Discover Bienvenida: Church, Sierra and Traditions

Bienvenida is home to the parish church of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles, which was declared a national historic-artistic monument in 1983. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Bienvenida, you can consider culture, the Sierra, festivals and traditional cuisine as distinct areas of interest.

Further local pages for orientation: Don Benito, Aceuchal, Higuera De La Serena, Fuente Del Maestre, Villar Del Rey, Higuera De Llerena, Zalamea De La Serena and Don Alvaro.

Culture and architectural history

The parish church of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles was built from the end of the 15th century and completed in the first third of the 17th century. It has a Mudéjar tower that is square at the base and divided into four sections, constructed predominantly from brick. Stone was used for the base and some of the corners.

The main chapel contains a magnificent altarpiece from the early 16th century. In front of the southern façade, Nuestra Señora de los Angeles has a portico with three arches. The church also has a single-nave layout with four brick arches and an ornately crafted pinewood ceiling. At C/ Plaza 13 stands a Baroque house from the second half of the 18th century.

Landscape and nature

The Sierra de Bienvenida lies east of Bienvenida, not far from the town. It is best reached via a forest track leading from Bienvenida towards Villagarcía de la Torre. The Sierra provides a habitat for birds and mammals, including kites, short-toed snake eagles, foxes, badgers, mongooses and genets.

A public park is located in the southern part of Bienvenida. The Sierras de Bienvenida y la Capitana area is designated under code ES4310068 and covers 480.57 hectares. When planning a trip, the different landscape features can be considered a separate area of interest alongside the cultural attractions.

Festivals throughout the year

The Bienvenida Carnival includes street parades, murgas, costumes and comparsas. Semana Santa includes processions accompanied by the Banda de Música de Bienvenida. The Romería de San Isidro takes place from 15 to 17 May at the Pradera de San Isidro.

The Fiesta de Agosto takes place in the first week of August. In the evenings, the festivities include a public dance with a music group.

Flavours of Bienvenida

Traditional Bienvenida caldereta is prepared with finely chopped lamb, garlic, bay leaves, red pepper, chillies, salt and paprika. Other ingredients include fried liver or toasted bread, as well as black pepper and nutmeg.

Perrunillas are a traditional sweet pastry from Bienvenida. They are made with 1 kg of lard, 2 kg of flour, three quarters sugar, 6 eggs, two packets of yeast, 15 g of ground cinnamon and 50 g of lemon essence. Chanfaina de Bienvenida is prepared with lamb offal, oil, garlic, cumin, onions, green pepper and fresh tomatoes. Hojaldres are another traditional sweet pastry from Bienvenida and are associated with the Christmas holidays.

Getting there and transport links

Bienvenida is 9 kilometres from the A-66 motorway, which connects Asturias with Andalusia. From Mérida, take exit 700; from Seville, take exit 704.

Daily bus services connect Bienvenida with Zafra, Llerena, Badajoz, Mérida, Seville and other important places in the surrounding area.

For the main travel overview: Badajoz.