EXTREMADURA - CÁCERES - A FEW DAYS IN PLASENCIA

Miguel Renoir Spanish Guides
Feb 7, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Mar 16

A FEW DAYS IN PLASENCIA - CÁCERES

Our initial reason for going on this trip was to see the almond blossoms, but unfortunately, we were a little too early, so we spent our time in and around the town. Plasencia, a walled market city in the province of Cáceres in Extremadura, has a population of around 40,000.

Situated on the bank of the Jerte River, Plasencia has a historic quarter, a consequence of the city's strategic location along the Silver Route, or Ruta de la Plata, guarding the entrance to the Jerte Valley.

Since the 15th century, the noblemen of the region began to move to Plasencia, defining its current appearance.

We stayed at the

HOTEL PALACIO CARVAJAL GIRÓN

Plaza Ansano, 1, 10600 Plasencia, Cáceres +34 927 42 63 26 www.palaciocarvajalgiron.com

Located in a 16th-century Renaissance palace, this charming hotel offers modern and tastefully decorated rooms and the best of staying in a historic building in the centre of Plasencia, in the heart of the Jewish quarter, and very close to the Cathedral.

Another excellent spot to stay would be

PARADOR DE PLASENCIA Plaza de San Vicente Ferrer, 10600 Plasencia +34 927 42 58 70

The Parador is in the old quarter

and occupies the Santo Domingo Monastery, built in the 15th century.

It's strategically located along the ancient commercial and pilgrimage route of Ruta de la Plata.

The bodega at the Parador

On the first evening, we ate at the excellent

TENTEMPIE Calle Santa Maria 11, Plaza De San Esteban, 10600 Plasencia +34 927 41 73 64

This modern gastrobar was probably the best food we had in Plasencia.

We tried a few of their dishes, including,

Tataki de atún (tuna tataki)

Mini Tortilla

Pato Pekin (Peking duck bun)

Ensalada de quinoa (quinoa salad)

Gyozas langostinos y jengibre (prawn and ginger dumplings)

Music and the service were good in a busy atmosphere

With a good selection of wines and beers

Other restaurants and bars we tried include,

EL RINCON DE AMADOR

Calle San Esteban 14, 10600 Plasencia +34 927 41 30 21

Situated just off the central Plaza in Plasencia, this restaurant is very pleasant and serves good food from a varied menu. We had the local speciality, tapa de migas con huevo.

BAR DANUBIO

Plaza Mayor, 23, 10600 Plasencia, Cáceres +34 927 42 23 08

No visit to Plasencia is possible without spending some time on the Plaza Mayor. Whatever is happening there is also happening there. Some evenings, you will see groups of men in minstrel cloaks carrying lutes (a small guitar-like instrument) and guitars walking around singing. This is a good place to observe.

Have your drink and peruse the traditional menu, seen above, which included many dishes we had not seen for a while.

RESTAURANTE MAGARI Calle Santa Clara, 6, 10600 Plasencia, Cáceres +34 927 70 13 21 www.restaurantemagari.es

A good place for a main meal or tapas

Magari is downtown, near the Cathedral; they have an excellent menu del dia for €13.90.

The Restaurant has an internal living garden.

We had the speciality, Rabo de Toro (Oxtail).

EL RINCÓNCITO Calle Vidrieras 8, 10600 Plasencia, Cáceres +34 927 41 11 50

The cuisine here differs slightly from the usual traditional fayre, it is generous and well presented.

We had tartaleta de Hummus de garbanzo, berenjena crujiente, miel de castaño y pimenton de Vera (chickpea hummus tartlet, crispy eggplant, chestnut honey and paprika from Vera).

Foccacia Capresse (tomate, mozzarela y oregano).

PASTELERÍA VIRGIN DEL PUERTO

Calle Morenas, 15, 10600 Plasencia, Cáceres, +34 927 42 09 27

This was a good spot for breakfast. It is located a few yards from the Plaza Mayor de Plasencia, in front of the Church of San Esteban. They have delicious cakes and pastries.

We also had a look in

CATEDRAL DE SAN ANTOLÍN Plaza Inmaculada Concepción, 34005 Palencia

The Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in Palencia. It is dedicated to Saint Antoninus of Pamiers.

The Cathedral, built from 1172 to 1504, stands over a low-vaulted Visigothic crypt. It is a large Gothic building popularly dubbed "The Unknown Beauty" because it is not as well known as other Spanish cathedrals.

It is a valuable building whose interior contains many valuable works of art.

The building is more than 130 metres long, 42 metres high and 50 metres wide at the centre, making it one of the largest cathedrals in Spain and Europe.