Extremadura is an autonomous community located in the western region of Spain.  Roughly the size of Belgium, the region is spread over an area measuring 41,634 square kilometers.  It is one of the least populated regions in Spain, with its population totaling to 1,083,879, as of 2005. 

Extremadura is divided into the provinces of Caceres in the north, and Badajoz in the south.  Bordering it is Portugal to the west, the provinces of Salamanca and Ávila in Castile and León to the north, the provinces of Huelva, Seville, and Córboda in Andalusia to the south, and the provinces of Toledo and Ciudad Real in Castile-La Mancha to the east.

Locked between Portugal and the central plains, Extremadura’s terrain is characterized by lush forests, majestic mountain ranges, and agricultural plains dotted with hamlets and towns that seemingly have not changed with the passing of time.  Its mountain system includes the sierras of the Sistema Central, which rises to the north, and consists of the Sierra de Gredos, Sierra de Béjar, and Sierra de Gata, which separates Extremadura from Castile. At the center of the region rises the Sierra de las Villuercas and the Sierra de San Pedro, while to the south rises the Sierra Morena, separating Extremadura from Andalusia.

The region has a typical Mediterranean climate, except at the north, where in, it is continnentalized, and to the west, where in, the climate is milder due to Atlantic influences.  It is generally characterized by very hot and arid summers, often accompanied by great droughts.  Average temperatures during the summer can rise beyond 26°C, at times reaching 40°C.  Its winters are typically long, yet mild due to oceanic influences brought by its proximity to the Atlantic coast of Portugal.  Average winter temperatures are at 7.5°C, with the lowest temperatures registered in the mountainous regions.

Being so far removed from the tourist hotspots in the coast, relatively few local and foreign tourists have ventured into this western region of the Iberian Peninsula.  Extremadura is blessed with natural beauty, as well as with cultural and historical attractions.  It may have less appeal for package tourists, but its wealth of protected nature reserves, its plethora of world heritage sites, its roster of notable historical landmarks and monuments, original popular customs and traditions, the great artisan heritage of its locals, and the region’s superb gastronomy can offer anyone a journey of remarkable discovery into a genuine Spanish experience.

Foremost on its list of attractions is the fascinating ancient Roman city of Merida.  Although it exists as the regional capital today, Merida was once one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire.  It is home to some of the world’s well-preserved outstanding Roman monuments, of which includes a magnificent bridge that boasts of 64 granite arches and is purported to be the longest bridge ever built by the Romans in Spain.  Other important Roman monuments include the 5-mile aqueducts, a 2000-year old colossal theater where summer plays are still staged, and an amphitheater. 

Also worth visiting is the beautiful walled city of Badajoz, which is situated near the Portuguese border.  This capital of Lower Extremadura boasts of a mighty Moorish Alcazaba, watch towers, a wealth of museums, and several historic sites.

Caceres, the capital of Upper Extremadura, is another beautiful walled city in the region founded by the Romans in 34 BC.  Its Moorish town walls with great watch towers, encloses a well-preserved old quarter.  Also found in the city are several exceptional renaissance castles.

Nearby is the equally impressive town of Trujillo.  It is well-known as the birth place of Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of Peru.  The town is also known for its glorious central square, a great medieval castle, and its well-preserved town walls that feature seven doors.

Two other notable towns in Extremadura that is worth visiting are Guadalupe and Plasencia.  The former is a beautiful town whose main feature is a colossal Mudejar-designed monastery, which preserves precious works of art.  The equally picturesque town of Plasencia boasts of a Gothic cathedral, medieval town walls, and a number of centuries-old palaces.

Beyond the fortified walls of these historic cities are Extremadura’s striking countryside and nature reserves that can offer its visitors an equally rich experience as much as the historical attractions of these walled cities.  One of its most important nature reserves is the Monfrague National Park.  This raptor reserve is one of the most prominent reserves in Europe.  It is also one of the best places in Spain to spot the rare Spanish Imperial Eagle and black vultures.  It has been declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a protected zone because of the rare flora and fauna found there.  Other nature reserves in Extremadura include the Sierras of San Pedro and Hornacho, and Garganta de lot Infiernos.

Extremadura is also a wonderland for bird lovers.  The region has a large population of storks, who indiscriminately build their large nests atop of everything from castle roofs and telephone poles to church spires and convent roofs.  It is believed that Extremadura is home to more than 11,000 storks as well as many other rare bird species.  Birdwatchers often flock to Monfrague to observe these magnificent animals.

Certainly, with such outstanding natural resources, Extremadura offers a great variety of outdoor and sports activities.  The terrain offers the best opportunity to engage in hiking, mountaineering, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, rock climbing, caving or spelunking, and horseback riding.  
Water sport activities are afforded by the lakes and reservoirs found in the region, such as those found at Garcia Sola in Castilblanco.

Extremadura properties are most certainly ideal for buyers who seek to escape the crowded Spanish coasts and its saturated property market.  Setting up residence in Extremadura means living out a rustic lifestyle, enjoying wide open spaces, breathing in fresh air, no hassles of traffic jams and noise pollution,  few or no polluting industries, and having some of the best nature reserves in Europe right at your doorstep.

Until recently, as the overall Spanish property market suffers a slow down and buyers are seeking less overly priced properties, Extremadura has seen an enlivening of its local property market.  As the region is spared of any mass development and intense attention from tourists, Extremadura still has one of the country’s most reasonable property prices. 

A buyer has a plethora of choice locations, ranging from the region’s most important cities to hamlets and villages dotted along the countryside.  And although the cities may feature well-preserved sections of its past, these cities are quite as modern as any of its contemporaries.  Properties offered in Extremadura may vary from off-plan developments, such as villas and apartments, to resale properties, of which includes including large farms, village houses, and small fincas.

Extremadura’s prospects from an investor’s standpoint shows that that any property investment made can assume a capital appreciation in the next few years.  This is due to the growing attractiveness of inland properties as buyers move away from the coasts and seek investments that are that gives better value for their money.  In addition, its infrastructure has been largely completed due to massive EU development funding in recent years, wherein the region now boasts of fabulous roadways with no traffic jams.  The Badajoz Talavera Airport services the entire region.