Extremadura, Autonomous region in western Spain
Extremadura is an autonomous region in western Spain that includes the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz. The landscape alternates between mountain ranges, river plains, and wide pastures for sheep and pigs.
This area was a frontier zone between different kingdoms and cultures for centuries during the Middle Ages. In the 16th century, many conquistadors departed from here to the Americas and shaped Spanish colonial history.
Local dishes here come from pig farming and cheesemaking that takes place across the open pastures. The name derives from old boundaries between Christian and Moorish territories.
Most towns sit along main roads accessible from Madrid or Portugal, while rural villages often require a car to reach. Train connections link the larger centers like Mérida, Cáceres, and Badajoz with each other and the capital.
Monfragüe National Park hosts the largest colony of black vultures in Europe, nesting between cliffs above the Tagus River. The old cork oak forests also provide habitat for Iberian lynx and Spanish imperial eagles.
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