Garganta la Olla – Natural Pools, Culture and Historic Dances

Garganta la Olla was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1978. The Garganta Mayor rises in the Sierra de Tormantos, runs alongside the town of Garganta la Olla and forms numerous natural pools and swimming areas.

For your planning, you can consider accommodation details separately from the attractions of the town and assign different priorities to the waterscapes, architectural heritage, festivals and history. A holiday apartment in Garganta la Olla can thus serve as a separate planning element alongside the town’s attractions. Travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions are among the details that can be considered separately from nature, architectural heritage and festivals. This makes it possible to compare different focuses for your stay without conflating the temporal and thematic particularities of the options mentioned.

Nature and Water

At Charco Pilatillas de Arriba there is a natural pool with several pools at different elevations, small waterfalls and one larger waterfall. Charco el Calderón has a waterfall that divides the pool into two sections at different heights. When planning, you can compare the different pool shapes and waterfall heights as distinct points of focus.

Culture and Townscape

The Museo de la Inquisición is housed in a building constructed in the 17th century. Everyday objects used by local farmers, livestock keepers and traders are on display there, including a traditional kitchen from the La Vera region and typical equipment used for home slaughtering.

The Barrio La Huerta features the style of architecture popularly known as Arquitectura Verata, with houses built on three floors. Barrio La Huerta is also an urban ensemble with a particularly uniform arrangement and architectural style among its houses. The Iglesia de San Lorenzo is designated as a Historic-Artistic Monument. Garganta la Olla is located a few kilometres from Yuste Monastery.

Festivals and Storytelling Traditions

At the beginning of July, the festival of the Visitation of Our Lady to her cousin Saint Elizabeth takes place and includes the traditional Baile de las Italianas. The Jornadas de la Serrana de la Vera begin on Saturday morning with a hiking route to the Cueva de la Serrana. Participants in the hike are served Migas Extremeñas.

The Jornadas de la Serrana de la Vera include a craft market held on Saturdays and Sundays in Plaza Diez de Mayo and Calle Chorrillo. Una Olla de Cuentos is a gathering for telling, singing and dancing stories. It usually takes place on the last weekend of September, although the date may vary from year to year.

Further destinations for your travel planning: Santiago De Alcántara, Talaván, Almoharín, Torremocha, Villar De Plasencia, Botija, Ladrillar, Cañaveral.

History and Getting There

Garganta la Olla can be reached from Cuacos de Yuste via the EX-391 road; the route is approximately 9 kilometres long. Religious dances in Garganta la Olla have been documented since 1492; the Baile de las Italianas, also known as the dance of the Gitanas, was recorded in 1606 as a religious dance of the Diocese of Plasencia.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cáceres.