Burguillos del Cerro

The town of Burguillos del Cerro, a Estremadura, has an extensive history that dates back to the Celts and an important monumental legacy. Thanks to them, it has been declared A Cultural with the category of Historical Complex.

Already in the Middle Ages, it was under the protection of the Order of the Temple to later belong to various lordships. It lived its time of greatest splendor in the XNUMXth century under the Zúñiga's house and from all this a relevant artistic heritage has remained. Next, we are going to show you what to see and do in Burguillos de Cerro.

The castle and the old town

The castle is the great symbol of this town of the badajoz province. It was built in the XNUMXth century on an old Muslim fortress and is located on the hill that gives its name to the town. It has a rectangular plan and consists of five towers. The two most important are that of Homage and the Parda, while two of the remaining, smaller ones, are circular and the third prismatic.

It also has a parade ground and a moat that is currently blocked. Likewise, it had high walls that have almost completely disappeared. Finally, it was accessed through a Gothic door on which you can still see the Zúñiga family shield and, above it, a beautiful machicolation or defensive overhang.

On the other hand, the streets that take you to the castle make up the historic center of Burguillos del Cerro. They are narrow and steep, but, above all, they are framed by traditional homes whose construction was sometimes made of the rock of the hill itself.

The church of Santa María de la Encina and other temples

In the direction of the castle you will also find the church of Santa María de la Encina, currently desecrated and dedicated to Extremadura Popular Architecture Interpretation Center. It was built between the end of the XNUMXth century and the beginning of the XNUMXth century and follows the Gothic canons, although it also has Romanesque and Mudejar elements.

However, it should not be confused with the new church of Santa María de la Encina and San Juan Bautista, which was built in the XNUMXth century and is neoclassical, although its impressive fifty-meter-high tower is in the Baroque style. Its two marble doors are also very beautiful, one of them adorned with the coat of arms of the dukes of Béjar. As for its interior, it is distributed in a single nave with eight side chapels and seventeen altars. Finally, in the altarpiece of the main altar you can see images of San Pedro, Christ of Health and, precisely, Santa María de la Encina y San Juan Bautista.

The latter also had its own temple in Burguillos. But, today, it has also been desacralized and functions as Interpretation Center of the Order of the Temple. As we have already told you, this was of great importance for the town and its history is told in that place. But the church also preserves its monumental values. This is the case of the Gothic-Mudejar central chapel and its magnificent bell tower.

Also in the upper part of the town you will find the Hermitage of Mercy, located in the homonymous square and built in the XNUMXth century. Furthermore, it is the place where the Burguillos Jewish quarter, which we will talk to you about later. Finally, other temples in the town of Badajoz are those of Christ, of Amparo or of Perpetual Help.

But there are other religious monuments in the town that will catch your attention. It is about the urban cruises which, as a tradition, are placed every hundred years (since the XNUMXth century) at one of the town's exits. Thus, for example, the cross from the XNUMXth century is on the Zafra road or the one from the XNUMXth century is in the Plaza del Amparo.

The Plaza Alta, the Jewish quarter and the Corregidor's house

This square has been the nerve center of life in Burguillos del Cerro since the XNUMXth century. In fact, around it you can see the old Town Hall, from which its original arches have been recovered, and the primitive municipal warehouse, where the grain was stored. Likewise, on Badajoz street you can see a house known as la mezuzah with which begins what was the Jewish quarter. It is made up of narrow streets and typical houses that reveal an important Hebrew heritage.

On the other hand, in the eastern area of ​​the square you have the House of the Corregidor and Royal Prison, built in the XNUMXth century. As a historic building, it has been renovated and currently offers three interesting exhibitions. One is dedicated to archaeological and historical objects found in the area. The second is ethnographic and is devoted to life in the Extremaduran countryside. And finally, the third is an interesting Mining Museum with a dark room where you can see luminescent minerals.

Other monuments of Burguillos del Cerro

You will find several monumental fountains in the town of Badajoz. Fairly, Fuente Llano walk It is called one of its green lungs. It is named after the spring it housed and which has been buried underground. It forms together with the Spain Square in which you can see the old Franciscan Hospital, built in the XNUMXth century, as well as numerous ancestral houses. Among these, stands out the Garlandi house, which was built in the XNUMXth century and contains some pieces from the Roman period.

Another vacation spot is walk of Christ. But, perhaps, the greatest architectural value has medieval bridge with three arches that, according to some sources, was built in the XNUMXnd century AD. You will find it on the outskirts, following a small detour from the Royal Glen, which we will tell you about later, and is part of an idyllic landscape.

Surroundings of Burguillos

If the town of Burguillos del Cerro is beautiful, its surroundings are no less so. For example, if you go down to the banks of La Lanchita, you will find the La Albuera dam, with its imposing masonry wall and a hydraulic mill. Precisely, another of the routes that you can take around the town is the one that takes you to the Charco del Toro reservoir, which has a rich flora and fauna.

But, above all, you will walk through large pastures, holm oaks and cork oaks and you will get to know the ancient Cordel and Cañaveras mines. Together with the Mining Museum that we have mentioned, they are vestiges of Burguillos' past, linked to this activity since Prehistory.

Anyway, you can also walk around the Royal Glen, which is part of the network of livestock roads established by Alfonso X the Wise in the XNUMXth century. If you walk through it, you will be able to appreciate a privileged natural environment. But you can also see the old Beef Counter, where the cattle were encrypted to pay the Portazgo tribute.

Festivals and gastronomy

We cannot leave Burguillos without trying its delicious gastronomy. The tasty ones are part of it. Iberian pork sausages, but also wild asparagus and other native products. Among its most popular dishes are, precisely, scrambled wild asparagus and Lamb stew, but also others common to all of Spain such as gazpacho.

However, we can talk about an elaboration specific to the region or Extremadura gazpacho. It is similar to salmorejo from Cordoba and has bread crumbs, vegetables such as pepper or onion, paprika and boiled egg yolk. More forceful is the antruejo soup, very typical of carnival, to the point that it looks more like a stew. It has pork, chorizo, onion, bread and garlic.

As for fish, recipes are made such as potato and cod pie or pickled fish. Regarding sweets, in the area delicacies are prepared such as flowers, perrunillas to ganotes. The latter are canes made with egg, flour, cinnamon, sugar, lemon zest, sesame and olive oil. And perrunillas are pastas that contain lard, flour, sugar, egg and almonds.

On the other hand, Burguillos del Cerro has a rich festival heritage. Among them, those celebrated in honor of San Isidro, San Gregorio or San Juan stand out. But, above all, the Easter, because during it the Good Woman Pass. It is Good Friday and it is full of symbolism and devotion. A woman sings a couplet while the images of the Virgin and Jesus of the Nazareth meet. Furthermore, the latter is guarded by the imposing halberdiers who embody the Roman soldiers.

As for other types of celebrations, the Asparagus Fair and, above all, the Templar Festival. The latter takes place during several nights during the month of July and has exhibitions and theatrical performances related to this famous order that, as we have already told you, was very important in the history of the town.

In conclusion, we have shown you what you can see and do in Burguillos del Cerro, the beautiful villa of Badajoz. We only have to advise you that, if you visit, be sure to visit other towns in the province such as Zafra, LLerena or Jerez de los Caballeros, which are equally spectacular. Come and discover this part of Estremadura.