Calzada De Oropesa – Nature, History and Festivals

Calzada De Oropesa can be experienced particularly vividly through its landscapes, history and local festivals. The Dehesa Boyal de La Calzada is a wooded area of just under 400 hectares with holm oak stands, a pine forest and pastureland. The Itinerario Sendero Natural runs through this area and is around 10 kilometres long; its well-preserved paths are suitable for hiking and cycling.

Nature

The Dehesa Boyal is home to rabbits, foxes, genets, wild boar, roe deer and red deer, among others. The Laguna de las Limas is the largest livestock watering place in the municipality of La Calzada and has developed into a recreational area with high ecological value and diverse fauna and flora. A late Roman necropolis was discovered next to the Laguna de las Limas.

The Pilón de Carrasca is a stone fountain with three basins, supplied by water from the natural underground spring Las Madres del Pilón. Today, the site is used for walks, picnics and observing the night sky. In the Eucaliptos area stands a eucalyptus tree around 30 metres tall, listed in the catalogue of notable individual trees under the name “El 31”. The Romería de la Virgen de Fátima pilgrimage takes place there on the second Sunday in May.

Since 2018, the Día de la Laguna multi-adventure day has been held in this area in August, featuring activities such as kayaking, archery, horse riding and traditional games. The different landscapes and activities therefore range from the approximately 10-kilometre nature trail to events held at specific times of the year.

History

According to local tradition, the founding of La Calzada is linked to the route of the Roman road that connected Emérita Augusta (Mérida), Caesaróbriga (Talavera de la Reina) and Toletum (Toledo). Medieval Calzada preserves an approximately 80-metre-long section of a paved road; the oldest part of the construction may date from the 14th or 15th century.

The monastery was built between 1675 and 1704 on the site of the former Hospital de la Misericordia. The church’s main altar is 17 metres high and includes paintings by the Baroque painter Claudio Coello. The Casa de la Castilla is an original 17th-century building; the Hospital de la Misericordia formerly stood on its site.

Architecture

The Plaza de España, the centre of La Calzada de Oropesa, is home to the town hall, the Rollo de Justicia and the Pilón. The Casa de la Familia Huertas-Vega is a Modernist building whose construction began at the end of the 19th century and was completed in 1912; it retains part of its original furnishings.

The Casa de la Hidalga is an example of traditional local manor-house architecture built in the 19th century, with a distinctive portal made of dressed stone blocks. It also preserves a traditional olive press with a wooden screw and a stone for grinding the olives. The Casa de los Presbiteros was built in the 17th century to accommodate the parish canons and priests.

Pozairón recalls a public washhouse that had up to 40 stone washbasins with engraved names in the mid-20th century.

Local Festivals

At the 8º Concurso de Vinos de Pitarra, the competition wines submitted were publicly tasted at stalls in the square. The 8º Certamen de la Tapa also took place on the weekend of the 8º Concurso de Vinos de Pitarra. At the VI Concurso de Vinos de Pitarra, all participants were offered free Cocido popular. The programme of the XIII Matanza Tradicional included migas with chocolate and aguardiente.

Other places: Fuensalida, Corral de Almaguer, El Romeral, Rinconada, Urda, El Toboso, Yuncos, Almorox

For the higher-level travel overview: Toledo.