Holiday Home/Apartment - 2 persons - Finca Al Manzil - 10170 - Montánchez

FINCA AL-MANZIL is a country estate in the beautiful Sierra de Montanchez of Extremadura. Within 40 kms of 3 UNESCO world heritage towns, Merida for Roman ruins, Caceres for Medieval atmosphere, Trujillo for conquistador mystique; all full of historical interest and very picturesque. Also charming, authentic villages within a few kilometers. THE BARN is set in a wonderful and traditional area of natural woodland with 22 hectares of private grounds. Around the barn is a meadow with a central copse of holme oaks, a lovely shady area. The meadow is beautiful in spring, a carpet of wild flowers. Our beautiful barn is in its own grounds of 1 hectare at Finca al-manzil. It has its own entrance and complete privacy. Furnished with care, interesting objects and paintings. Really spacious with upstairs bedroom, a double height sitting/dining room of 45m2 with sofa, armchairs, dining for six, plenty of books and dvds. A wood burning stove keeps the whole space really cosy in the cooler months. The kitchen is well equipped with gas hob, oven, washing machine, fridge, attractive table ware and lots of useful cooking equipment, door leads out to terrace. with outside dining table on covered porch. Sunny bathroom with roomy shower and views of meadow. Long covered terrace with views over the olive groves and up to the peaks, a lovely place for dining and watching the birds. A perfect place to stay for a few days or longer. There are special rates for longer stays. SIERRA DE MONTANCHEZ Molinos Azagala are situated in the Sierra de Montanchez which is famous for jamon. The black iberic pigs graze contentedly in the surrounding oak forests gorging on the abundant acorns, an essential part of the process for producing the delicious Montanchez jamon and chorizo. Cows, sheep and goats graze on the mountain pastures, the cheese products are delicious. The wine produced in Montanchez is very characteristic, usually quite strong and full bodied , can be up to 16% . In many villages of the sierra the local wine , Pitarra, is still made from the grapes which grow in the mountain vineyards, transported to cellars that still exist in most of the old houses and fermented in huge ali baba clay pots called tinajas. MONTANCHEZ The largest village in the Sierra de Montanchez. Dominated by its Moorish castle it is know as the Balcony of the Extremadura because of the splendid, vast views down into the valleys and plains towards Trujillo , the Gredos mountains and Cornalvo natural park. The oldest part of the town is typical of its Moorish heritage, small, narrow streets leading to secluded little courtyards. The life of the village centres around the thriving jamon production. Indeed the local jamon is one of only three recognized in the whole of Spain for its outstanding quality. Life is still slow here, the older generation still use their donkeys as the main means of transport to their outlying fincas. The walking, riding and birdwatching (see separate entry) are wonderful experiences due to the lack of urban development in the sierra. The whole sierra is criss-crossed by Moorish trading paths which give access to outstanding areas of unspoilt, natural beauty. At our rural retreats one can appreciate the quiet and peace of the sierra whilst enjoying walking or riding out directly into the sierra. Nearest village is Arroyomolinos, 2kms walk or 5 mins . drive where the unique ruta de molinos climbs up through a stunning gorge passing numerous ancient watermills. MERIDA The capital of Extremadura, was one of the most famous Roman capitals of the Iberian Peninsula, – Augusta Emerita, it features some of the best preserved Roman ruins in Europe. Merida was passed between Roman, Moorish, Visigoth and Christian control. It is a fabulous place to walk. Archaeology pops up in the strangest corners, and the Moorish influence adds a grace of its own to the town. Merida preserves some of the most outstanding Roman monuments, including a colossal theatre, an amphitheatre, two aqueducts, and a bridge. A must is the Museum of Roman Art with its invaluable collection representing Roman civilization through amazing mosaic floors, statues, household artefacts and jewellery. Summer visitors can enjoy magical evenings in the Roman theatre under the stars watching top performances of drama, dance and music. CACERES The capital of Upper Extremadura has a beautiful old quarter, enclosed by Moorish town walls with great watch-towers. Additional attractions include some exceptional Renaissance palaces. Founded by Romans in 34 BC, this thriving provincial capital is the closest Extremadura comes to a big city. Named a World Heritage City in 1986, the barrio antiguo offers plenty of architectural wonder. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, rival noble families vied for social and political control, each building a miniature palace to demonstrate their power and wealth. As a result, the old city is a wonderful maze of palaces, museums, and churches. Although the more modern areas are less interesting, there are plenty of shops, nightlife and cultural events to be enjoyed. From Cáceres it is possible to enter Portugal by bus or by train via Badajoz or Valencia de Alcántara. TRUJILLO The birthplace of famous conqueror Pizarro is well known for its beautiful main square. There is also a great Moorish castle and the well-preserved town-walls with seven doors. The gem of Extremadura, hill-top Trujillo is an enchanting old-world town unspoiled by modern influences. Over 600 conquistadors came from Extremadura, many of them from Trujillo including Peru's conqueror Francisco Pizarro and the Amazon's first European explorer, Francisco de Orellana. Scattered with medieval palaces, Roman ruins, Arabic fortresses, and churches of every era, beautiful walled gardens Trujillo is a facinating mix of histories and cultures. Its most impressive monument is the 10th-century Moorish castle commanding a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding plains. GUADALUPE This beautiful town is dominated by a colossal Mudejar style monastery which preserves valuable works of art. It witnessed the documents certifying the departure on the American adventure. And there the first captive Aztecs were baptized. The most famous Marian Sanctuary for all of the Spanish speaking world dates from the miraculous discovery of the image of the Virgin de Guadalupe, the black Madonna, its Patron Saint, around the year 1300. The huge Monastery combines Gothic, Mudejar and Plateresque in unusual grandeur. There are admirable paintings by Juan de Flandes, Zurbarán and Lucas Jordan, apart from the miniatures of its choir books, the rich collection of ornaments and the buildings which used to be a hostelry, hospital and royal fortress. BADAJOZ The capital of Lower Extremadura. The town lies on a hillside near where the rivers Rivillas and Guadiana meet. The Portuguese border is only 6kms from this castle dominated town. There are well preserved Moorish wals and Alcazar. The peace and quiet, the barn is surrounded by beautiful woods and pastures so it's very peaceful. Excellent for bird watching.