Old Town of Cáceres

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The Historic Walled City of Cáceres: A Blend of Cultures and Architectural Styles

The Old Town of Cáceres, located in the heart of Extremadura, Spain, stands as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry that has unfolded over centuries within its ancient walls. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, this historic city offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the architectural fusion of Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic, and Italian Renaissance influences.

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The city's history of battles between Moors and Christians is reflected in its architecture, which is a blend of Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance styles. Of the 30 or so towers from the Muslim period, the Torre del Bujaco is the most famous.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

Criterion (iii): The walls of Cáceres bear exceptional testimony to the fortifications built in Spain by the Almohades. Frequently compared to Torre de Espantaperros in Badajoz and to Torre del Oro in Seville, Torre Mochada in Cáceres is part of an ensemble of walls and towers, which has been largely conserved and which is representative of a civilisation.

Criterion (iv): Cáceres is an outstanding example of a city ruled during the 14th to 16th centuries by powerful rival factions, so that fortified houses, palaces and towers dominate its spatial configuration. This city in Extremadura is unique because of its historic features, which - from the Middle Ages to the classical period - bear the traces of highly diverse and contradictory influences, such as Northern Gothic, Islamic, Italian Renaissance and arts of the New World.

Encyclopedia Record: Old Town of Cáceres

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