Cáceres province destinations: Villages in La Vera

Cáceres province is a fantastic road trip destination for rural tourism lovers. With the vast majority of cácereños living in small towns and villages, there’s plenty of little places for travellers to choose from. La Vera, in northeastern Cáceres province, is a great example.

This article, aimed at helping you pinpoint villages worth including in your trip, showcases some of the most charming villages in La Vera area, arranged in a descending population order. Each sub-section includes a brief description of each village’s location and highlights the main places of interest and reasons for visiting.

Villages in La Vera

Madrigal de la Vera

Madrigal is La Vera’s easternmost village and the perfect Extremadura first stop if your trip starts in Madrid. Situated at 396m over sea level, Madrigal has the lowest elevation in the area while also enjoying a privileged position at the foothills of Pico Almanzor, the highest mountain in central Spain (2,591m over sea level). Madrigal is all about mountain views – be it the balcony of your accommodation or from its main natural swimming pool.

Visit Madrigal for mountain views, and wild swimming.
Don’t miss the old bridge, the natural swimming pool, and the quirky Plaza de España square.

Garganta la Olla

Garganta is a quaint village situated on the western part of La Vera area, in a beautiful setting surrounded by mountains and small rivers. It has a rich architectural heritage, including a church (Iglesia de San Lorenzo), numerous medieval houses, a former brothel (Casa de las Muñecas), a Jewish quarter (Barrio la Huerta), and a headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition.

Visit Garganta for traditional architecture, and wild swimming.

Don’t miss the main square, the unique Casa la Peña, the viewpoint off the EX-391 (Mirador de la Serrana), and the pools on Garganta Mayor.

Cuacos de Yuste

Cuacos de Yuste is known for being the place that the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V chose to spend his last days. He retired to the nearby monastery of Yuste, an unmissable tourist attraction today. Cuacos has notable civil and religious buildings, such an imposing church (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción), stately homes, and traditional adobe and timber houses.

Visit Cuacos for traditional architecture, history, and wild swimming.

Don’t miss these three squares: the porticoed Plaza de España, Plaza de Juan de Austria and its outdoor stage, and the pretty Plaza Fuente de los Chorros.

Pasarón de la Vera

Set against the beautiful mountain backdrop of the western foothills of Sierra de Gredos, Pasarón overlooks the broad expanse of land stretching to the south. It has a rich architectural heritage featuring steep, narrow streets lined up with traditional old houses, several squares, a medieval church and tower (Iglesia del Salvador y Torre parroquial), and an eighteenth-century noble house (Casa de Luis Prieto).

Visit Pasarón for traditional architecture, and views.

Don’t miss the main square, the views from here, the Plaza Palacio and its fountain, and the former pen for lost animals (Corral Concejo).

Small villages in La Vera

Valverde de la Vera

Valverde is one of the best places to see traditional verato-style houses. A stream runs down the centre of steep, narrow streets in this quaint little village featuring a Jewish quarter, the remains of a fourteenth-century castle, several churches, traditional stone fountains and one of Extremadura’s most unique Easter celebrations (Los Empalaos).

Visit Valverde for traditional architecture and photographic charm.

Don’t miss its beautiful main square, the stone column (picota), the views from outside the local swimming pool.

Arroyomolinos de la Vera

Arroyomolinos is located on the western part of La Vera area, to the west of Pasarón. Despite lacking the charm of other villages, Arroyomolinos has a few interesting things worth seeing, such as a main square with a church, several fantastic examples of street art, and a viewpoint (Mirador de la Atalaya) offering far-reaching views of the mountains to the north and the vast stretch of open land to the south.

Visit Arroyomolinos for street art, rural charm, and great views.

Don’t’ miss the chameleons mural on the main road (western end of the village), the blue man mural on Plaza de la Atalaya, and the birds mural on the former bus stop.

Talaveruela de la Vera

Talaveruela is a tiny village worth a detour from the EX-203 road onto the CC-169, even if just for a quick stop. Walk around its narrow streets opening out onto little squares with stone fountains, taking in the interesting mix of architectural and decoration details of homes, both old and new(er).

Visit Talaveruela for a quiet walk, and rural charm.

Don’t’ miss Plaza de España, Plaza las Lanchas, Iglesia de San Andrés.

Viandar de la Vera

Located to the west of Talaveruela, Viandar is another tiny village worth stopping at. Walk along the main road to spot the mural on the side of the Ayuntamiento and enjoy some great views, before visiting the main square (don’t miss the house at number 24-25 in Calle Iglesia). Outside the village you’ll find a good-size natural swimming pool on Garganta de Río Moros.

Visit Viandar for rural charm, and wild swimming.

Don’t’ miss Plaza de España, the murals on Avenida de la Constitución, and the natural swimming pool.

Map of villages in La Vera

Find all the places mentioned in this article on the map below.