Orellana La Vieja offers a range of highlights for your stay: wildlife watching at Laguna del Santo, water sports at Playa de Orellana and historic buildings. Traditional festivals are also part of local life, combining religious occasions with regional customs and food.

Lagoon, beach and water sports

Windsurfing, sailing and canoeing are available at Playa de Orellana, also known as Playa Costa Dulce. For information about the Blue Flag programme, as well as the beach, routes and sightseeing, visit the Centro de Interpretación Bandera Azul. Its focus therefore extends beyond the beach: the centre provides information about the programme as well as general tourist information.

The Puerto Deportivo Bandera Azul de Orellana is an inland marina with berths for recreational boats. The Club Ibérico de Vela is based at municipal nautical facilities made available for sailing.

Many species of birds, including ducks, and especially amphibians, are easy to observe at Laguna del Santo. The area is well set up for visits and allows you to spend longer periods surrounded by its biodiversity. Here, the focus is on observing wildlife, while the beach offers water sports such as sailing and canoeing.

Buildings and local history

Part of the wall and two towers—a square one and a round one—remain at the Palacio de los Orellana. Documents from 1340 refer to the palace as “mi casa fuerte” (“my fortified house”). The historic expression and surviving architectural features offer different points of reference for learning about the building.

The Convento de San Benito is now used as a cultural centre. It was founded by Teresa de Meneses: in 1528, she and her daughters petitioned in Rome for permission to establish a convent in Orellana. If you are interested in a specific programme at the cultural centre, check the programme details before visiting in person.

The Iglesia de la Inmaculada was built at the end of the 16th century on the orders of the Bishop of Plasencia. It is designed as an Iglesia de Salón: the large rectangular interior has a single nave and ends in a semicircular apse. The church therefore offers a chance to explore both its architectural history and its distinctive interior layout.

Festivals and traditional foods

The Noche de los Jaramagos is a traditional custom during Holy Week. On the night from Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday, collected plants are used to decorate Calle Real between Plaza de España and the corner with Calle Convento. After decorating the street, people eat traditional migas. The exact annual programme may vary.

For the Fiesta de San Sebastián, people gather in Plaza de San Sebastián after the religious celebrations to sample Sangría Orellanense and the town’s typical sweets. The festival combines the religious occasion with a shared culinary gathering in the square.

San Isidro is also part of the annual calendar: the festival is celebrated in Orellana la Vieja on 15 May; San Isidro is considered the patron saint of farmers. If you would like to plan your trip around a festival, check the specific dates and programmes.

Discover more destinations: Corte De Peleas, Aceuchal, Villanueva del Fresno, Trujillanos, Medellín, Calamonte, Valverde De Leganés, Mérida.

For the main travel overview: Badajoz.