Sights you absolutely shouldn’t skip!

The City of Coria has a magical charm which it reveals to only those who come here to feel the traces of its thousand years of history carved on its stones, to appreciate the distinctive attributes of its authentic traditions, to relish the aroma of its stoves, to luxuriate in the fragrance of its spectacular landscapes, or to simply share the kindness of its people.

A beautiful historical enclave that boasts a multitude of imposing monuments and more than two millennia of rich history. It still preserves its glorious ancestry within the ancient city walls, together with the lineage of the episcopal curia and the aroma of bullfighting, where the Vetton leaders, canons, prelates and marquises once walked, and so did peasants and common shepherds. They left their traces scattered across the evocative corners of its charming Historic Centre, a spectacle of living history that continues to mesmerise the visitors even today.

Castillo de los Duques de Alba en la Ciudad de Coria

Memories of Coria’s remarkable history are etched on the rough surface of the granite ashlars of its ancient monuments, such as the legendary 1st-century Roman City Walls around it, that are among the best-preserved fortifications, as a whole, in all of Europe.

Enormous defensive walls protect the boundaries of the citadel that you can appreciate as soon as you pass through one of its four entrance gates: to the north, the Puerta de San Pedro or Puerta del Sol (Gate of Saint Peter or of the Sun) (1st century); to the southwest, the Puerta de la Guía or Puerta de la Ciudad (1st century); to the northwest, the Puerta de San Francisco or Puerta del Rollo (16th century); and to the east, the Puerta del Carmen or Puerta Nueva (16th century). These huge gates are reminiscent of the Roman domination and presence in the territory.

A symbol of power that is also manifested in the majestic 15th-century Castle of the Dukes of Alba, constructed in place of a Templar fortress. Its elegant Torre del Homenaje, or the Keep, stands out from the rest of the fortified complex as an emblem of the dominance of the lords.

Coria’s stones are steeped in history that can also be contemplated through the illustrious Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption (Catedral de Santa María de la Asunción), a 15th-century Visigoth- Romanesque construction that was a symbol of hierarchy in the 18th century. The cathedral is a jewel of Extremadura’s Gothic-Plateresque architecture that features some excellent Baroque elements and was built upon the ancient Episcopal temples in one of the oldest Dioceses in Spain..

The reflection of a rich historical, cultural and religious heritage, which has been woven for centuries, put together and exhibited through the preserved pieces. The Cathedral’s Museum for instance, is home to an excellent collection of religious art, in addition to other precious and interesting artefacts, the most remarkable being the Sacred Tablecloth of the Last Supper On the other hand, the Museum Exhibition of the Royal Prison houses the history, archaeology and ethnography of the municipality in its renovated prison cells, transporting you to the past and present eras of Coria’s culture and tradition.

The narration of a story that comes out as equally fascinating is that of a peaceful and secluded cloistered space, the 16th-17th-century Convent of the Mother of God (Convento de la Madre de Dios), where the incredible religious confectionery comes to life through an extensive collection of recipes of artisan sweets.

In short, all of the attractive sights that will catch your attention, including the one that stands farther away from the old town. Nestled in a beautiful location that looks out onto the meadows, next to the cliff that traces the Alagón River, is the 17th-18th-century Sanctuary of Our Lady of Argeme (Santuario de Nuestra Señora Virgen de Argeme), patron saint of Coria and its Diocese, that beautifully combines architectural elegance with scenic charm.

Silueta Ciudad de Coria