Zalamea de la Serena, municipality in the province of Badajoz, Spain
Zalamea de la Serena is a small town in Badajoz Province with stone-paved streets and traditional red brick buildings arranged around narrow alleyways. The settlement centers on a main plaza surrounded by shops and cafes, featuring religious buildings like the Church of Nuestra Señora de los Milagros with colorful tile decorations, plus nearby structures like a Roman cistern with four chambers and a castle on elevated ground.
The settlement was founded on the foundations of an Arabic fortress and maintained its fortified structure through centuries, as shown by the castle Arribalavilla that still stands today. The area contains significant archaeological remains, including sites like Cancho Roano and a Roman cistern, that document the long history from ancient times through the Christian era.
The town is deeply connected to the famous play 'The Mayor of Zalamea', which residents perform annually and visitors come to watch. This theatrical tradition shows how a literary story remains alive in the community's identity and brings people together.
Visitors can stay in traditional rural houses offering comfortable rooms and simple amenities located within walking distance or a short drive from the main settlement. The town is easily accessible by paved roads with clear signage, making it convenient to explore the surrounding vineyards and farmland.
A monument called Dístylo honors the Roman Emperor Trajan and dates from the first century after Christ, showing that the region played an important role long before modern times. Another notable place is the Casa de Pedro Crespo, a simple house that connects to the main character of the famous play and gives visitors a sense of how people lived in earlier eras.
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