Hotels in Plasencia

Old town and Plaza Mayor

Almost everything you will want to see is inside the walls. Plaza Mayor, with the Abuelo Mayorga clock figure above the town hall, is the centre of daily life and the place for an aperitif. From it run Calle del Rey, Talavera, Zapatería and Trujillo, with shops, tapas bars and houses bearing coats of arms. A few steps away are the two cathedrals, old and new, joined in a single complex, and the Mirabel palace.

Staying here lets you do everything on foot. The streets are narrow and traffic is restricted in much of the old town. On Tuesdays Plaza Mayor hosts the traditional market, held for centuries, which fills the centre with fruit and vegetable stalls.

Best-rated in this area: Parador de Plasencia, with a score of 9.2 from 2,279 reviews.

Around the walls

The avenues around the old town follow the line of the walls and their gates, such as Puerta del Sol and Puerta de Trujillo. It is a mixed area of shops, homes and car parks, convenient if you are driving. From anywhere here, Plaza Mayor is a short walk. Near the walls are also the remains of the aqueduct that brought water to the city for centuries.

Banks of the Jerte

Below the city runs the river Jerte, with La Isla park and tree-lined walks by the water. This is where the bridges are, such as Trujillo and San Lázaro. It is a quiet area, popular with families and anyone who goes for a run or a stroll at sunset.

If you plan to go up the Jerte Valley to see the cherry trees or swim in its gorges, or head to La Vera and Monfragüe, staying on this side of the city keeps the roads out close at hand without crossing the centre.