Roman Bridge over Albarregas River and Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalup

Scenic road chapters

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Roman Bridge over Albarregas River

   Mérida is built on two rivers. The big one is the Guadiana, crossed by the famous long bridge, and the small one is the Albarregas, a stream that curves around the northern and western edge of the old town and has been bridged since Roman times. The Roman bridge over the Albarregas is a modest structure of granite arches, nothing like the length of its big cousin, but it did a job: it carried the road out of the colony toward the west and the north, and it still stands. A few steps from it the old streets give way to a park with trees, a place where locals walk dogs and children ride bikes.

   Read the complete Roman Bridge over Albarregas River write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Roman Bridge over Albarregas River is where the day begins. Next is Old Town of Cáceres.

2. 2. Old Town of Cáceres

   Cáceres has an old town so complete that film crews treat it as a ready-made set, and walking its streets at dusk, when the stone glows amber and the crowds have gone, you can see why. Inside the walls, built largely by the Almohads in the twelfth century, are dozens of fortified mansions, towers, churches and palaces, many built by noble families who made their fortunes in the conquest of the Americas. The towers once had battlements, but Queen Isabella ordered most of them cut down to curb the nobles' power. UNESCO listed the old town in 1986.

   Read the complete Old Town of Cáceres write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Old Town of Cáceres comes up about 74 km into the recorded legs. Next is Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalup.

3. 3. Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalup

   Planning note

   about 211 km into the recorded legs you reach Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalup. Next is back through Old Town of Cáceres.

4. 4. back through Old Town of Cáceres

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Old Town of Cáceres write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Old Town of Cáceres, late in the day. Next is Roman Bridge over Albarregas River.

5. 5. Roman Bridge over Albarregas River

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Roman Bridge over Albarregas River write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back at Roman Bridge over Albarregas River. That is the ride.