Plasencia (Cáceres) (0)

Did you know that... Plasencia

It sits on a rocky hill surrounded by the Jerte River, north of the province of Caceres, is the gateway to the Jerte Valley although officially does not belong to it. The history of Plasencia begins with the Greeks who would call it Ambracia. In the Roman epoch these would use it as military camp but when Plasencia acquired really importance it was with Alfonso VIII when it was reconquered by the Moslems who would return to occupy it during a short period of time until in 1196 it happened definitively to Christian hands. At that time the diocese of Plasencia was created by order of Clement III and its first bishop was Don Bricio. This bishopric obtained an important power over the territory. In the 15th century the Castilian King Juan II granted it to the first Count of Plasencia, Don Pedro López de Zúñiga, but the Catholic Kings returned it to their rule. During the War of Independence, Plasencia became a strategic place for French troops.

What to see in Plasencia?

To cross the Jerte River you can do it by one of the four bridges that enter the city of Plasencia, the oldest one is San Lázaro, in its Roman origin and reconstructed at the beginning of the 16th century; the New Bridge was built in the 16th century and has a shield of the Catholic Kings and a niche with an image of the Virgin of the Head. In the old part of Plasencia you can find one of the most important religious monuments in the whole region, the cathedral, curiously formed by two cathedrals that form one although in separate but adjacent buildings. The old cathedral is from the 13th and 14th centuries and is made up of the whole temple except for the head and a nave trunk which correspond to the new cathedral which is from the 15th and 16th centuries. The oldest part of the whole complex is the foot façade, known as the Perdón façade, which is in the Castilian Romanesque style from the 13th century. The other two façades are Renaissance and are in the new cathedral. In the Main Square is the town hall which dates from the sixteenth century, at the top of the tower Mayorga grandfather combines the time of the town by ringing the bell to the beat of the hours.

To discover

The church of San Nicolás, the church of San Martín, which is considered to be the oldest parish in the city and which currently has no worship and is used as an exhibition hall, the church of El Salvador, the church of San Esteban, the church of San Pedro, the sanctuary of the Virgen del Puerto which houses the carving of the patron saint of Plasencia, the convent of the Dominicans, the convent of Santa Clara; The Monroy Palace, also called the House of the Two Towers, from the 13th century, is the oldest palace in Plasencia, the house of Don Pedro Sánchez de Grimaldo, the house of Las Argollas, the house of the Infantas, the house of the Deán... The aqueduct of San Antón, from the middle of the sixteenth century, seems to be built on top of another older one known as the "Moorish pipe". These are some of the many buildings that testify to the long history of this beautiful town whose wall began to be built in the twelfth century and which today preserves twenty of the seventy towers it once had and seven gates through which the town of Plasencia was accessed. The gates of Trujillo, Coria, Sol, Berrozana, the gate of Clavero and the shutter of El Salvador are the ones that are preserved and enter the locals and visitors in the current Plasencia that continues to maintain its medieval flavor.

Festivities

Plasencia celebrates its patron saint's day in honour of San Fulgencio de Cartagena on January 16th. Plasencia's patron saint, the Virgen del Puerto, is celebrated with a pilgrimage to her sanctuary on the Sunday following Easter Sunday.

Traditions

The first Tuesday in August is celebrated on Tuesday Mayor, a traditional fair declared a Festival of Regional Tourist Interest. Here you can find fruits, vegetables and handmade products from all over the north of Extremadura. Among all the products there are several contests. The decoration of balconies and windows also participates in the contests..

Curiosidades

The muslims called Plasencia, Ambroz, and that name was given to a tower located next to the Trujillo Bridge. In front of one of the doors of the church of San Esteban is the Corral de los Alcaldes, an old meeting place for the authorities of the community of the town and land of Plasencia. In addition, in the place known as El Berrocal is the only Jewish cemetery in Extremadura.​

The Legend

Next to the wall is the Lucia Tower and it is said that in the past a fire was lit at night at the top of the tower to guide the walkers who approached the city.

OTHER PLANS AND EXCURSIONS IN CÁCERES

​

SOME ROUTES BY PLASENCIA AND SURROUNDINGS

MORE ROUTES AVAILABLE, DON'T MISS IT...

​

MORE PLACES TO VISIT IN CÁCERES

MORE PLACES AVAILABLE, DON'T MISS IT...

​

OTHER CHARMING VILLAGES OF CÁCERES