Puerto de Santa Cruz: Sierra, History and Fountain Route

Puerto de Santa Cruz is home to a striking example of its architectural history in the Church of San Bartolomé: it was built at the end of the 15th century from regularly cut stone blocks and expanded in the first half of the 16th century.

Culture and History

The church has a single-nave interior with pointed arches and a slender tower at the rear. The chancel contains three Churrigueresque altarpieces with polychrome wooden figures from the 17th century.

Puerto de Santa Cruz also preserves a cross depicting Christ crucified. The Ermita de San Marcos has masonry walls.

The past reaches further back in the municipal area: prehistoric remains as well as archaeological remains from the Neolithic and Roman periods are found there. The nearby walled site of San Gregorio is designated as a prehistoric castro, that is, a fortified prehistoric settlement. It can be reached via a rural path and on foot.

The municipality celebrates its patron saint's feast day on 24 August in honour of Saint Bartholomew. One fountain has a central stone pillar with four outlets. Later, typical sweet dishes are sampled at the Plaza del Caño.

Landscape

A sierra rises to the east of the town. Its highest peak is Pico de San Gregorio, at 840 metres. In Puerto de Santa Cruz, the sierra forms the watershed between the basins of the Tagus and Guadiana rivers.

The vegetation of the sierra includes holm oaks, scrubland and wooded areas. For your planning, this landscape can be mentally considered alongside the town's historical sites.

Routes and Discoveries

The Fountain Route is a walk through Puerto de Santa Cruz during which numerous fountains in the town's streets can be visited. Another route includes stops at old mills on the Arroyo del Cuervo.

The two routes focus on different aspects, which you can consider separately when planning your own visit.

For planning a day in Puerto de Santa Cruz, these themes can be considered side by side: the Fountain Route and the route featuring the old mills represent different route themes, while the church, hermitage, cross and archaeological traces form the cultural framework. The sierra adds a geographical perspective to the town's history. This allows visitors to organise the sites mentioned according to architectural history, the past, routes and landscape, and to focus their attention on different aspects of the municipality.

You can find more local pages via Torremenga, Villar De Plasencia, Torre De Don Miguel, Montánchez, Pedroso De Acim, Cañamero, Garganta La Olla and Valdastillas.

History and Getting There

During Roman rule, Puerto de Santa Cruz served as a refuge and lodging place for travellers, particularly those travelling from Emerita Augusta to Caesar Augusta, present-day Zaragoza.

The main road connection to Puerto de Santa Cruz is the E-9/A-5; the town can be reached via exits 270 and 272.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cáceres.