lusitania, a province in ancient Rome. The Roman ruins of Mérida are the most impressive in all of Spain, and are one of the many UNESCO World Heritage sites in Spain.

Simply wander around this city in Spain, and you’re bound to find ruins in the most random places.

But there are some highly impressive sites too. Some of the highlights include the Roman bridge, circus, Arco (arch of) de Trajano, and Templo (temple of) de Diana.

If you are lucky you can even catch a performance at the Roman Theater. Imagine watching a play surrounded by that much history!

A combined ticket gets you into most of Mérida’s Roman ruins (as well as several other sites!)

Extremadura Spain should be on your bucket list if you are the type of traveler who loves visiting Roman ruins. Unlike in Italy or even other parts of Spain, there are few crowds in Mérida, letting you get up close and personal with some of the Roman Empire’s best preserved ruins.

The history: Moorish and Jewish History (and so much more!)

Speaking of history, Mérida is not only about the Romans.

It is occupied later occupied by the Visigoths, and then later Moors. In fact Mérida, once part of Al-Andalus is where the Moors constructed their first alcazaba (fortress) right on top of Roman and Visigoth sites.

Like Andalucía, Extremadura has a rich Moorish history too, making it possible to see some of Spain’s best Moorish architecture but with a fraction of the crowds.

Those interested in Moorish Spain should be sure to visit not only Mérida, but Zafra, Cáceres (also a UNESCO World Heritage site) and Trujillo.

And if you are looking for places to see remnants of, Sephardic Spain, the journey to Extremadura is worth it! There is Jewish history here too.

Many of Extremadura’s towns and cities have a Judería (old Jewish neighborhood), but the old Jewish quarter in Hervás is on of the best preserved in all of Spain.

There is even more history here, some of Spain’s famous (or infamous depending on how you see it) hailed from Extremadura.

The cities and towns in Extremadura are noted for their walls and historic centers from Medieval times, notably Cáceres.

Get outside: explore the natural areas of Extremadura Spain

Those expansive blue skies and wide open lands make Extremadura one of the best spots in Spain to get outside and enjoy some of Spain’s best natural wonders.

Bird lovers will want to head to Monfragüe National Park, noted for its birds of prey. The park has some great hikes too.

Whether you want to hike more, bike, go fishing, canoe, repel off rocks, those who just want to be outside when they travel can find it activities over Extremadura!

Aside from Monfragüe itself, Valle del Jerte, La Vera, Valle del Ambroz are so good places to find varying outdoor activities.

And if you simply want to relax a bit and enjoy Mother Nature, be sure to be in Valle del Jerte in the Spring - it’s when the cherry trees bloom.

Secret of Spaniards: the eating and drinking your way through Extremadura

Speaking of cherry trees, no Spanish summer would be complete without fresh cherries from Extremadura. They are the best in Spain and are a Spanish Summer staple. Every Spaniard could tell you this.

Cherries are one of the many items of food (and drink) that Extremadura is famous for. Spaniards can also tell you that eating your way through Extremadura is not only possible but highly recommended.

Aficionados of Spain’s world-famous Jamón (ham) will be delighted to try the variety from Monesterio. And cheese lovers, we got you too. Extremadura has its own ruta del queso (cheese route), with the most famous being creamy torta del casar. There’s even a cheese festival in Trujillo every year!

Finally, the Ribera del Guadiana area, Extremadura’s wine country, produces some a variety of wines, protected by the denominación de origen (designation of origin) status.

It is easy to understand why many say Extremadaura has some of the best food in Spain.

A truly authentic Spanish experience…

Extremadura is basically untouched by mass tourism. But for independent travelers looking for a pure Spanish adventure, Extremadura should be on the itinerary!

With proper time to explore, you can visit some of the smallest pueblos, completely suspended in time. Don’t be surprised if you are the center of attention at the local bars and cafes. So few from outside of Spain venture to Extremadura, and even fewer take the time to discover the smaller villages, that travelers from a far are an anomaly. Here you can see displays of true Spanish hospitality.

Rent a car, explore, and discover Extremadura on your own time. A car will get you to some of the gems of Extremadura that are off the map and not listed in the guidebooks.

Make your experience in Extremadura even more special with a stay at a historic hotel. This is the perfect part of Spain to treat yourself to a night at one of the paradores, luxury hotels in historic buildings such as old castles, monasteries, and more!

There are seven paradores in Extremadura. Of note are Mérida, Trujillo (both in former convents) , Zafra (in an old castle), Cáceres (in a Renaissance palace) and Guadalupe (in a former monastery, also another of Extremadura’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites).

(Love staying at paradores? Here are some of our favorite paradores all over Spain!)

Want to explore the soul of old Spain? Want an personalized Spain travel itinerary, handcrafted just for you, including time in Extremadura?

Let’s chat!

Spain Less Traveled specializes in helping our clients discover Spain both on and off the beaten path.

We offer several levels of Spain traveling planning services. Spain Less Traveled can work with all different types of travelers and travel planners, from those who want our full support throughout the entire travel planning process to those who simply need to talk with a Spain destination specialist to assist with specific aspects of travel planning. 

There are so many reasons why you should use a travel advisor to plan your trip to Spain, if you need more convincing…

If you loved this, you might like our other in depth guides by region.

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