Peraleda de la Mata brings together natural features, routes and a rich architectural history. The town is directly accessible via the A-5 motorway or the EX-118 road between Navalmoral de la Mata and Guadalupe. This offers a range of different themes to consider when choosing your destination: protected areas and landscapes, routes through the region, and buildings bearing medieval and later influences.
Natural Areas and Landscapes Along the Tagus
The Paraje de Casasola is a natural area in Peraleda de la Mata. The town also lies within the protected LIC Cañada del Venero and the ZEPA Embalse de Valdecañas bird protection area. These names refer to different natural features: Casasola is designated as a natural area, while the other two designations indicate broader protected-area status.
South of Peraleda de la Mata, the landscape along the Río Tajo offers striking views. Those interested in nature can keep these different features distinct when planning, rather than treating them as a single attraction.
Two Routes, Different Ways to Find Your Bearings
The Senda El Ángel connects Valdehúncar and Peraleda de la Mata. It is almost 13 kilometers long and passes through a landscape of dehesas and granite. Its length, named endpoints and landscape give this route a clear character. It connects two towns, so it is described differently from a route identified primarily by its broader regional context.
That broader context shapes the Camino de los Jerónimos: it runs through Peraleda de la Mata and the Campo Arañuelo region, connecting the Monastery of Yuste with the Monastery of Guadalupe. The two routes can therefore be understood through different details. For the Senda El Ángel, the focus is on its almost 13 kilometers, endpoints, and dehesa and granite landscape; for the Camino, it is the route through the region and the connection between the monasteries. Which description is more useful for your travel plans depends on whether you prefer a clearly measured route or a regional pilgrimage trail.
Local History and Buildings
Peraleda de la Mata was founded toward the end of the Middle Ages and belonged to the Campana de la Mata. It was not elevated to the status of a villa until the 17th century. Its founding and later elevation are two distinct milestones in the town’s history: the first refers to its origins, the second to a status attained much later. The local buildings also reflect different periods.
The Ermita de San Vicente dates from the 17th century, and the Ermita del Cristo de la Humildad from the 18th century. On the Plaza de España in Peraleda de la Mata, arcades are a prominent feature of the square. The Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol has a particularly precise timeline: construction began on April 30, 1535, and was completed in 1603. It is considered a Gothic-Renaissance church; the Diocese of Plasencia gave it the nickname “mi pequeña catedral” (“my little cathedral”).
The furnishings of the Iglesia de Santiago Apóstol also bring together different stylistic features. Behind the Baroque high altar, the church preserves a Renaissance altarpiece made using the Italian sgraffito technique. Together with its long construction period, this gives a specific picture of its architectural history without reducing the church to a single century or style. For culture enthusiasts, the focus is therefore on both the town’s historical development and its varied architectural forms.
Discover more destinations: Carrascalejo, Valdeobispo, Carbajo, Baños De Montemayor, Hervás, Alcántara, Guijo De Santa Bárbara, Montánchez.
For the broader travel guide: Cáceres.
