Читать книгу The Sierras of Extremadura. 32 half and full-day walks in western Spain's hills онлайн

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Come to an old gatepost with no gate, followed by a gate made of bedsprings, usually open. Go through these. There are two little gates, right, and some small outbuildings. Usually there are goats here, and occasionally the goatherd.

Ignoring the two gates, emerge at an open meadow. The path is clearly defined by granite paving, and ahead is the summit of Pico Jálama (Walk 2). Occasionally the path becomes compacted earth but it is clear as no grass grows on it. Keep Pico Jálama as a vague point of orientation – it should be ahead and sometimes a bit right. Ahead and slightly to the left are jagged outcrops called the Torres de Fermán Centeno.

Many legends surround Fermán Centeno, who was a knight from Cuidad Rodrigo to the north of the Sierra de Eljas. He was involved in local power struggles between various factions and seized the defensive castles of Eljas and Trevejo in 1474. He then aspired to take over the western part of the region, which was vital to the defence of Spain against the Portuguese. Today he is known as a legendary bandit who terrorised the local people and hid out in these ‘towers’.