Spanish Culture & Cuisine 9-day Tour of Extremadura

Sunday 11^th – Monday 19^th April 2027

Extremadura is an area of mountains, forests, lakes and reserves, notably Monfragüe National Park which shelters diverse birdlife.  We will visit three of its UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Mérida, Cáceres, and Guadalupe), along with ancient Roman outposts and medieval conquistador towns such as Trujillo and its iconic Plaza Mayor; and the Alcazaba of Badajoz, the largest Moorish citadel in Europe. We will also cross over the border into nearby Portugal to visit Elvas, which has the largest bulwarked dry-ditch fortification system in the world (UNESCO World Heritage).

DAY 1 Sunday 11^TH April: JAVEA/ LA RODA (253 KM) / CIUDAD REAL (176 km)

08.30 hrs: Departure from Golden Star Apartments, Jávea Arenal.

08.45 hrs: Departure from Interiors (opposite side of the road), Jávea port.

09.05 hrs: Pickup at Mas y Mas on the N332 if required. Travel to La Roda, with a comfort stop enroute. 12.00 hrs: Arrival in La Roda, free time for lunch.

The historic town of La Roda is best known for its beautifully preserved manorial architecture, the landmark Church of El Salvador, and its world-famous Miguelitos pastries.

14.30 hrs: Reboard our coach and continue our journey to Ciudad Real.

16.45 hrs: Arrival and check into the 4* Hotel Sercotel Guadiana, 1 night bed & breakfast accommodation.

Located 600 metres from the historic centre.

Free evening.

DAY 2 Monday 12^TH April: Ciudad Real / Puerto Peña Playa (136 km) / Mérida (111 km)

Breakfast.

Free morning for own sightseeing in Ciudad Real. Founded in 1255 by King Alfonso X (“The Wise”) as Villa Real to counter the influence of military religious orders, it blends medieval history with a modern layout. The city is globally tied to the literary legacy of Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote.

Puerta de Toledo: A striking 14th-century Mudéjar-style gate that stands as one of the few remaining entry points of the city’s ancient medieval walls.

Catedral de Santa María del Prado: A beautiful 15th-century Gothic cathedral celebrated for its massive, single-nave interior and grand altarpiece.

Plaza Mayor & Carillon: The heart of the city, flanked by a unique, Northern-European style Town Hall. It features a whimsical carillon clock where figures of Cervantes, Don Quixote, and Sancho Panza emerge at designated hours.

12.00 hrs: Check out and load luggage onto the coach. Travel to Puerto Peña Playa.

14.15 hrs: Included lunch at the Restaurante Puerto Peña Playa.

16.15 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Mérida.

18.00 hrs: Check into the 4* Parador de Mérida, set in an 18th-century former convent located in the historic centre of Mérida (access via the gated parking area); 3 nights’ bed & breakfast accommodation.

Free evening.

DAY 3 Tuesday 13^TH April

Breakfast.

Free day in Mérida or optional guided walking tour (additional cost).

Mérida is the capital city of Extremadura, founded in 25 BC as Emerita Augusta by Roman Emperor Augustus, it served as the capital of the ancient Roman province of Lusitania. Today, it has the Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida, one of the largest and best-preserved Roman archaeological sites in Europe and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Explore the Mérida Roman Amphitheatre and the ancient Roman Theatre. Walk to the Temple of Diana and cross the Roman Bridge over the Guadiana River.

2^nd night in the 4* Parador de Mérida.

DAY 4 Wednesday 14^th April: Mérida / Elvas (83 km) / Badajoz (20 km) / Mérida (62 km)

Breakfast.

09.00 hrs: Board our coach and travel to Elvas, just over the border in Portugal.

10.15 hrs: Arrival in Elvas.

Upon arrival in the city, you are greeted by a magnificent Aqueduct extending 7 km and consisting of 843 arches. You have, in fact, just entered the largest bulwarked fortification in the world, with its defensive structures in the shape of a star that encloses a perimeter of nearly 10 km, which are a unique testimony to the development of military strategy up to the 19th century. The fortifications were very important in the battles with Spain for the independence of Portugal in the mid-17th century and served as a base for General Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

10.30 hrs: Free time to visit the Castelo de Elvas.  The fortress perimeter has the shape of an irregular polygon. There are 3 main entrances to the castle – the Porta da Esquina, Porta de Olivença and Porta de São Vicente. The keep was rebuilt in 1488.

13.15 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Badejoz.

14.00 hrs: Arrival and free time for lunch and own sight-seeing.

Badejoz offers a relaxed Spanish vibe with no large tourist crowds. Highlights include the massive 12th-century Alcazaba (one of the largest Moorish fortresses in Europe), which offers great views of the Guadiana River. The colourful Plaza Alta; the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista (13th-century with a mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles), and traditional Extremaduran food. 

Plaza Alta: A stunning, very photogenic square with colourful red-and-white facades

17.00 hrs: Reboard our coach for the return journey to Mérida.

3^rd night in the 4* Parador de Mérida.

