The 6th of December is a constitution day in Spain, which is a public holiday. This year this holiday is on Friday and many people decided to have a little getaway as it’s a long holiday, including us. We decided to go to the area of Extremadura, which I had never been there. So it will be my first experience there.

We decided to choose this place, basically because we found a good hotel deal with good weather according to the forecast. Which turned out true! We were enjoying the sunlight at 21° in December.

So, we started the journey at midday, so we needed to stop in the middle of the way for lunch. As we drove from Madrid, we stopped at Restaurante Salamanquilla near Toledo. It is a restaurant designed for road-weary travelers and drivers. This kind of restaurant has a typical ‘platos combinados’ that means ‘combined dish.’

In many ways, it reminded me of an Indonesian “nasi campur”—a mixed dish of various flavors, served together on a plate. It is just not with rice but a combination of fresh, regional ingredients with fries.

On this journey, I got a combination of fried calamari, sunny-side-up eggs, and salad. While David got grilled chicken, sunny-side-up, and fries.

Plasencia

As we passed Plasencia, we thought to give it a visit. Plasencia is referred to as the Pearl of the Jerte Valley or the Pearl of the North. It’s a city with medieval architecture, narrow streets, and a sense of history. Plasencia’s old town is nothing short of magical, with its Roman and Moorish past standing proudly among more modern buildings. As we wandered through the old walls and admired the intricate details of its cathedral, we couldn’t help but feel like we had stepped back in time.

Another interesting spot is Plasencia’s wall, which was constructed in just 9 months! and is regarded as one of the city’s fastest construction projects

It was quiet and nothing much happening when we were there as it was around 4 or 5 pm, which is still a siesta time in Spain. So we just strolled around the town and continued our Journey

Moraleja

We finally arrived at where we’re gonna stay, the tranquil village of Moraleja. There we stayed at the comfortable and welcoming Hotel Encomienda. The village had a peaceful vibe, with winding streets and simple life.

After settling into the hotel, we went out to Estygar Restaurant for dinner. The evening air was cool, and the restaurant had a cozy yet vibrant ambiance. This restaurant brand themselves as a grill specialty so we need to try their grill menu. In this case, we ordered a little bit of seafood and a little bit of farm animal. Our option went to grilled shrimp and pork. In the beginning, we weren’t sure of what part should we order, then they suggested a part called ‘pluma’ which turned out AMAZING! We also need to give credit to the grilled shrimp that we enjoyed a lot. In summary, we had a really amazing dinner.

Next Day: Churros, Hikes, and Historic Wonders

The morning began the way any perfect Spanish day should—with churros. Fresh, golden, and crispy, they arrived on my plate alongside a cup of thick chocolate for dipping.

While I’m having a sweet breakfast, David is having another breakfast champion: tostada con jamón, a classic slice of toasted bread topped with a drizzle of olive oil, crushed tomatoes, and salty jamón ibérico. Extremadura is a perfect place to get jamon as jamon is one of the typical products of Extremadura, along with Iberian pork, cheese, oil, and others.

Fueled for the day, we set off toward La Dehesa in Cachorilla. This route that we found on WikiLoc promised nature, tranquility, and a connection to Extremadura’s vast landscapes. The trail I followed was the “Ermita del Cristo“ route, winding through the Zona Especial de Protección de Aves (ZEPA). At the end of this route, we found a quiet place by the lake with some birds flying above us.

The route started at a park, which is surprising cause this park has a little lake where you can see some ducks (if you are lucky). We decided to have our cheese and chorizo bocadillo lunch in this park. If you don’t know, bocadillo is a simple and popular crusty baguette sandwich filled with cured meat and cheese.

Caceres

Recharged with Spanish bocadillo, we drove toward Cáceres, a city that feels like an open-air museum. It is one of Spain’s most stunning cities with an amazing medieval center. Shoutout to David who was driving after the hike while I was having a good nap 😀

Our first stop in Caceres was the Plaza Mayor, the center of the city, surrounded by old buildings and lively cafés. We stayed in one bar for a light dessert and coffee. From there, we passed through the Arco de la Estrella, the iconic gate leading into the old town. Beyond the gate lies Cáceres’ historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Caceres has many narrow medieval streets with a mix of Roman, Moorish, and Renaissance architecture.

The Tower of Bujaco is among the city’s most recognizable structures. The tower’s name is derived from the Caliph Abú-Ya´qub, who utilized it as their final defensive stronghold when he overran the city in 1173 after eliminating the Frates de Cáceres.

The tower is 25 meters high, and visitors can walk on a little portion of the Cáceres wall while they are there.

Coria

As the day continued, we headed to Coria, a small town whose main treasure is its Gothic-Renaissance masterpiece of the Cathedral of Santa María de la Asunción.

Coria’s charming streets were a pleasure to stroll, each corner revealing small shops, friendly cafes, and bars. Such a quiet glimpse of daily life in Extremadura.

Next Day: Another Hike and Town Explore

The morning began with a migas breakfast, a traditional dish of the Extremadura region and is typical for breakfast. It’s made from day-old bread fried with garlic, olive oil, and paprika. I like migas but personally don’t really see it as a breakfast meal. But, after I tried, it wasn’t that bad. The migas was a warm and comforting meal start to the day.

With this migas energy, we headed off to the hotel to prepare the checkout and continue our journey. But, we saw some local market stalls on the way, so we decided to have some market hunting, diving into local stalls that offer fresh produce, artisan goods, and the region’s distinctive spices. A tip from us while visiting the local market is always to bring cash because most of them are not accepting cards. This market hunting resulted in some vegetables to bring home and some homemade sweets.

Jaraíz de la Vera: The Capital of Smoked Paprika

Our next stop was Jaraíz de la Vera, fondly known as the “Capital of Paprika.” The main reason was actually to visit a friend there, but this village is more than just a stopover. It’s a place for Extremadura cuisine.

No visit to Jaraíz would be complete without exploring the Museo del Pimentón de la Vera, located in the Palacio del Obispo Manzano where you can learn about the process of producing La Vera paprika, from the cultivation of peppers to their slow drying over oakwood smoke. If you are not really into museums, don’t worry cause you still can get this special smoked paprika without visiting the museum. You will easily find the smoked paprika vending machine on the street which costs around 2 Euros.

Later on, since we are a food lover and we are in the right place, we stocked up on lomo and homemade bread to craft our own bocadillos lunch later.

A Hike in Valdehúncar

Continuing the journey, we arrived in Valdehúncar, one village in Extremadura’s landscape. At the first point of our route, we found the perfect spot to enjoy our bocadillos, assembled fresh with lomo and crusty bread. Sitting under the shade of the trees, the simple meal tasted like a masterpiece.

With satisfied appetites, we set out to explore the Dehesa around Valdehúncar, following a route we’d discovered on WikiLoc. The landscape was alive with the sounds of nature—the rustle of leaves, the calls of distant birds, and the occasional tinkling of cowbells.

The route was peaceful and meditative, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Along the way, we stopped to adore the wildflowers, beautiful rivers, and ancient stone walls. For me, the most beautiful part was the end where you see the river. At some point, it reminds me of Indonesia where the green meets the blue clear water. It was the kind of walk that clears our minds and fills our hearts, each step connecting us more deeply to the land.

As the day ended, it was impossible not to reflect on the richness of Extremadura’s offerings. Each moment felt like a celebration of the region’s history, culture, and beautiful nature. Another unforgettable day in the heart of Spain, and still, the journey was far from over.