What to see in Cáceres in one day, a World Heritage city

If you have not been there you will not know how much there is to see in Cáceres. And you won’t know what you’re missing.

In the heart of Extremadura is the city of Cáceres, the largest in the province and declared a World Heritage Site in 1986. Visiting Cáceres is almost a mandatory experience when you go to Extremadura.

Located on the historic Ruta de la Plata and with a Roman, Visigothic and Muslim past, it stands out for its impressive Old Town, a set of streets, squares and buildings that have earned it UNESCO recognition.

A complete walk with the best things to see in Cáceres

The Plaza Mayor of Cáceres

The best-known image of Cáceres is its Plaza Mayor and from here the visit to the Monumental City begins, the area located inside the walls.

The Plaza Mayor is made up of a series of arcades from the 16th century where there are a large number of shops and restaurants. At one of its ends is the Town Hall.

But its main part is the eastern part, where the old part begins. There you can see the Torre de Bujaco, the Ermita de la Paz and the Arco de la Estrella, the traditional gateway for tourists to the Monumental City.

Around the Plaza Mayor, outside the walls, is the most commercial area of ​​Cáceres, with Calle Pintores at the head but with other important streets where the different guilds used to settle and today are filled with modern shops.

The Co-Cathedral of Cáceres, the Church of Santa María

As soon as you cross the Arco de la Estrella, you will know that you are in a place with a lot of history. Start the walk through the best things to see in Cáceres in one day.

The narrow streets of this area of ​​Cáceres have witnessed numerous events and even the shooting of films such as the famous 1492 by Gerard Depardieu.

If we continue along the street in front we will arrive at the first of the beautiful squares that we will see and where we will find spectacular buildings.

Just opposite is the Church of Santa María, the Co-Cathedral and main church of the city. It dates from the 15th century and its Gothic portals and its Renaissance tower stand out. Inside we can see its three naves, numerous chapels and especially the altarpiece. In one of the corners of the exterior we have the statue of San Pedro de Alcántara whose feet are usually kissed by his devotees.

In this same square we have other interesting buildings such as the Episcopal Palace, the Casa del Mayorazgo and the Casa de los Ovando, spectacular Renaissance constructions that are overshadowed by the Church of Santa María.

Saint George’s Square

Our walk continues, leaving aside the statue of San Pedro de Alcántara to reach another of the essential squares to see in Cáceres, the Plaza de San Jorge.

This square is dominated by the Church of San Francisco built in the 18th century in Baroque style and which stands out for its two square towers with pyramidal tops.

Its interior is also very interesting, highlighting its altarpiece. In front of it we can admire the Palacio de los Golfines de Abajo with its two towers, one higher than the other.

Inside, the Hall of Lineages stands out and it must be said that it was the place where the Catholic Monarchs stayed when they visited Cáceres. In this square we must also highlight the Casa de los Becerra, from the 15th century, and the Convent of the Compañía de Jesús.

The Plaza and the Church of San Mateo

Walking down the street to the right of the Church of San Jorge, we will continue towards another of the important churches of the Monumental City of Cáceres.

We will go past houses and palaces such as the Casa de los Figueroa or the Casa de los Solís.

The Church of San Mateo is a mixture of architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Plateresque.

Both its facade and its interior are very interesting, highlighting the altarpiece and the different sepulchres of which it consists.

Also in this square we have the Convent of San Pablo and the House of Sancho Sánchez de Ulloa from where we will have the best view of the Torre de las Cigüeñas, one of the tallest towers in the city.

Just behind the Convent of San Pablo we have one of the most beautiful houses in Cáceres, the Casa de las Veletas, from the 16th century and with a spectacular façade. In it is the Museum of Cáceres and especially the cistern, a place that you should not miss.

The Parador de Cáceres

We can continue our way through the stairs to the right of the Casa de las Veletas.

And continue walking through the narrow streets that were next to the wall, leaving aside the Casa de los Pereros and other beautiful houses.

And we will arrive at the Palace of the Commander of Alcuéscar, also called the Marqueses of Torreorgaz, and which currently houses the Parador de Cáceres.

Its façade and its tower are worthy of admiration, but what stands out above all is the Renaissance courtyard inside. It can be a good time to rest and have a coffee in their cafeteria.

The neighborhood of Santiago

In addition to the Plaza Mayor and the Monumental City, there are many other places of interest to see in Cáceres that will surprise you.

One of them is the Barrio de Santiago, north of the Plaza Mayor.

Its center is the Plaza de Santiago and in it are the beautiful Church of Santiago and the Palace of Francisco de Godoy.

Around this square it is also possible to find different palaces, old hospitals, churches and more areas of the medieval wall. The New Jewish Quarter is also here.

You can find more information on the official Cáceres tourism page.