Visit La Vera and the Monastery of Yuste, a limitless paradise in Extremadura
To the north of the province of Cáceres, leaving from Plasencia, is La Vera, the last resting place of an emperor: Carlos V, the Monastery of Yuste, who, although he only lived the last 2 years of his life there, left an impressive legacy.
And an authentic paradise thanks to its towns, its gastronomy, its natural environment and its people. Before the arrival of the Emperor, La Vera was an important megalithic and Roman settlement, preserving monuments from those times.
If you stay in Cáceres we recommend this excursion to Yuste, which also includes a visit to Plasencia and Monfragüe.
What to see in the Yuste Monastery
If you decide to visit the Yuste Monastery, you can do so thanks to the guided tours offered there, the only way to visit it as well.
The Monastery has two different parts, the convent and the emperor’s house. The center of the convent is the Church and around it are two cloisters. One of them, the Gothic, is a true work of art.
Under the altar of the church is the crypt, where the Emperor was buried.
he part dedicated to the house of Carlos I is quite simple, contrary to what might be supposed of such a powerful monarch.
The furniture of the time is preserved, among which his special chair stands out for the illness he suffered from, gout, and his bedroom.
There are also several very interesting portraits, such as that of his wife Isabella of Portugal.
The construction of the house was carried out in such a way that from the bed in his bedroom the altar of the church could be seen so that the emperor could follow the masses from his bed since in the last moments of his illness he could not get up.
Outside the Monastery, located in a leafy forest, you can enjoy some interesting gardens with several orchards and lakes where tranquility reigns and where the sound of water and the song of the birds are the only things that can be heard.
Visiting the towns of La Vera
Pasaron de la Vera
In Pasarón de la Vera we can highlight the Church of El Salvador, in which its altarpiece and the separate bell tower stand out, the Palace of the Counts of Osorno, in Renaissance style and from the 16th century, and the three hermitages it has.
Strolling through its alleys is a must if you visit La Vera.
From here we can go to Jaraíz de la Vera seeing how we enter a spectacular region.
Jaraiz de la Vera
The main town in the region is Jaraíz de la Vera, which stands out for its curious Plaza Mayor and its arcades, built on a slope, on two levels and ending in a wedge.
On the upper level, where the Arab Castle used to be, is the Town Hall. In the Plaza Mayor, the Palacete del Obispo Manzano also stands out, a stately home from the 17th century.
Other very important monuments in Jaraíz are the Church of Santa María de Gracia, of which we can highlight its Churrigueresque altarpiece, the rose window on the rear façade and tower with numerous coats of arms, and the Church of San Miguel.
From here we continue visiting the towns of La Vera. The first of these is Cuacos de Yuste, where its beautiful arcaded Plaza Mayor and its churches are dwarfed by the impressive Yuste Monastery.
Jarandilla de la Vera
Another of the towns to highlight is Jarandilla de la Vera, where the Castle of the Counts of Oropesa is located, currently a Parador de Turismo.
This was where the Emperor stayed while the Yuste Monastery was being built.
In addition to the Castle, the Church of San Agustín, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Torre, the Ermita del Santo or the Roman Bridge also stand out.
Following the road we will cross the towns of Losar de la Vera, which stands out for the figures that form the bushes that decorate the town or Valverde de la Vera, the town that best preserves the typical architecture of the region.
Further on we find Villanueva de la Vera and finally Madrigal de la Vera, the last town before entering Ávila and which stands out for the Roman Bridge of Alardos.
Enjoying nature in La Vera
In La Vera there are dozens of gorges where you can enjoy nature in its purest form and where you can enjoy a swim in summer in crystal clear waters that will surprise you.
All these gorges flow into the Tiétar River and are witness to different Roman bridges that you should not miss.
One of the most famous gorges is Pedro Chate, located next to Jaraíz de la Vera in an enviable setting. Also noteworthy are those of Cuartos, in Losar de la Vera, Gualtaminos, in Villanueva de la Vera and where you can enjoy the Cascada del Diablo, or Alardos in Madrigal de la Vera.
If what you like is hiking, you are also in luck. In La Vera there are numerous well-signposted routes with which you will enter forests and areas to be explored and that will take you through beautiful viewpoints.
You can find more information on the official page of the Region of La Vera.