DAY 5 Thursday 15^th April: Mérida / Museo Vostell Malpartida (80 km) / Cáceres (20 km)

Breakfast.

09.15 hrs: Check out and load luggage onto the coach.

09.30 hrs: Travel to the Natural Monument Los Barruecos.

10.45 hrs: The coach will stop in the car park at the Museo Vostell Malpartida, which is next to the lower lake at the Natural Monument Los Barruecos. Stroll to the lake or have a coffee in the café.

11.30 hrs: Guided visit to the Museo Vostell Malpartida, a unique contemporary art museum that merges avant-garde 20th-century art with a dramatic natural landscape. Founded in 1976 by the German artist Wolf Vostell, the museum is housed inside an 18th-century wool-washing facility. It is famous for its large-scale, thought-provoking installations seamlessly integrated into the giant granite rock formations of the surrounding Los Barruecos Natural Monument.

13.00 hrs: Free time for refreshments.

14.30 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Cáceres.

15.30 hrs: Check into the 4* Hotel Dorma Agora Caceres (2 nights bed & breakfast).

Large coaches drop off passengers at the Plaza Obispo Galarza, which is located about 250 metres away from the hotel).

Rest of the afternoon/evening free.

DAY 6 Friday 16^th April: Cáceres / Quesería Doña Francisca (13 km)

Breakfast.

10.30 hrs: Board our coach and travel to nearby Quesería Doña Francisca, where we will learn the cheesemaking process.

11.00 hrs: The tour will cover the entire interior of the factory (rooms for: milk reception, production, brine, ripening chambers and dispatch room). Special emphasis is placed on the production of Torta del Casar, a product considered a gastronomic benchmark of the region, and which has the distinction of Protected Designation of Origin.

We will then proceed to the tasting room where you can sample 10 varieties of products – and explanation will be given of each of their properties and most distinctive characteristics: flavours, aromas and textures. The cheese tasting will be accompanied by a glass of wine from the region (or with mineral water if you prefer), after which there will be time to visit the store.

12.45 hrs: Return to Cáceres.

Rest of the day free, OR optional guided walking tour of Cáceres in the afternoon.

15.30 hrs: 1.5-2 hrs walking tour (additional cost).

Cáceres is a UNESCO World Heritage city boasting one of Europe’s most preserved medieval and Renaissance old towns.  Top attractions:

• Casco Antiguo (Old Town)
• Plaza Mayor & Bujaco Tower: Climb the 25-metre Moorish Bujaco Tower for views over the city’s stork-nest-topped roofs. 
• Plaza de Santa María: where you will find the Santa María Pro-Cathedral. You can climb its bell tower for another great vantage point.
• Casa de las Veletas: This former palace houses the Cáceres Museum and features one of Spain’s largest and best-preserved Hispano-Muslim cisterns beneath its cloister. 
• Helga de Alvear Museum of Contemporary Art: Just outside the old walls, this large gallery houses one of Europe’s premier private contemporary art collections, featuring works by Picasso and Ai Weiwei. 
• Palacio de los Golfines de Abajo: A wonderful example of 15th-century Plateresque and Renaissance architecture. 

2^nd night in the 4* Hotel Dorma Agora Caceres.

DAY 7 Saturday 17^th April: Cáceres / Trujillo (50 km) / Guadalupe (78 km)

Breakfast.

09.15 hrs: Check out and load luggage onto the coach. Travel to Trujillo.

10.00 hrs: Arrival and free time for refreshments.

Free day OR

11.00 hrs: Optional 2-hour walking tour (additional cost).

Visit to the Castle
Visit to the Church of Santa María la Mayor
Visit to the Pizarro House Museum
Visit to the Cistern

The historic town of Trujillo is famous for its stunning medieval and Renaissance architecture, its hilltop Moorish castle, and its deep ties to the age of discovery.

• Plaza Mayor: An asymmetric central square. It features arcaded walkways and historic cafes. It is widely considered one of the most beautiful squares in Spain.
• Pizarro Statue: A massive bronze equestrian monument. It depicts Francisco Pizarro, the local conquistador who conquered Peru.
• Palacio de la Conquista: A 16th-century Renaissance palace. Built by Pizarro’s brother, it features an ornate Plateresque corner balcony.
• Palacio de los Duques de San Carlos: A majestic Renaissance mansion. King Felipe II stayed here while visiting the town.

Trujillo Castle: built in the 13th century on the site of an old Arab fortress from the 9th or 10th century, it is made up of two parts, the Main Courtyard and the Albacara. The square towers typical of Islamic military architecture are preserved.

13.00 hrs: Free time for refreshments/further sightseeing.

15.30 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Guadalupe.

17.00 hrs: Check into the Hospederia Del Real Monasterio Guadalupe, a 2* hotel located in the Gothic cloister, for 1 night’s half-board accommodation (dinner and breakfast included).  Built in the 16th century, it forms part of the great architectural complex of the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe.  In 1993 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Please note: there is an elevator, however, navigating the property can still be challenging for anyone with limited mobility due to its ancient layout.

