Coordinates
38° 19′ 0″ N, 6° 46′ 0″ W
Distances
Badajoz 72 km, Cáceres 167 km, Mérida 101 km, Madrid 440 km, Évora (Portugal) 116 km, Lisbon (Portugal) 253 km.
Altitude
505 m.
Population
9303 (2019)
HISTORY
The archaeological remains of the Toriñuelo dolmen confirm that the area was already populated in the Chalcolithic period . However, it was not until the Phoenician era that Ceret was founded. This word means city.
Known as Caeriana, given its proximity to Emerita Augusta, it must have been an important settlement during the Roman occupation. This is corroborated by the remains found in the domestic villa of El Pomar. An inscription from the Visigothic period survives on a marble column in the Church of Santa María.
The first written reference to Jerez de los Caballeros dates back to the Muslim era. At that time, the geographer Al-Idrisi listed the so-called Xerixa along with the most significant towns in the region. The layout of its urban layout, as well as remains in the Morería and Alhóndiga neighborhoods, are all that remain from that period.
Christian raids prompted the fortification of the town. It was finally conquered by King Alfonso IX of León in 1230. He in turn handed it over to the Knights Templar . The knights reinforced the castle, built the wall, and the Church of San Bartolomé. Furthermore, the Arabic name was changed to Xere Equitum, making it the seat of a powerful Bayliato, a district with its own charter.
Following the dissolution and seizure of the assets of the controversial Order of the Temple in 1312 by Pope Clement V, the Templar garrison of Jerez de los Caballeros resisted disarming. As a result, it was massacred, and the town passed into the hands of the Crown. The Crown won the affection of the population by recognizing its right to appoint representatives to the Cortes of Castile. These leaders played a prominent role in the Cortes held in Burgos three years later to discuss the regency of Alfonso XI.
In 1370, Henry II "The Merciful" honored its appellation by donating it to the Order of Santiago. These knights gave rise to the name Jerez de los Caballeros, turning it into one of the most important centers in the region. During the 15th and 16th centuries, palaces, temples, hospitals, hermitages, and convents were built. As the head of the Santiaguista District, on an equal footing with Mérida and Llerena, Emperor Charles V granted it the title of Very Noble and Loyal City. Only Mérida and Badajoz held such a high rank in Lower Extremadura.
Like the rest of Extremadura, Jerez de los Caballeros contributed to the colonization of America with numerous men. The most famous were Vasco Núñez de Balboa and Hernando de Soto.
During the War of the Spanish Succession, Jerez de los Caballeros suffered attacks from its Portuguese neighbors three times. Nevertheless, the city continued to experience economic and demographic development. The foundations of this boom were livestock farming and the cork industry, which would last until the 20th century.
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PLACES TO VISIT
Located on top of one of the two hills that dominates the population stands the Templar Castle; Alcazaba of Arab origin rebuilt in the thirteenth century by the Order of the Temple. It is the monument to start a tour of Jerez de los Caballeros. The fortress would be reinforced by the Order of Santiago, achieving the current aspect. Of the four towers that it preserves, the tribute tower is popularly known as the Bloody Tower. It is said that the blood of the last Templars ran down the hill like an overflowing torrent.
Work of the Templars is also the wall that started from the castle and from which you can still see towers integrated into the urban layout of the city. The door of de Villa and Burgos are the only ones that remain. Before there were six entrances that allowed access to the walled enclosure.
However, the best known picture to see in Jerez de los Caballeros is the one that includes the slender baroque towers of its churches. Rising on a network of whitewashed houses, they allow to recognize the town from a distance. A beautiful claim.
Next to the castle is the Church of Santa María de la Encarnación, the oldest temple to see in Jerez de los Caballeros. An inscription engraved on a column confirms its Visigothic origin, although the current temple has little to do with the initial. From its exterior of great solidity, as in the other churches of the town, its bell tower stands out. It is an 18th-century building composed of four bodies topped by a capital. Inside there are works of great artistic value, such as the Penitent Magdalene attributed to Pedro de Mena.
In the Plaza de España, ample space adorned with palm trees, the walls of the Church of San Miguel Arcángel, whose construction had to begin at the end of the fourteenth century. It is the time when the Order of Santiago was established in the city. Although it presents elements that respond to the different periods of its construction, the Baroque style prevails. For example, in the brick tower, with ornamental sconces in baked clay, more than sixty meters high. The interior of the interior of the main altar is a wooden choir and the sepulcher of Hernando Méndez Soto.
The Church of San Bartolomé occupies one of the facades of the square that bears his name. It was built in the mid-fifteenth century in Gothic style with baroque remodeling. Decorated with polychrome tiles as the facade, the current tower was raised. Such construction was erected after the Lisbon earthquake of 1755. It consists of four bodies, using the latest ornaments of plaster, ceramics, brick and glazed mud. At the same time, it is essential to visit the Chapel of the Comendadores. Here is the grave of Don Vasco de Xerez and his wife Beatriz Bravo, made in 1535.
Located in the lower quarter of the city, the Church of Santa Catalina, in the Baroque style, is reached. Its tower has a height of more than sixty meters and already shows neoclassical influences. It should also be noted in the Altar Mayor (1746-1750), a baroque work by Ignacio El Tallista and Francisco Martínez Cañet.
Complementing the four churches mentioned above stands the Convent of Our Lady of Grace. From the 15th century, it has an ogival cover. Continuing with the sacred architecture to see in Jerez de los Caballeros, the Convent of the Mother of God (16th century) and the old Convent of San Agustín also stand out. Space has now become the House of Culture.
The town also has almost a dozen hermitages. However, the only one open to worship is the Hermitage of the Holy Martyrs, from the early fifteenth century.
The discovery of America enriched many of the Jerez people, who built mansions and manor houses. Attracted by the booming economy of the city, nobles from all over Spain established their residence there. Proof of this is the Rianzuela Palace. Building of great extension, it is articulated around a central patio with an 18th century facade. This shows a marble shield of the family. Similar interest is the house of Bachelor Juan Martínez de Logroño (fifteenth century), with two windows that hold the family blazons. Finally, there is the Palace of Guzmán Sotomayor, with a door and windowed windows.
There are several museum options to see in Jerez de los Caballeros. For example, the Museum of Sacred Art installed in the Vicaria Palace. Such space was once the residence of the Vicar General of the Order of Santiago. The Interpretation Center Casa Natal Vasco Núñez de Balboa is also very entertaining. Save three areas. These are dedicated respectively to the conquerors of America, the history of the city and local illustrious characters.
Another recommendation is to walk through the Gardens of Santa Lucia. From this point you can enjoy the best views to see in Jerez de los Caballeros. 7 kilometers from the town, on the road between Jerez and Zafra (EX 112), is the Toriñuelo dolmen. This mound of 48 meters in diameter was declared in 1926 National Monument.
Jerez de los Caballeros is a land of extensive holm oaks where the Iberian pig is raised almost freely. It is not surprising that one of its economic engines is the development and sale of products derived from this animal, which has the Denomination of Origin Dehesa de Extremadura. During the month of May the Iberian Ham Hall is celebrated.
Holy Week in Jerez de los Caballeros is the best excuse to visit this municipality of La Paz. Of marked Andalusian influence, it has been declared by some scholars and visitors as "The Baroque within the Baroque."
The Templar Festival, held in July, recovers one of the most splendid moments of the city: the century of supremacy of the Order of the Temple. The streets of the old town of Jerez dress up to develop a program of activities. These revolve around the representation of the play The Last Templar of Jerez, which is completed with parades and medieval markets.
