Casar de Palomero can be explored through several clearly distinct themes: historic quarters and religious buildings, olive oil production, a route to Pico de Altamira and a bathing spot on the Río de los Ángeles. Both local history and outdoor activities offer practical points of reference when choosing a destination.
Historic quarters and buildings
The Basilica de la Cruz Bendita is an 18th-century church built over a former synagogue. The Iglesia del Espíritu Santo also dates from the 18th century. It was built over a former mosque and is located in the Arab quarter. The Convento de San Marcos de Altamira was built in Casar de Palomero as early as the 15th century.
The town’s three historic quarters also shape a walking tour. Marked with the emblems of the Christian cross, the Arab crescent moon and the Jewish star, they can be explored on foot. These symbols give the tour a clear focus, while the churches illustrate different stages in the history of the town’s architecture.
The Ermita Puerto del Gamo offers sweeping views. An inscription on the building states that Jews threw stones at the Holy Cross on Good Friday in March 1488. This account is therefore attributed to the inscription. Another historical record is the Piedra de la Rueca rock painting: on a rock surface, it depicts a tangle of intersecting straight lines with arrowheads, ladder-like shapes and cup marks, as well as an oval figure resembling a distaff.
Other distinctive features of the town include a square lined with arcades. Here you will find the Casa de Acacio Terrón, the recently restored town hall and a working fountain with four spouts.
Olive oil: tasting and production
The Museo del Olivo in Casar de Palomero offers olive oil tastings. Activities for school groups are available there by appointment. It is advisable to confirm the availability of these activities before travelling. This allows visitors to explore olive oil not only through tasting, but also through its production: the Centro de Interpretación del Aceite is housed in a restored former olive oil mill. It shows how olives are processed into oil and the stages involved in extracting it. Tasting and production history thus offer two different ways to explore the same local theme.
Route to the peak and bathing spot by the Río
One specific outdoor option is the 9-kilometre route from Casar de Palomero to Pico de Altamira. The route to the peak is classified as easy and accessible, and follows forest tracks and roads. The distance indicates the length of the route; its classification and course offer further information about the character of the trail.
A natural bathing spot is located beside an old bridge on the Río de los Ángeles. From Casar de Palomero, it can be reached via Calle Cordero, Avenida de los Ángeles and then the EX-369. This gives visitors a choice between two different ways to spend time outdoors: a designated route to the peak and a riverside destination.
Festivals and dates
The main festivals of the Cruz Bendita take place on 3 and 4 May, 16 July and 14 September. The “Velá” is held on the eve of each festival. If you would like to plan your stay around a festival, these dates are a useful reference for organising your trip.
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For the main travel overview: Cáceres.
