Nothing beats inhaling the fresh air of a region like the Alberche Valley, which is home to the town of El Barraco. This municipality in Ávila, located south of the Sierra de la Paramera mountain range, can be a fantastic place to visit for a rural tourism vacation.
What are the main attractions of El Barraco? The people of this town have always been linked to two things: religion and reverence for the natural environment around them. As a result, there are several Catholic structures in the area, including the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the hermitages of La Piedad and San Marcos. Several of these serve as gathering points for pilgrimages and other celebrations.
Is there anything else? The town is proud of its Museo de la Naturaleza Valle del Alberche, which teaches visitors about the plants and animals of these regions while also emphasizing the necessity of conservation. Cave paintings can be found at Escudo el Berraco and Piedro Co'Gordo, and are easily accessible from this enclave.
The reservoir of El Burguillo, which is fed by the Alberche's waters, serves as a vital link between the two municipalities. It was built in 1913 and is Spain's oldest reservoir. It also forms part of the Valle de Iruelas Nature Reserve in the north, an area dedicated to the conservation and protection of the imperial eagle and black vulture.
Due to the abundance of coniferous trees, this area is known as Tierra de Pinares. There are abandoned villages in sections of El Barraco's forests, indicating the town's medieval past. The ones in Avellaneda, Navalmulo, and Navalcarros are worth seeing.
And what can you do here? If you're a pilgrim, you're in luck because El Barraco is part of the Pilgrims' Route to Santiago de Compostela's network of roads. If not, you can relax a bit and walk around these areas on one of the 'Bosques Mágicos' (Magic Forests) routes, which have multiple easy phases.
The best way to relax is to stay in a country house or hostel, where you will feel as at ease as if you were at home. Also, make sure you're close to a nice restaurant so you can sample traditional meals like tripe with chickpeas or tortilla de dulce, a torrija-flavored omelette.
The patron saint festivities here are dedicated to the Santsimo Cristo de Gracia if you are interested in celebrations. The streets are alive with music, processions, and dances in honour of the patron saint between the 14th and 17th of September.
This will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you. Come to El Barraco for a rustic vacation!
