Discover the best top things to do in Trujillo, Spain including Historic Centre of Trujillo, Plaza Mayor de Trujillo, Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor, Castillo de Trujillo (Trujillo Castle), Iglesia de San Martin, Palacio de Orellanas-Pizarro, Museo de la Coria, Pizarro House Museum, Estatua Ecuestre de Francisco Pizarro, Aljibe Hispano-Musulman.
Restaurants in Trujillo
4.5 based on 293 reviews
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The Centro Historico - Historic Centre - of Trujillo is quite charming.
Unlike many historic centres in towns of Spain, it is fairly un-touristy. By this I mean that it is not full of shops selling souvenirs and tourist tat, nor bars advertising "All-day Full English, only €7!". Nor are there busloads of tourists walking around all together following the guide with the sunshade. Yes, I know. I'm a tourist, you're a tourist - but we do like to pretend that we aren't, don't we?
This has all the elements that we hope to find in a historic centre. There aren't whitewashed houses with geraniums in flowerpots adorning the walls - this isn't Andalusia but Extremadura, Land of the Conquistadores who sailed the seas to South America to bring home riches undreamt of. You will see various statues and monuments and museums devoted to them around the town - look out for the name Pizarro or Orellana for starters.
The town is built ON granite, a spur called Cabeza del Zorro (Fox's Head) and also built OF granite. The houses are thus of stone, which in the evening sunlight is a pale creamy-yellow, grey earlier in the day. The streets are narrow, built for four-legged beasts - donkeys, mules and horses - not four-wheeled vehicles. The same granite is used underfoot for the cobblestones, which makes it tricky if you are wearing your best Manolos; go for sensible sneakers instead. And the streets are often steep, perhaps even with steps suddenly.
They are steep as they wend their way up to the castle, famous as a setting for Series 7 of Game of Thrones, pretending to be Casterly Rock, the Lannisters' western stronghold. Filming took place here in November 2016, and Lannister flags were seen flying from its turrets.
The castle itself - a cheap entry fee of only 1€50 - has 17 turrets and towers, and there are numerous other towers scattered throughout the upper part of the historic centre, defences built either by the Moors against the Christian Kings of Castille, or vice versa.
You will come across churches, tiny streets, convents, museums, medieval gateways, handsome aristocratic houses, and a very pleasant central square - the Plaza Mayor.
The Centro Historico is a real gem.
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4.5 based on 1 reviews
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A monumental square, a large open space with a Fountain in the middle, surrounded by old houses, shops/bars/restaurants on the ground floors under the arcades. This can be attractive, and at certain times (i.e. when few cars parked), it certainly is.
In one corner a large and fairly ugly church - St Martin - with in front of it a statue of the Conquistador Francisco Pizarro.
On the southern side (i.e. with north-facing windows for coolness) two large and imposing houses, called in fact Palaces, the Palacio de los Orellano Toledo and the Palacio del Marques de la Conquista, are the most imposing buildings.
A pleasant place to stroll around and sample a few tapas or have a meal. But unfortunately, as in many of these main squares in Spain, this one is occasionally given over to parking, which rather spoils the whole effect.
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4 based on 170 reviews
The Church of Santa Maria imposes itself on the Plaza Mayor. It is deemed to be Romanesque style and the most important Church within the historical centre.
4 based on 678 reviews
This is a real castle - perched high on a hill which affords great views. Derelict and decaying but still with amazing character. Its a steep walk but worth it. Reward yourself with a well earned drink in one of the cafes in the square upon return. Don't forget binoculars to get the best views.
4 based on 79 reviews
This church would be much more memorable if the lights were on! The side chapels were lit but the main over head chandelier and main alter were not lit, so over all it was very dark. I would be able to enjoy this more if the lights were on.
4 based on 33 reviews
Nowadays the palace is a convent, but it's possible to go in and admire the elaborately decorated Renaissance courtyard, and to see the ancient coats of arms, the balcony and the towers on the fifteenth century facade.
Unlike most of the other ancient buildings that tourists can visit in Trujillo, entrance to the Palacio de Orellanas-Pizarro is free, but I was pleased to be able to buy a guide book, with the proceeds going to help with a project for children in Benguela, in Angola.
To find the palace, go to the opposite corner of the main square to the statue of Pizarro. There you'll find a tunnel leading to an alleyway. Walk up that alleyway for a few yards and the palace is on your left.
4.5 based on 16 reviews
3.5 based on 160 reviews
A small and very manageable museum, well laid out and educational. Beautiful view from the window watching people buy biscuits and cakes from the convent next door.
4 based on 13 reviews
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Plonked down at one side of the main square, the Plaza Mayor, is this large statue of the town's favourite son. Or any rate, its most famous son: Francisco Pizarro, the Conquistador of Peru.
It's a bronze statue, fittingly mounted on a plinth of local granite, and is the work of the US sculptor Charles Cary Rumsey. His wife came to Trujillo and personally chose the site for the statue, and the Spanish dictator Primo de Rivera and the US Ambassador both attended the unveiling ceremony in 1929.
Purists have pointed out that the statue is historically inaccurate, as Pizarro is wearing the wrong sort of helmet, and his horse is too much a thoroughbred; the horses taken to South America were smaller and sturdier than this.
It makes a good photo opportunity, however, and as this is Pizarro's birthplace, a fitting memorial.
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4 based on 13 reviews
such a wealth of interesting exhibits well displayed and it's free! do go upstairs and see the folk collection. A lovely place to spend a short while..Don't get run over by the parties just rushing by to see the aljibe!
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