Palomas – Church, Bridge and Trails along the Río Palomillas

The parish church of Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Palomas originated in the first quarter of the 16th century; it was already under construction in 1515, and the work was nearly completed around the middle of the 16th century. Its tower is a Gothic-Mudéjar façade tower, built shortly before 1550, and is considered one of the finest examples of a Mudéjar tower in Extremadura.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Palomas, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the booking page. For personal planning, the described highlights can be considered separately: churches and bridges, fixed dates, community performances, or trails with named waypoints. Festival dates and trail length provide different points of comparison.

Culture

The main altar of the parish church dates from the second half of the 17th century and features Solomonic columns. The medieval Puente Medieval bridge crosses the Río Palomillas and has eleven round arches dating from the 15th or 16th century. Its construction may have triggered the original settlement of Palomas. Since its restoration in 2002, vehicles more than 1.20 m wide have been prohibited from crossing it.

Las Poyatas, also known as Casa Grande, is a cortijo palace in the municipal area of Palomas, where Felipe Trigo set the plot of his novel El médico rural. The eclectic building is predominantly designed in the neo-medieval style. Las Poyatas was originally designed as a leisure palace and donated to the Patronato Antituberculoso during Spain’s post-war period; a sanatorium was subsequently established there.

Festivals and Performances

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Socorro was built in 1515; Nuestra Señora del Socorro is the patron saint of Palomas. Its patronal festival takes place in mid-September; the feast day is 17 September, accompanied by a Mass and a procession with the statue of the Virgin Mary.

The Fiestas de la Cruz de Mayo take place in Palomas every first weekend of May and are organized with the participation of the town’s residents. The AutoSacramental Cruz de Mayo is a community theatre production performed by residents of Palomas, with more than 100 actors of all age groups. El Paso de la Santa Cruz is presented in Palomas over several days as an open-air theatrical performance, combining acting, live music and elaborate scenery.

Trails and Landscape

The PR-BA 153 LIC Rio Palomillas is an 11.8 km linear out-and-back route. It begins in Palomas and crosses the Río Palomillas at a ford. The SL-BA 191 LIC Rio Palomillas route passes the recreational area near the Ermita de San Isidro and a theme park with a botanical garden.

Other places:Orellana La Vieja, Campanario, Solana De Los Barros, La Codosera, Monesterio, Carmonita, Cordobilla de Lácara, Villar Del Rey

For the overarching travel overview: Badajoz.