Free walking tours in Villafranca de los Barros and what to see

Must-sees

Villafranca de los Barros is in the heart of the Tierra de Barros, a flat area of vineyards and olive groves in southern Badajoz province, and a stop on the Vía de la Plata. Its great monument is the Gothic church of Nuestra Señora del Valle, built in the early 16th century. Look at the Puerta del Perdón, with reliefs of the Nativity, the Epiphany, the Resurrection and the Ascension. The 15th and 16th-century hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Coronada keeps a chapel with a rib vault and battlements outside.

A walk through the centre leads to other buildings with history, such as the large Colegio de San José, built in brick by the Jesuits in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. To understand the town, visit MUVI, the local museum, set in an 18th-century manor house, which traces its history from prehistory onwards. The town park is a pleasant break between visits.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Villafranca de los Barros. The activity you will find is a visit to a local winery, with a tour of the facilities and a tasting of Ribera del Guadiana wines, the best way to discover the wine culture of the Tierra de Barros. For the town itself, the local museum and the tourist office will point you in the right direction. Trips around the area also leave from Mérida or Badajoz.

How long to spend

Three or four hours are enough to see the church, the hermitage and the museum and to stroll through the centre. If you add a winery visit, allow the whole day. Over a weekend you can also visit Almendralejo and Zafra, or Mérida, just over half an hour away by car. The grape harvest is the liveliest time to visit.

Where to stay

The most convenient option is to stay in the centre, near the church, where there are guesthouses and small hotels, and do everything on foot from there. For more variety, Almendralejo is very close, and Zafra or Mérida are good bases for combining Villafranca with other visits.