Extremadura Guide Eng 2016

Such an especial habitat has contributed to the ap- pointment of several areas as Special Protection Areas. This is the case of the so-called Dehesas de Jerez or even the dec- laration of the Mina de la Jayona as a Monumento Natural de Extremadura (Natural Monument of Extremadura) in Fuente del Arco and Cuevas de Fuente de León . The nature reserve known as Parque de las Quinientas is an illustrative example of the way nature can be shown in a didactic way. There are many festivities that draw our attention in these Southern areas of Extremadura. Many of them have been declared Fiesta de Interés Turístico Regional de Ex- tremadura. Some examples are the celebration of San Isidro’s day and La Chanfaina in Fuente de Cantos, Easter in Jerez de los Caballeros, the Living Passion , enacted by the inhabitants of Oliva de la Frontera, Las Capeas in Segura de León, Día del Jamón in Monesterio and The Mountain Range International Festival in Fregenal de la Sierra. The gastronomy of this area has become a reference for many of the visitors who come from neighbouring regions to enjoy the delicious taste of dishes and stews. This has been fostered somehow by the products derived from the Iberian pig, internationally well-known, and other prod- ucts generously provided by the land. This is the case of wild asparaguses or mushrooms. The history of these lands suggests examples of the Megalithic age as well as examples of human settlements

that had already taken place in the Pre-Roman epoch. One of the most illustrative examples is the dolmen of “El Toriñuelo” , located near Jerez de los Caballeros and de- clared Monumento Histórico Artístico Nacional. Likewise, the remains of the village of “Nertobriga” , placed between Fuentes de León and Fregenal de la Sierra, are worth men- tioning as well. Apart from the important Roman paved way known as Vía de la Plata , which joined Emérita Augusta with Itálica, other roads joined these provinces through Sierra Morena as well. One of themwent across the present-day Campiña Sur and reached Córdoba, going through the locality of Regina, in the surroundings of Casas Reina. It was close to this locality that an important Roman theatre was built. This theatre, which had room for 1000 spectators, has been recently restored. In the course of the centuries, many religious construc- tions have been built in the Mudejar, Gothic, Renaissance or Baroque styles in these regions. Some examples are the Con- ventual construction of Calera de León, the Sanctuary of Santa María de Tentudía , the churches and towers of Jerez de los Caballeros, the church of Nuestra Señora de la Granada in Llerena, Nuestra Señora de la Consolación’ parish church in Azuaga or Purísima Concepción’s church in Granja de Torrehermosa. In addition, the ceramics and pottery from Salvatierra de los Barros are wonderful.

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General Aspects

Art and History

Natural Spaces

Other aspects

Regions and Cities

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