Situated 679 metres above sea level in the Sierra de Gata, Santibáñez El Alto combines historic heritage with hiking trails and scenic roads. The castle, parish church, rollo (judicial pillar) and the cultural landscape of Los Pajares give the town a distinct cultural and historical character. The SL-CC 204 circular hiking trail starts in Santibáñez El Alto; the GR22 also passes through the town. The EX-205 is a separate road through the Sierra de Gata. This means visitors can focus on culture, hiking or a drive through the landscape as different ways to spend their stay.
The Castle and Historic Buildings
Castillo de Santibáñez el Alto has Arab origins dating back to the 9th century. The settlement was fortified, and in the 11th and 12th centuries the Templars of the Order of Pereiro rebuilt the castle. The Order of Alcántara later made further alterations. The village cemetery now occupies the castle’s parade ground; the castle also serves as a lookout over nearby mountain ranges, including Pico Jálama, Puerto de Perales and Las Jañonas.
The parish church of San Pedro Apóstol is near the castle. Its Chapel of the Noblemen features a stone rib vault and a Talavera tile frieze. The Ermita del Santo Cristo de la Victoria is a small, square 17th-century building with an elaborate depiction of the crucified Christ. The Rollo of Santibáñez el Alto represents a different kind of historic feature: this 16th-century judicial pillar stands on three steps and is topped with a cross.
A detail on a house façade is also associated with the castle, though this is based on a traditional interpretation: near the bullring are two human heads. According to the current owner, they represent a Moorish man and woman. They are said to have originally come from the castle’s palace building, where they guarded the main entrance.
Los Pajares, Hiking Trails and Scenic Roads
Los Pajares is protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural) in the category of Place of Ethnological Interest (Lugar de Interés Etnológico). The landscape encompasses dehesa, pastureland and Mediterranean vegetation, including wild olive trees, oaks and holm oaks. Los Pajares can be reached via a partly paved road from the C-513. The SL-CC 204 Los Pajares circular hiking trail starts at Paseo de Calvo Sotelo and descends to the livestock-farming district of Los Pajares.
A longer route is the Spanish section of the cross-border GR22: it covers 227 kilometres, passes through 13 towns in the north of Cáceres province and includes Santibáñez El Alto. The scenic EX-205 is a separate route, connecting Santibáñez El Alto and Valverde del Fresno over 37 kilometres and passing through striking landscapes in the Sierra de Gata. These routes differ in scale: a specific circular hike, a long-distance hiking trail and a road connection.
Festivals and Seasonal Nature Highlights
Los Santitos takes place on 9 and 10 June and honours Roman patrons from the 2nd century; the festival has long been associated with the traditional capeas (bull-running events). San Juan Bautista is celebrated on 24 June with religious observances and tambourine music. The Romería de la Virgen del Carmen on 15 August includes an outdoor gathering in the Dehesa Los Pajares. The annual programme for San Juan Bautista and the romería may vary; check dates and programme details before travelling.
An area in Santibáñez El Alto serves as a wintering ground for cranes, ducks and gulls. Santibáñez El Alto also has a designated natural bathing area, Piscina Natural Puente de la Reina. If you plan to visit, check that it is currently open before you go.
Plan a Stay That Suits You
Discover more destinations: Alagón Del Río, Jerte, Zarza de Montánchez, Piornal, Benquerencia, Pedroso De Acim, Eljas, Zarza La Mayor
For the broader travel overview: Cáceres.
