At exactly 36 degrees latitude, the Punta de Tarifa is the southernmost point of continental Europe. The only parts of Europe farther south are islands – including the Greek island of Gavdos, which is the southernmost point of Europe. The North African capitals of Algiers and Tunis actually lie farther north than Tarifa. The distance to Morocco, and thus the African continent, is only 14 …
3 years since we left Jávea, 3 years living on 10 square metres, 3 years of travelling non-stop through Europe (Corona kept us here), 3 years during which we explored 34 countries. For sure something we wanted to celebrate! We are at the beautiful Costa de la Luz, enjoying the coastline, the beaches, the sea …
We had reached the Costa de la Luz at Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe. The earliest archaeological remains are from the 8th century BC, as it was founded already by the Phoenicians. As Cádiz is situated on a narrow slice of land surrounded by sea‚ we started our walk around it along the …
With Llerena and Zafra we visited two towns with lovely historic centres, city gates and beautiful places. The whole area was in the hands of the Order of Santiago after the Reconquista. The Moors were driven away from the area of Llerena in 1243 by the Spanish-Portuguese general and Grand Master of the Order of …
Jerez de los Caballeros and Fregenal de la Sierra – two lovely small towns, disregarding their long names, which we soon might have difficulties to remember. But that’s what this blog is for! As we are at the border region to Portugal and Andalusia, you find strong city walls and castles in every town. The …
From our perfect spot at a lake, we were travelling through the south-east of the Extremadura, stopping at Olivenza and ending at the river Guadiana, where we found a beach with a chiringuito (bar/restaurant). Around the river Guadiana, the soil seems to be more fertile, and crops like sunflowers, corn and cereal gave the landscape …
We had read about a Dolmen north of Mérida , which we wanted to see. We visited some others before, in Andalusia and Portugal and were looking forward to this one too, as they are all different in their state of conservation. It is located in the middle of the Dehesa, where a small sign …
Mérida, once Emerita Augusta, was founded as a Roman colony in 25 BC under the order of the emperor Augustus. As one of the most important cities in Roman Hispania, it was endowed with all the comforts of a large Roman city and served as capital of the Roman province of Lusitania. The Muslims were re-using Roman walls …
South of Guadalupe, we found this Via Verde called Via Verde Vegas del Guadiana, which leads from the river Guadiana north through rice fields and the dehesa landscape – pastures with oak trees. It is a 57km long track between Villanueva del la Serena and Logrosán. This railway was not even completed before the project …
In the very East of the Extremadura lies the Royal Monastery of Santa María of Guadalupe, for centuries the most important cloister in Spain, inextricably linked with the Spanish campaigns of conquest in America. The Catholic kings Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragón received Christopher Columbus here in 1486 and 1489. He made …
