I was surprised to see that Merida boasts the largest and most impressive Roman ruins in Spain. They are everywhere; amphitheaters, forums, columned temples, fountains, bridges…and they are impressive.
About an hour and a half north of Merida I had one of my most memorable travel experiences in front of the Alcantara Roman bridge. I had heard the bridge, built in 107AD by order of Emperor Trajan, was worth the trip to the outskirts of town.
Although the paradores are all over Spain, one parador I found especially beautiful is a renovated monastery, Real Monasterio de Santa Maria de Guadalupe, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Many of the conquistadors that explored new worlds came from the Extremadura region in western Spain, specifically from the town of Trujillo.
Visitors have long described Santillana as “the prettiest village in all of Spain,” this charming village looks much like it did in the 1400s. The winding cobblestone streets are lined with perfectly preserved stone houses.
Here you can enjoy the crisp local wine and seafood so fresh you can watch the fishermen bringing it into port.