Calling Monesterio a ¨Ham Paradise¨ is no exaggeration. The tourist office of Monesterio is inside the Museum of Ham which is a simple declaration of intent. And the fact is that the ¨Pata Negra¨cured ham shines with its own light in this town of the province of Badajoz in the Tentudía region, which is located an hour from Mérida and also, an hour from Seville.
Monesterio is on the route for hikers that follow the ¨Vía de la Plata¨ and for travellers going to beaches, located in the south of Spain, thus a must stop to replenish strength when it comes to food.
The ¨Pata Negra¨Iberian pig is the king of the table and the pasture here in Extremadura. The land is vast and plentiful, almost 18,000 hectares of oaks and cork oaks full of grass and acorns are provided as pasture for free roaming pigs. An altitude of over 750 metres favours the curing of Monesterio hams, which are pampered in the gourmet charcuterie industry.
Monesterio is a gastronomic hub for lovers of pata negra cured ham, guarrito and sopones
¨Ham Day¨is special celebration in Monesterio, a ¨Festival of Tourist Interest¨ in Extremadura, which is held around September 8, every year. Unique to this autonomous community, the best ham carvers in Spain meet around this event to demonstrate their skills and compete for the Golden Knife. Numerous visitors gather at this festival.
One hundred percent ¨Iberian Pork¨ in all its forms, from sausages to fresh meat, are the essence of Monesterio’s gastronomy. Specalties among them are the ¨Guarrito¨a stew made with tender pork, which is eaten all year round.
In summer, ¨Sopones¨ are a favorite of locals and visitors. This is a mixture of ¨Pipirrana¨ and ¨Gazpacho¨ served in a wooden bowl with slices of bread. Traditionally, the cold soup is eaten first, and the solid pieces, which are like a salad of fresh vegetables, such as tomato, red and green pepppers, cucumbers and green onions are sprinkled with olive oil and eaten with bread.
Wild products such as asparagus and mushrooms are also common. In fact, Monesterio has the first Mycological Museum in Extremadura :¨Museo Micológico de Estremadura¨. The town has a carefully selected range of restaurants, but depending on the day and time of year, it may be difficult to find a table without reservations.
Take a walk around crosses and laundry sites
A walk through the village will draw your attention to the various crosses which are small momunents that testify to the devotion of the vilagers to the ¨Holy Cross¨. Each has a distinct name: the Cross of the Barrio (Neighborhood), the Cross of the Puerto (Port), the Candelaria, the Gorda (the Fat Lady) or the one in the Llano ( Plains). Also, they are surrounded by pillars, watering holes and fountains, where the cattle once drank, the women filled their jugs and washed their clothes as they sang.
The church of San Pedro, from the 16th Century and the “Interpretation Centre of the Jacobean Routes of the South-West Iberian Peninsula” are two additional places for visitors. The surrounding meadows offer interesting advetures for hikes, cyclist and riders, with routes such as those that lead to Montemolín or to the ¨Calera de León, with its Monastery of Tentudía¨.
The Tentudía Reservoir is shared by the towns of Monesterio and Calera de León, where fishermen enjoy the space alongside bathers during the summer season and with visitors that come to hear the bellowing of the deer in heat during Autum.
Glamping and star-studded accomodations
Monesterio has attracted the attention of luxury hotel investment groups, and travelers of all styles. They even offer glamping (glamour camping) proposals, converting the site in a true gastronomic and rural tourism destination. For star and sky observation they offer an astronomical viewing plaza. Visitors can conduct all kinds of activities related to astronomical viewing such as telescope observations, contemplations of sunsets and sunrises.
Monesterio, a ham paradise, is an ideal base of operations from which to travel through essential towns in the south of Extremadura: such as Llerena, just 12 kilometres away; Zafra, which it is 45 kilometres away; Fuente del Arco with its La Jayona mine and the beautiful Ara shrine, 50 kilometres away; or Jerez de los Caballeros, 66 kilometres away.
Monesterio, paraíso del jamón cum laude en Extremadura
Original article by Planveando Comunicaciones SL
Translated by Susana Windt
Published on September 2024
