Discover Villanueva de la Serena: Culture, Festivals and River Landscapes

Villanueva de la Serena showcases its cultural identity particularly impressively through La Carrerita: the festival takes place on Easter Sunday and was recognized as a “Fiesta de Interés Turístico de Extremadura” by an order dated March 6, 2007.

Culture and History

A varied introduction to the city begins with its museums. The Museo de Mineralogía de Villanueva de la Serena contains around 2,000 rock and mineral specimens, mainly from Extremadura and Spain. The collection was donated by José Antonio Garrido, who collected the rocks and minerals himself. The Museo del Traje “Colección Eduardo Acero” contains 35 wedding dresses from the 19th and 20th centuries. The Centro Museístico Charo Acero houses three collections. It is located in a mansion from the late 19th century that was initially used as a private residence and later served for many years as the city’s Cámara Agraria.

The buildings also tell stories of different eras. The Edificio La Jabonera is an example of 19th-century industrial architecture in Villanueva de la Serena. The Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is a monument classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) in 2021. It was built from granite in the Herrerian style; its present form resulted from a reconstruction in 1608, while the tower was completed in 1634.

The Monasterio de San Benito, also known as the Palacio Prioral, was built in 1494 by Juan de Zúñiga y Pimentel, the Grand Master of the Order of Alcántara. The building was constructed on the ruins of the Muslim fortress of Mojáfar and served as a residence for the commanders of the Order of Alcántara. The Casa de la Tercia was built in 1310; it housed the Mesa Maestral of the Order of Alcántara. It is currently undergoing renovation.

At the Casa Consistorial, the coat of arms above the entrance indicates 1583 as the year in which the building was partially completed. On the lower level, it has an arcaded courtyard with three large semicircular arches on Ionic columns; the upper floor features a continuous balcony. The Casa de los Bolos owes its name to the spherical granite balls on the façade of the upper floor; the coat of arms of the House of Mendoza is located above the main portal.

Nature and Trails

The landscape around Villanueva de la Serena includes the Camino Natural Vía Verde Vegas del Guadiana. It connects Villanueva de la Serena with Logrosán and provides access to an important wintering area for cranes in the dehesas.

Nearby is Playa de Entrerríos, a river beach in the smaller local administrative unit of Entrerríos, which belongs to Villanueva de la Serena in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura; the beach lies on the Zújar River. It has a bathing area, picnic spots and walking paths. The Villanueva de la Serena–Entrerríos route follows the Zújar River to its beach and passes through vegetation, along a stony path and through attractive landscapes. It also runs alongside a canal and then continues along a cycle path.

Festivals and Regional Cuisine

The Feria de la Tortilla de Patatas combines culinary activities with competitions: it offers stalls and tastings of tortilla de patatas, competitions for professionals and gastronomic galas. It is complemented by Pequechef workshops, where children learn about the essential ingredients and prepare a tortilla de patatas themselves.

The Festival Internacional de Teatro de Calle lasts three days and brings national and international theater companies together in Villanueva de la Serena.

More Places

Other places at the same destination level are Herrera Del Duque, Valencia del Mombuey, Helechosa De Los Montes, Nogales, La Garrovilla, Peraleda del Zaucejo, Montemolín and Fregenal De La Sierra.

For the higher-level travel overview: Badajoz.