Trujillo Villas España
Trujillo is right in the heart of jamón Iberico de bellota country and the jamón is a delicious local delicacy.
In the world of Spanish ham, there are two premium classifications: Iberico pigs and acorn-fed pigs. Unlike white pig breeds like Serrano, black-skinned Iberico pigs are descendants of the Mediterranean wild boar, colloquially called “Pata Negra”, characterised by the black hoof on the leg.
The farms where the pigs are raised are called dehesas. The dehesas are a Spanish national treasure: large areas of forest partially converted to pasture, hundreds of years old, with rolling grassy hills amidst crops of acorn-producing oak and cork trees. The oak and cork trees produce the “Bellotas”, nutricious acorns that fall from early October to early March. The acorns are high in fat, a large percentage of which is unsaturated oleic fatty acid; and eating them is what makes the pigs’ fat so soft and creamy, on the verge of melting at room temperature. Acorns also contribute to the ham’s nutty flavour and aroma.
The curing traditions in the traditional jamón houses in small towns around Trujillo are centuries old and highly skilled. You can still see hundreds of hooks on ceilings from times when ham was cured using just natural air-flow. Nowadays there are huge jamón drying barns, some climate controlled but most using the traditional methods.
Once slaughtered, the ham-bound legs are skinned, salted, rinsed, dried and sent to the curing cellar where they will remain for about a year and a half. Skilled specialists monitor the curing cellars at all times, noting fluctuations in temperature and humidity. The skill in the process is what makes the process so unique.
Before any ham leaves the cellar, it gets a sniff test. A trained nose can purportedly detect 100 aromas from a premium ham, some sweet, some meaty, some nutty.
Carving Spanish ham is an artisan job of its own. Jamón Iberico shouldn’t be sliced by machine—the soft fat would sheer out and the lean, bony legs make horizontal slicing difficult. The perfect slice is carved by hand, nearly see-through and small enough to eat in one bite. The fat melts in your mouth!
In Trujillo jamón is available to buy at La Despensa, El Anticuario and Jamones Casa Bautista. Guests staying at Trujillo Villas can enjoy a ham feast to compare the types of hams that are produced in Extremadura. Guests at can also visit a bodega or curing house to see how the ham is made.
‘Bienvenido’ to The National Spanish Cheese Festival in Trujillo
Every year the city of Trujillo in the Extremadura region of Spain, offers a warm welcome to visitors as they gather from far and wide to enjoy the National Spanish Cheese Festival. “La Feria del Queso” as it is known locally happens at the beginning of May each year. The event attracts thousands of visitors who all agree that the city of Trujillo is the perfect food holiday destination.
The festival is now the largest cheese fair in the world. Trujillo’s main square is transformed into a colourful cheese village. Hundreds of stands, displaying the finest cheeses, are awash with the tastes and smells of local and national cheeses. Many local cheese makers and farmers, who use milk from their goats or sheep, have developed and mature their own cheeses. Additionally, there are wine and beer stalls. Foodie heaven!
Event for Food Lovers
If you’re planning to visit this rustic part of Spain as part of a foodie holiday, the National Spanish Cheese Festival in Trujillo offers mouth-watering treats for everyone.
Spain has the fourth largest consumption of cheese in the world and this love of cheese is demonstrated through the hundreds of cheese makers who will be present at the Trujillo festival.
The festival offers visitors the opportunity to try many rare types of cheese not found anywhere else outside of the Extremadura region area.
Cheese, Cheese, Cheese…
In Extremadura, cheese is mainly made from the milk of goats and sheep. There are 3 main regional cheese denominations: Torta del Casar, Torta La Serena and Los Ibores.
The festival welcomes a guest nation each year, previously Portugal, France, Italy, Holland and England. The guest nation displays many typical cheeses and we’re excited to discover which country will feature this year. Watch this space for more details!
Conde Nast Traveller has featured Trujillo Villas and the Spanish National Cheese Festival in their Best Festivals Around the World.
With more than 300 varieties of national and international cheeses to taste, visitors will be spoilt for choice.
Don’t miss a minute of the cheese festival in Trujillo Spain by staying at one of our Trujillo Villas. Villa Piedras Albas is located in the main square offering a prime view of the cheese village on its doorstep. Villa Moritos and the Artists Studio are a 5 minute walk away. Guests staying at Trujillo Villas España can enjoy a bespoke tour of the festival with a local cheese expert, who will be able to point out the best types of cheese, explain the process of making them and recommend specialty dishes in the local restaurants.
The Habla Winery is within a short distance of Trujillo and produces delicious prize winning wine. Visitors will be able to enjoy a selection of hearty reds including the excellent Habla del Silencio, Habla Nº14 and Habla de La Tierra. Habla de Ti, a dry white sauvignon blanc is the perfect companion for long lazy lunches by the pool in our villas.
Atrio in Caceres
The amazing 2 Michelin starred restaurant Atrio’s immense wine list has been rated best in the world by the Wine Spectator for several years running. Visitors can enjoy refined high-end dining paired with spectacular wines.
