A town of Extremadura, where it is easy to imagine yourself in medieval times given it houses one of the best-preserved medieval urban complexes in the world—is Cáceres. Thanks to its extraordinarily well-preserved streets, squares, palaces, and walls, we can get a clear sense of its ancient past.
Cáceres is one of Spain’s UNESCO World Heritage cities, boasting the third largest monumental complex in Europe. Its official name, according to the Cáceres City Council, is “Monumental City”; however, its popular nickname is “The Happy City,” and we can confirm that it lives up to the name.
The ideal spot to plan and begin your visit to the Monumental City of Cáceres is its Plaza Mayor, the gateway to the city. This wide, rectangular square brings together not only an important display of the city’s cultural heritage, but also its social and commercial life. The historic buildings that have flanked the Plaza Mayor of Cáceres for centuries, attached to the old wall, coexist daily with the bustling commercial activity of bars and restaurants settled in this grand space.
Before being known as Plaza Mayor, this flat and rectangular space also went by other names: Plaza de la Feria, Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza de la Villa, or Plaza del General Mola. Over the centuries, the square has hosted countless social events such as markets, bullfights, public executions, military parades, and Holy Week processions. In more recent times, it has been the venue for music concerts, such as those of the WOMAD Festival (World Of Music, Arts & Dance), held in Cáceres since 1992.
Among the historic structures surrounding the square is the Yerba Tower, an albarrana tower of Arab origin built in the 12th century to repel Christian attacks during the Reconquista, along with its neighbor, the Pulpits Tower, of Christian origin. Another building still integrated into the ancient wall is the Bujaco Tower—without doubt the most iconic construction in the square and one of the inseparable symbols of Cáceres. Built by the Arabs around the 12th century on Roman foundations, its 25-meter-high battlemented tower offers breathtaking panoramic views of the old city. Next to Bujaco Tower is the 18th-century Chapel of Peace.
In the Plaza Mayor we find the main gateway to the monumental complex of Cáceres: the Arch of the Star (Arco de la Estrella). Its name comes from the image of Our Lady of the Star that crowns its inner arch.
Likewise, on the south side of the Plaza Mayor of Cáceres, you can visit the Forum of the Balbos, an open space with various decorations that, in ancient times, hosted the city’s first municipal assemblies. Today it houses the Forum of Music and its chamber concerts. Next to it stands the Cáceres City Hall, built at the end of the 19th century.
The Plaza Mayor of Cáceres is definitely the best starting point for gaining a clear picture of its historical past—and, of course, for posing next to the large letters spelling out its name, confirming that you have visited the “Happy City” of Extremadura.
