Yoga Retreat Centre - Trujillo, Extremadura

Famed as the birthplace of Franciso Pizarro, conqueror of the Inca and founder of Peru's capital city, Lima, Trujillo's history long predates this age of discovery and colonization. The treaty of Aragon and Castille forging the modern state of Spain was signed here, making Trujillo the country's first capital city. But Trujillo's history spans back to the bronze age, when a succession of Celtic tribes called ancient Turaca their home

The establishment of the Roman province of Lusitania, in modern day Extremadura and much of Portugal, saw Turgalium as a major trade hub. It was five hundred years and another two centuries of Visigothic rule before, in the 8th centry CE, Moorish forces, under the caliphate of Córdoba, took and renamed the city Torgielo

Muslim Torgielo (or Turjalah) thrived as a cultural, commercial, and military powerhouse. At its height, Torgielo enjoyed a golden age of three cultures, where Muslims, Christians and Jews lived in relative tolerance and prosperity

The 13th century saw the city's final (re) conquest by Christian forces to establish modern Trujillo. Torgielo's principle mosque was repurposed into the splendid Romanesque-Gothic church of Santa María La Mayor. And the city's castle-citadel (alcazaba) saw the installation of a chapel housing Trujillo's patron Saint, the virgin Of The Victory. Mother Mary stands as a sentinel looking out over the plains, and visitors to the chapel are greeted with her back. A Euro in the coin slot will have her turn to you just long enough for a couple of Hail Mary's

The castle and church are open to visitors, and are among Trujillo's mot splendid monuments. Pizarro's Palace Of The Conquest in the town square presents an extravagant plateresque façade, with a corner balcony emblematic of the age. The palace remains in private hands and is not open to the public. However, you can visit Pizarro's childhood family home within the walled city

Over the centuries, Trujillo's star shone gradually less brightly, until in 1755 the great Lisbon earthquake reduced much of the city to rubble. But, what goes down sometimes comes back up, and Trujillo's fortunes have seen a gradual but steady improvement from the second half of the 20th century to the present day. Attempts at getting World Heritage Status have been largely resisted by local residents, afraid of the city turning into a museum, much like neighbouring old Cáceres. Nevertheless, Trujillo is a lively place, popular with weekend visitors from Madrid and other large urban centres looking for a buzzy, yet laid back atmosphere. A perfect place to enjoy the best of old and modern Spain

Trujillo's diminutive size will deliver you straight into Extremadura's countryside within a short walk in any direction, The most scenic walks are beyond the Old City, with hundreds of paths accessible through the city gates and the Moorish Castle. Here you can enjoy varying panoramic views of the Great Cáceres Plain, and the snowy peaks of the Central Mountain Ranges. 

Multiple pathways encircle the old walled city, offering glorious views of the great Cáceres plain and the snowy peaks of the central mountain range, Sierra de Guadalupe and Geopark Villuercas-Ibores

The sleepy, but charming hamlet of Huertas De La Magdalena is an easy downhill walk from Trujillo's old town, through holm oak and olive forest, and offers you panoramic views of Trujillo's ancient walls and towers

Further afield the cities of Cáceres, Mérida, and Guadalupe make up Extremadura's UNESCO World Heritage golden triangle

You can visit Cáceres and Mérida on a day trip from Trujillo. Guadalupe, the prettiest, and also most remote, has poor public transport, and you'll need to either spend a night or hire a car to visit. The mountain setting around Guadalupe is simply stunning, and a trip here will fully reward your extra effort

Visit our Extremadura page for essential information on visiting these unmissable sites