Extremadura: Roman and Arab remains and medieval cities

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Extremadura is an ancient region of the Iberian peninsula today divided between Spain and Portugal. Spanish Extremadura is made up of the two provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz, while the capital is the city of Mérida. The region is bordered by Portugal to the west, Castile-León to the north, Castile-La Mancha to the east and Andalusia to the south. Agriculture (cereals, olive trees, vines, cotton, tobacco) and breeding are the main activities of the population.

GEOGRAPHY

The region is crossed by the Tagus and Guadiana rivers and its territory is largely included in the southern part of Meseta, a plateau which here has an average height between 300 and 400 meters. To the north, Meseta is bordered by the Central System mountains. These mountains are formed by the Sierra de Gata, the Sierra de Gredos and the Sierra de Béjar, where the highest peak in the region is located, Mount Calvitero (2,401 meters). These mountains form the dividing line between the Tagus and Guadiana valleys, the Sierra de Guadalupe and San Pedro. While in the south, along the border with Andalusia, there are the Sierra Morena mountains.

TOURISM IN EXTREMADURA

Extremadura is a very interesting region for tourists. There are beautiful Roman remains, such as those found in the city of Mérida (theater, amphitheater, Roman bridge, aqueduct). In the region there are also the famous Roman bridge of Alcántara, the remains of the Roman bridge of Alconétar in Garrovillas de Alconétar, the remains of the Roman city of Cáparra, the Roman Vía de la Plata which from Mérida reached as far as Astorga (Castile-Leon). Remarkable are the remains of the Arab domination such as those that can be seen in Mérida (Alcázar), Zafra (Alcázar), Badajoz, Cáceres and Trujillo.

From a naturalistic point of view, Extremadura has a national park, the Parque Nacional de Monfragüe, two natural parks (Parque Natural de Cornalvo, Parque Natural Tajo Internacional), and a nature reserve (Reserva Natural Garganta de los Infiernos).

Among the tourist attractions to visit there are beautiful medieval cities such as Plasencia, Trujillo, Cáceres, Coria, Jerez de los Caballeros, Alcántara, Garrovillas de Alconétar and Zafra. Extremadura has 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the old city of Cáceres, the archaeological complex of Mérida and the Royal Monastery of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

Extremadura