JARANDILLA DE LA VERA
ITS HISTORY
Jarandilla was inhabited by Vettones, who had their sacred symbols in the bull and in the boar. A bellicose people that did not hesitate to join Viriato himself in his fight against Rome and that earned him that the Romans themselves would place their "oppidum" on the hill of Castillejo and, finally, founding their own city: "municipium flavium Vivertorum ": origin of the current Jarandilla that was maintained until the Visigothic period.
The name of Jarandilla derives from the Arabic "Xarandilla" in reference to the abundance of Jaras, a shrub of oleaginous and hairy branches whose characteristic hair or hair ("xara" in Arabic) comes from its name.
Alfonso VI conquered Jarandilla from the Arabs and in the 12th century his lands were ceded to the Order of the Temple, which built one of its best preserved fortresses (it is now the parish church). With the dismantling of the order by papal decree, Jarandilla lived a period of neglect, until again, the lands were granted to the Count of Oropesa in the fourteenth century.
Alvarez de Toledo, Count of Oropesa, built a castle in the 15th century as the seat of his Marquesado de Jarandilla. He was a mentor to important conquerors of America born in the town, such as Gaspar de Loaysa, discoverer of the Potosí whose tombstone is in the parish church.
In this castle Carlos I stayed of Spain and V of Germany while they had just accommodated the rooms of the nearby Monastery of Yuste.
LOS ESCOBAZOS
Every night of December 6, celebrating the Virgen de la Concepción, in Jarandilla there is a procession of torches that are preserved from the medieval period under the name of "Los escobazos", reminiscent of the fervor that led the shepherds to go down at night from the Sierra de Gredos to honor the Virgin. The flag is still being removed on a cavalry in one of the parties declared "of tourist interest".
FIESTAS DE SOPETRÁN
In May the patron saint festivities of the Virgin of Sopetrán take place, dating back to medieval times.
Together with the "Fiestas del Cristo" in September, they are the most traditional fiestas in Jarandilla, with numerous events.
It also highlights in the summer the exhibition of ancient crafts and the festival of traditional music.
THE FLOWERS OF THE CHERRY TREES
There is a variety of cherry that is called "the jarandillana", because not in vain the Vera is a large producer of cherry, and raspberry, as can be seen in several of the cooperatives in the area (especially the Garganta de la Olla , where you will be surprised at the excellent quality of these products.
To visit La Vera is to enjoy a region of 14 towns in which three of them - Graganta, Valverde and Villanueva- are declared "national monument". Monasteries such as Yuste or places such as "El Piornal" (the highest town in Extremadura from which you can see everything El Valle del Jerte) are highly recommended. In spring, visiting the cherry blossoms is a show whose fame has surpassed the limits of Spain.
"GARGANTAS" (GORGES) AND "CHARCOS"
The spectacular nature of the south slope of Gredos allows many routes for hikers, but also the enjoyment of the no less spectacular gorges and in summer, its "puddles" or natural pools like this one of Parral, in Jarandilla de la Vera to the which can be reached on foot from "Las Hazas" in a few minutes.
Jarandilla is the only village in La Vera that has two gorges: the "Jaranda" (in the image) and the "Jarandilleja" (also known as "the one of the Christ").
NIGHT LIFE
Jarandilla de la Vera has - especially in summer - one of the liveliest nocturnal lives in the province of Cáceres. It has more than half a dozen recommended restaurants (El Norte or K'Leti if you like modern cuisine or Robles, Tarra or "Puta Parió" if you like traditional food, for example)).