Jerez de los Caballeros

Two explorers of the Americas belong to this town: Vasco Núñez de Balboa was born here and Hernando de Soto grew up here. Jerez de los Caballeros spreads over two hills above the Ardila river near the Portuguese border, ringed by a Moorish wall with six gates. Its name recalls the Knights Templar, who held it in the 13th century.

Highlights

• Torre Sangrienta, where legend says the last Templars were put to death
• Church of San Miguel, where de Soto asked for a chapel in his will
• Church of Santa María, with a column inscribed with its consecration in 556
• Dolmen de Toriñuelo, a prehistoric tomb in the La Granja estate (ES)
• Easter, the town's main celebration

Summary based on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), written with AI assistance.