C.I. Torre Lucía

This tower was once linked to the city’s fortress, which was demolished in the 20th century. We can walk along a stretch of wall if we go inside the tower itself, which houses the Interpretation Centre of the Medieval City of Plasencia, which will help us to understand the configuration and meaning of our walls. Its name refers to the fire that was lit in it to guide travellers arriving in the city, and to warn the surrounding population and castles in case of danger.

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This is one of the most outstanding civil monuments in the city. It was built in stone by Juan de Flandes in the middle of the 16th century to replace an earlier construction called “Cañería de los Moros” dating from the 12th century. It was used to bring water to the city from the nearby mountain ranges of Cabezabellosa and El Torno and we currently conserve 55 arches, 7 of them next to the Hospital. It is 300 metres long and has a maximum height of 18 metres. Some of the arches were restored after their destruction in the Civil War.

Designed in the 16th century by Juan de Álava, one of the architects of the Cathedral, who incorporated a balcony to watch the public festivities. In the clock tower we find Abuelo Mayorga, an automaton that chimes the bells and has become one of the most beloved symbols of the city.

San Antón Park

The park is actually called Gabriel y Galán because it is dedicated to the Castilian poet José María Gabriel y Galán, although many locals are unaware of its name and name it after the San Antón aqueduct that flanks it. 

The park forms part of the belt of parks in Plasencia that begins at the Torre Lucia park and ends at the Coronación and Los Pinos. It is a beautiful and secluded park located in the highest part of the city and is made up of two parts: one with exceptional views of the Sierra de Santa Bárbara, and the second, framed on one side by the Coronacion park and on the other by the great construction of the San Antón aqueduct.

Inside there are several curiosities: the “Fuente Rosa” (Pink Fountain) named after the stone that covers it, the sculpture of Gabriel y Galán and the sculpture in homage to D. Calixto Payan y Vargas, Marquis of La Constancia and founder of the school for orphaned children of San Calixto.

Los Pinos Park

The ornithological park of Los Pinos is better known as “Los Patos” as it is one of the most abundant species, it closes the northwest of the belt of parks of Pláceres and is a place for grandparents and grandchildren to stroll.

Inside you will find numerous species of birds, most of them in liberty, including birds of prey that have been recovered by the Los Hornos Centre but which, due to injuries, cannot return to the wild. One of its emblems is the colony of peacocks, among which are the albino turkeys, much loved by children.

Inside the park there are several buildings, some dating from the middle of the last century, which were built by the prisoners of the civil war as forced labour. A plaque at the entrance commemorates this. There are also several ponds with a typical Verata house and a castle in which birds fly in and out.

At the top, on the Avenida de Extremadura, there are some children’s playgrounds.

La Rana Park

Starts the park belt in the south, from the Torre Lucia and the city centre to the Avenida Cañada Real. It is a small park in which stands the monument to the fallen that was rededicated to the fallen in all wars.

It stands on what were the ruins of the old castle or Alcázar of the city whose ashlars were used to make the support of land and the difference in height with the Avenida La Salle and surrounding streets.

Although all the people of Pláceres know this place as “the park of the Frog” because of the fountain closest to the Gabriel y Galán park where the water gushes from the mouth of a “Frog” of the kind used in the traditional game.

Amongst its constructions there is a pergola, as well as various stone-covered huts used to maintain the irrigation system and some care tools, and there are children’s games. In an attempt to improve the impermeability of the ground, it was covered with “Albero” sand like a bullring, but this type of earth did not withstand the onslaught of the wind and passers-by.