If you approach the main pedestrian entrance from the town square you must climb a monumental flight of stone stairs, but there is an accessible entrance: Guests with mobility issues or heavy luggage can bypass the front stairs by driving up the side ramp to the hotel’s vehicle drop-off zone and parking area. From there, you can enter the building on flat ground. The hotel has an elevator to help guests reach upper floors, but because it is a modified 16th-century monastery, the architectural layout is non-traditional. Even after taking the elevator to your floor, you may still encounter small, unexpected flights of 3 to 5 internal steps along the corridors to reach certain rooms.  It may be possible to request one of their fully adapted, wheelchair-accessible rooms on the ground level or a room with direct, step-free access from the elevator.

Despite the austere, monastic aesthetic of the building, each room is fully equipped with:

• Free high-speed Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the property.
• Every room features individually controlled air conditioning for summer and central heating for colder months.
• Rooms include a flat-screen satellite TV.
• A full private bathroom equipped with a shower or bathtub, complimentary toiletries, towels, and a hairdryer.

21.00 hrs: Dinner for the group – it may be possible to change the time to 20.30 hrs.

DAY 8 Sunday 18^th April: Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe / Talverna de la Reina (102 km) / Alcázar de San Juan (186 km)

Breakfast.’

09.10: Meet in reception for the short walk to the entrance of the Monastery (7 mins).

09.30 hrs: Guided visit to the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe (1 hr).

11.00 hrs: Check out, load luggage onto the coach and travel to Talverna de la Reina.

13.00 hrs: Free time in Talverna de la Reina for lunch and to have a wander around the city’s old quarter, very close to the river, world-renowned for its ceramics, declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The city was originally a wedding gift for a queen: Alfonso XI presented it to his wife, Doña María of Portugal, upon their marriage in 1328. From then on, Talavera has been known as “de la Reina”.

15.15 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Alcázar de San Juan.

17.30 hrs: Check into the 4* Hotel Intelier Airén, 1 night’s dinner & breakfast included.

19.30 hrs: Dinner for the group.

The hotel is 10-15 mins walk from Plaza España, the main square in the centre of Alcázar de San Juan.

DAY 9 Monday 19^th April: Alcázar de San Juan / Dominio de la Vega Winery (219 km) / Jávea (170 km)

Breakfast.

09.00 hrs: Check out and load luggage onto the coach.

09.15 hrs: Short drive to the nearby Molinos de Viento, and an opportunity to take photos.

Windmills emerged in the La Mancha region as a new technology in the mid-16th century, functioning as an alternative to the scarcity of watermills caused by the climate and orography of the place. The last windmill in Alcázar de San Juan ceased operation in 1939. In the 1960s, several windmills were restored and renamed after places associated with Don Quixote. The San Antón Hill currently preserves four of the nineteen windmills that once existed within the municipal boundaries of Alcázar de San Juan.

12.00 hrs: Visit to the Dominio de la Vega Winery for a tour, tasting and almuerzo brunch (this visit to be confirmed).

Dominio de la Vega is a family-run winery, close-knit, and committed to the land, belonging to the Utiel-Requena PDO.  Located among vineyards in the Casa-Bodega del Conde de Villar, it was built by Count Ferrer de Plegamans at the beginning of the 18th century and has been restored to take advantage of the underground cellars and tanks.

• Guided tour of the cellars and winery

• Tasting of 2 Cavas and 2 Wines
• Almuerzo brunch

14.30 hrs: Continue our journey to Jávea; comfort stop enroute.

17.00 hrs: Approximate time of arrival in Jávea.

What is included

Coach transport by Denibus, accommodation and meals for the driver.

4* Hotel Sercotel Guadiana, 1 night bed & breakfast.

Lunch at the Restaurante Puerto Peña Playa.

4* Parador de Mérida, 3 nights bed & breakfast accommodation.

Guided visit (in English) to the Museo Vostell Malpartida

4* Hotel Dorma Agora Caceres (2 nights bed & breakfast).

Guided visit (in English) to Quesería Doña Francisca.

2* Hospederia Del Real Monasterio Guadalupe, 1 night’s half-board accommodation (dinner and breakfast included).

Guided visit to the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe (in English)

4* Hotel Intelier Airén, 1 night’s dinner & breakfast.

Visit to the Dominio de la Vega Winery (to be confirmed).

Basic travel insurance.

Gratuities.

There are no tourist taxes to be paid at these hotels.

The price is based upon a smaller group of 30 members (if demand is sufficient, it may be possible to obtain a few more rooms).

Price

Sharing a twin or double room €1,175 per person

Room for sole occupancy €1,650 per person

Deposit upon confirmation of reservation: €350 per person

Additional cost – optional walking tours.

Cancellation

Please note that should you subsequently cancel your booking, refunds can only be made if your reservation is taken over by another member. Members are required to have travel insurance appropriate to their own personal needs.

Group Leader: Angela Chantry
spanish.culture.cuisine@gmail.com