Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community in Western Spain, surrounded by Portugal to the west, Castile and Leon to the north, Castile La Mancha to the east and Andalusia to the south. This is one of the leading rural areas in the country, consisting mainly of high plains dominated by the Sierra de Gredos mountain range to the north. The dense hydrographic network, which includes the basins of four big rivers, along with a hot and dry climate have made Extremadura an important wine producing region. A couple of protected areas have been created to preserve the remarkable variety of flora and fauna in the region. Especially attractive for tourists and researchers are Monfrague National Park and the International Tagus River Natural Park. As a destination for hiking and rural tourism, Extremadura possesses incomparable charm that is best seen in the traditional villages and farms that are nestled in the deep valleys. The only larger city is Badajoz, which is an old settlement that was created by the Moors in the 9th Century, with plenty of historical sites and ruins in its surroundings. The administrative centre is Merida and, although it is a small provincial town, it features more than 2,000 years of history. It used to be one of the biggest and most important settlements on the entire peninsula in Roman times, from which the magnificent archaeological ensemble listed by UNESCO has remained.