Plasencia sightseeing: 9 places not to miss

Plasencia is a small city located by the river Jerte, in Cáceres province. Its walkable walled city centre is full of charming architectural gems including a one-of-a-kind cathedral, and is worth a day trip from Cáceres or an overnight trip from Madrid.

This Plasencia sightseeing mini-guide is aimed at helping first-time visitors plan their trip. Make the most of your first day in Plasencia by visiting my personal selection of places not to miss.

Catedrales de Plasencia

This unique two-in-one cathedral is made up of Catedral Vieja (old cathedral), built in the thirteenth-fifteenth centuries in a transitional style between late Romanesque and Gothic, and Catedral Nueva (new cathedral), built at the end of the fifteenth century in a Gothic style, but left unfinished in the sixteenth century. The old cathedral was supposed to be replaced with the new one, but money ran out and the result is a huge cathedral made up of two very different halves.

The old cathedral occupies the rear part of the ensemble and it preserves three naves without an apse. Some highlights include a cloister, where you can see the intersection between the old and the new cathedral, and a beautiful chapel (Capilla de San Pablo), former chapterhouse.

The impressive interior of the new cathedral stands out for its verticality, its richly-decorated central portal, the golden lined vaults, and the ornate organ. Something that certainly catches your eye is the intricate fifteenth-century wooden choir stalls behind the elaborate metal fence.

Location: Plaza Catedral, 1

City walls and gates

Dating from the late twelfth-century, the city walls are said to originally have had seventy small towers, a fortress (which didn’t survive) and three large towers, including Torre de Lucía. Large parts of the walls were destroyed, but you can still see a fairly large section by walking along Calle Puerta de Berrozana to Calle Higuerillas past the Puerta de Berrozana gate, to then enter the city centre via Puerta Coria. The most impressive of all city gates is, in my opinion, Puerta de Trujillo, which is home to a chapel (accessible from Calle Ancha). And in front of Puerta del Sol, you can see an equestrian statue of King Alfonso XII, the city founder.

Torre de Lucía

Part of the city walls, this tower houses a tiny exhibition centre of Plasencia’s medieval history. But it’s mostly due to the views from the top that it’s worth a visit. You can walk along two small sections of the walls and enjoy some great views of the city centre and the surroundings. Aim to visit Torre de Lucía just before sunset. The northern views of the city, with Jerte Valley in the background in the evening light are something to behold.

Location: Calle Torre Lucía, s/n

​Mirador​

During the two months he spent in Plasencia in 1917, famed Spanish artist Joaquín Sorolla painted Extremadura. The market, commissioned by the Hispanic Society of America and depicting a bustling agricultural market scene in Plasencia. For a similar view of the city to the one painted by Sorolla, cross the Puente de Trujillo and look back to the centre from the little viewpoint between two benches in Calle Rambla de Santa Teresa.

Location: Calle Rambla de Santa Teresa

Acueducto de San Antón

Made up of two sections converging at an angle between Parque de los Pinos and Avenida Juan Carlos I, this aqueduct was built in the sixteenth century to provide Plasencia residents with water from the sierras in the lower Jerte Valley. Several arches were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and later rebuilt. A few arches are kept separately from the aqueduct near the local hospital, in the northern part of the city.

Location: Calle Arcos de San Antón

Plaza Mayor

All the main streets in the historic centre converge in this arcaded square, a popular meeting point for locals which also hosts a centuries-old weekly farmers market every Tuesday. The most notable building in Plaza Mayor is the town hall, built (and repeatedly renovated) in a late-Gothic-Renaissance style. Holding onto a column of its main tower is Abuelo Mayorga, Plasencia’s beloved jack striking the time every half an hour.

Museo Etnográfico Textil Pérez Enciso

Displayed over three floors, this museum’s collection comprises a wide range of traditional textiles, home accessories and furnishings, and tools from all corners of Cáceres province. Spain is a country of everything regional and many regional costumes, music and traditions are largely unknown abroad. This museum serves as a useful introduction to, for example, the elements making up various local versions of the traditional extremeño costume worn in different occasions by men and women (and, in the case of women, the elements and colours signalling their civil status).

Location: intersection of Calle Trujillo, 25 with Plazuela Marqués de la Puebla

Parador

​Paradores are state-supported four-start hotels located in historical buildings throughout Spain. Parador de Plasencia occupies a magnificent former convent built in the fifteenth century over the remains of an old synagogue and part of the Jewish quarter. If you already have your accommodation in Plasencia sorted, book a table at the restaurant or pop in to the bar for a coffee. Find any excuse to check the interior and walk around its pretty cloister.

Location: Plaza San Vicente Ferrer, s/n

Ermita Santuario de la Virgen del Puerto

Situated about five kilometres away from the city centre, to the north of Plasencia, this chapel dedicated to the local patron saint is a good place to go to for a great view. Unfortunately, last time I went it was incredibly foggy and I could not enjoy the view from outside the chapel. I had to drive back down a bit to find a place to spot Plasencia and the reservoir to the south, and enjoy a view of the green surroundings.

The chapel makes a good morning or evening walk from Plasencia (outside the summer months), and there’s pavement on one side of the road from the local hospital all the way up.

Location: Avenida Virgen del Puerto, s/n

Plasencia sightseeing map