Trujillo is just 30 minutes from Monfrague National Park which has more than 45,000 acres of parkland stretching along the River Tagus.
Explore Monfrague National Park
Monfrague is a dream for keen birders. The park is home to thousands of birds of prey, including the world’s largest colony of black vultures and the world’s highest concentration of imperial eagles. Also resident in the park are the Black Stork, Egyptian Vultures, which are an endangered species, Griffon Vultures, Peregrine Falcons, Great Bustards, Black Kites, Golden Eagles, wild boar, otters, wild cats and deer.
Guests staying at Trujillo Villas can enjoy a English speaking guided walk or drive through Monfrague visiting chosen viewpoints including the Salto del Gitano – a 300 metre quartzite outcrop rising above the Tagus River, Monfrague Castle, Bridge del Cardenal and the Portilla del Tietar, while learning about the history, flora and fauna.
Stargazing
Guests staying at Trujillo Villas can also visit Monfrague at night and look out from the keep of the 12th century Castle Monfrague to learn about the sky at night.An English speaking guide will offer astrological and historical information with drinks and tapas under the stars.
The wildlife photography on this page is credited to Alan Redley. Alan Redley is an enthusiastic photographer a regular guest at Trujillo Villas staying in Villa Moritos.
Cherry Blossom Beauty in Extremadura, Spain
Nowhere is there a more stunning example of the beauty of nature’s work than in the Valle del Jerte, near Trujillo in Spain.
Imagine a blanket of white blossoms across a wild sierra hillside. The reality is much better, with a spring awakening of over 2 million cherry blossom trees bursting with flowers during March and April.
Experience a Floral Natural Wonder
The people from Jerte divide the oncoming of Spring into 3 special phases. The first is “Valley Awakening,” the time when snow melts from the mountains into gorges below and an ideal time for hiking, walking and birdwatching as the migratory flocks return home. The second is “Cherry in Bloom,” dedicated to the blossoming of the fruit trees that will go on to produce thousands of kilos of ripe, juicy red fruit a few weeks after the blossom display. The third is “Petal Rain,” a magical 10 days during which you can walk through the petals of snow-white flowers. It’s a wondrous sight and the ideal time to visit, with wonderful walks, biking and outdoor activities. During the Fiesta del Cerezo en Flor, there are many food and drink markets where you can sample local delicacies, as well as delicious alcoholic liquors made from the cherries of the previous season.
José Pizarro, patron of London’s most prestigious Spanish restaurants including Eyre Brothers, Gaudí, Brindisa and fashionable Pizarro is from Caceres. José has had widespread critical acclaim using the very produce native to the area.
Extremadura is famous for the chillies it grows by the million in the La Vera Valley. It’s the most fertile part of Central Spain and Pimentón (paprika) is one of the most famous imports of the Americas brought back to Spain by the Conquistadors.
When the Pimentón peppers are ready for harvest they are hand-picked and put into drying houses where wood from the dehesa burns underneath them giving them their unique smokey flavour. It’s hard to not to imagine Spanish food without the colour and fire from Pimentón and it is used in most Spanish cuisine including chorizo and another local delight “Patatera”, a specialty sausage.
Experience a Floral Natural Wonder
The area also produces exquisite honeys, including the unique black honey from the dehesa and a new wave of wines produced on a small scale under low-tech conditions. The Habla Winery is within a short distance of Trujillo and produces delicious prize winning red wine.
Rick Stein the celebrity chef visited in the summer of 2011 and inspired by the beauty and authenticity of Trujillo, dedicated his BBC programme to local cuisine. Some of these recipes can be tasted in Trujillo’s restaurants, including croquetas with jamon iberico (croquettes), lentils with bacon and pimentón (paprika) and migas extremeñas (traditional savoury breadcrumbs)
There are many artisan shops around Trujillo selling local produce. We recommend La Despensa, El Anticuario and Jamones Casa Bautista. Don’t miss the wonderful weekly local market, which happens every Thursday from 09:00-14:00, in the street below the main square.
The La Salve Fiesta, also known as Trujillo Liberation Day traditionally takes place on the first Saturday of September.
The statue of the patron saint of Trujillo, the Virgin of the Victoria, is carried in a procession from the castle to the Main Square to celebrate Christian Victory. In the evening, all the main square lights are dimmed and the people of the town sing a hymn called the Salve (salvation) in the honour of the Virgin accompanied by the Municipal Band of Trujillo. Shortly afterwards there is a spectacular fireworks display! The whole day is a wonderful celebration with activities, live music and a festive atmosphere can found in every corner of Trujillo.
Must see attractions at La Salve Fiesta
For children and families, the gigantes y cabezudos parade (giants and ‘big-heads’) is a must-see! Typically the giants depict archetypal characters of the region including local kings, queens and nobility, reflecting the Moorish and Christian history of the Extremadura region. The giants will throw candy and sweets to the children as they proceed through the town.
Come and enjoy the Salve Fiesta celebrations by staying at one of Trujillo Villas. Villa Piedras Albas is located directly in the main square offering a prime view of the festivities from its loggia.
