Cobbled streets and a Unesco Heritage monastery in Guadalupe

A centre of religious beauty, medieval architecture and fun festivals, I wanted to highlight this often overlooked little town in Extremadura, Spain. There are only about 2000 people living here, but the town is beautifully preserved from its medieval traditions, and the most famous part of the city, the monastery, does not disappoint! The city is only 150 km away from the cities of Caceres and Trujillo that I have previously written about. The area, in general, is absolutely brilliant to get a sense of a real traditional Spain, as well as a great place to soak up the sunshine and not be too crowded.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Supposedly discovered in the 14th century by a poor farmer (after whom several streets are named in Caceres), 'Our Lady of Guadalupe' is a shrine in the Royal Monastery of Santa María of Guadalupe. The monastery has stood in this spot supposedly since that farmer found the 'Black Madonna' that now is housed in the shrine. This was and still is one of the most important shrines in Spain, and the statue inside the shrine has been patronized by some of the most powerful men in Spanish history, with kings, popes and lords all paying for the upkeep and development of the shrine. For me, the monastery is slightly strange, as Guadalupe is a small and beautiful town, but very unassuming and quiet. The monastery is big, powerful and holds such a long and interesting past. This combination of out of place-ness combined with remarkable history was fantastic.

This powerful building, slightly outsized in such a small town, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it was here that Queen Isabelle and King Fernando signed the paperwork sending Christopher Columbus off to the New World in 1492!

Plaza Mayor and Town Hall

Alongside the beautiful and religiously significant cathedral, the other highlights of Guadalupe are the main square (Plaza Mayor) and the Gothic architectural town hall. Like most of Extremadura, the central square area really is the focal point of the town, and provides an open and inclusive area for the people here to gather. I also fell in love with the building that houses the Parador de Guadalupe hotel. The Parador chain is an amazing resource in Spain (we have one in Caceres as well). These hotels are always in some of the most beautiful and historical buildings in a town, and in Extremadura, with many beautiful towns and cities, the hotels are amongst the best in the country.

Real Monasterio de Guadalupe

Av. Alfonso Onceno, 0, 10140 Guadalupe, Cáceres, Spain

Parador de Guadalupe Hotel

Calle Marqués de la Romana, 12, 10140 Guadalupe, Cáceres, Spain