Caceres

Cáceres, now a modern, congested city except for the wonderful old town (Barrio Monumental), was hotly disputed during civil wars between Castile, León, and Extremadura, which explains its extraordinary fortifications. Incredibly well preserved, the walls are mostly of Moorish construction, although they were built on, and incorporated bits of, previous Roman walls. Tradition has it that the most glorious of the military orders in Spain, the Knights of Saint James (Santiago) was founded here, and for centuries, Cáceres was renowned for the number of knights in residence. Many of the mansions were built in the 16th century with money brought back by the conquistadors from the American colonies.