New Cathedral of Plasencia

Anyone arriving in Plasencia keen to grasp its historical weight has an unmissable appointment with the New Cathedral. This is no ordinary church on the map of Extremadura: it is considered the most richly and extensively decorated in the whole region, a distinction that alone justifies the trip and is worth bearing in mind as you explore it, unhurriedly and with an eye for every detail.

The cathedral stands in Plasencia, a city in the north of Extremadura, and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Plasencia. Its status as the ecclesiastical centre goes a long way towards explaining its decorative ambition: a building like this was not merely a place of worship, but was meant to proclaim the importance of the city and of the Church that governed a vast territory from it.

The name itself is enough to pique visitors' curiosity. Being called the New Cathedral prompts you to wonder what stood there before, and to think of Plasencia as a city that renewed its great church over the course of time. It is well worth approaching your visit with this in mind, much like reading a chapter of the city's history written in stone.

The best thing to do is to give it time and let yourself be carried away by the richness of its ornamental features, which are precisely what set it apart from the region's other cathedrals and churches. For travellers with a passion for art and heritage, it is one of those stops that give real meaning to a break in northern Extremadura, and one that stays with you long after you have returned home.