Sunday, September 27, 2015

Around Extremadura: Salvatierra de los Barros

Castle of Salvatierra


      Salvatierra de los Barros is a town located about 18 km north of Burguillos de Cerro. It has a population of about 1,720 (2014). It is 66 km south of the city of Badajoz and is situated among great Dehesas of cork and helm oaks.

     The town's history includes the reconquest from the Arabs by Master of the Order of Alcántara, Arias Pérez in 1229. After it was repopulated, it became a domain of the city of Badajoz. 

      In 1445 King John II, passed Salvatierra into the hands of Juan de Pacheco, Marquee of Villena. Later, the villa finally came into the Dukedom of Feria. 

      Salvatierra de los Barros has the "de los barros" surname due to the pottery that is made and well known in Extremadura.

      While I was there last winter, I visited the Artisan and Pottery Museum. A quaint museum, it has the history and explanations of how the pottery was made and types that were traditionally produced. Several decades of pottery examples can be seen, along with the process and distribution of the pottery.







 


          While strolling around the town, several pottery markers of businesses can be seen with traditional signs.
   





            Other important monuments in Salvatierra include the Franciscan Convent of Santa María de Jesus built in 1507 and the church that was later built near the convent.



VIEW from SALVATIERRA