La Alberca, the most beautiful village of Salamanca

La Alberca is a town and municipality of Spain, in the province of Salamanca, which belongs to the autonomous community of Castilla y León, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, it is integrated in the Sierra de Francia region. The municipality includes not only La Alberca, with a little more than 1000 inhabitants, but also the area of Las Batuecas and Prado de Carreras. 

It is the first village to be declared, in 1949, a Historic-Artistic Monument, as it seems as if time has stopped in this area. In addition, its origin dates back to prehistoric times, leaving its traces in the cave paintings in the valleys surrounding both La Alberca and Las Batuecas. It is recommended that when you visit you have enough time to see everything it has to offer.

You can leave your car in the area to park, at the entrance of the village, and then start walking through the streets of this beautiful village until you reach the tourist office, which is located around the Plaza Mayor. There they can provide you with a map or help you organize the route of your tour of the town and its surroundings.

Starting the tour through the typical streets of La Alberca:

As we start the walk, the first thing you notice are its cobblestone and cobbled streets with rectangular shaped blocks, in addition to its beautiful houses with geometric wooden lattices and its balconies full of flowers of all colors; showing its typical and well popular architecture of the area. 

Likewise, we will see sturdy lintels, which are chiseled with the date of construction of these houses; or also the coat of arms and anagrams of religious type, many with antiquity of several centuries ago. Also the night walks are very pleasant; since the appropriate illumination highlights more the landscape. 

What can we know in the historic center of the town of La Alberca:

The Plaza Mayor of La Alberca:

Getting to the Plaza Mayor of La Alberca is very simple. It is the heart of the town or area where several important places are concentrated around it. For example, it is located the City Hall, a building that in the past functioned as a prison. Likewise, we find the Casa Ducal, a 15th century house that belonged to the Dukes of Alba, and currently serves as the Municipal Theater.

This family was one of the most powerful in Europe at the time and acquired this House of Alba thanks to King Juan II, who gave it to this noble dynasty. That is why its coat of arms is so visible; leaving the mark of its passage through this town of Salamanca. The Plaza has a transept from the 18th century, with a granite base where the Passion of Christ is represented.

Next to the square is located the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción:

This church of the 18th century and neoclassical style was erected over a previous temple, that is why some baroque details can be observed. Externally it presents certain sobriety, but in its interior it consists of 3 naves covered with groin vault, besides a chapel towards the lateral side. In addition, we find a pulpit of the century more or less XVI, elaborated in polychrome granite.

Next to this church is located the Hornacina de las Ánimas:

Towards one side of the chapel of the Virgin of the Rosary, in the church of the Assumption, is located a wall that internally has the Ossuary, but externally the famous niche is appreciated, 2 holes and in each one 1 skull is housed; next to a plate with the inscribed psalmody and a lighted candle. 

The purpose is that one Friday of each month the women make a journey praying for the souls of the dead, and this place indicates the end of that journey. This tradition has been maintained since the XVI century. In addition, in November, when the Day of the Dead is celebrated, the famous Moza de las Animas reaches its greatest prominence.

What can we know in the surroundings of the town of La Alberca:

In addition to the Church of the Assumption, La Alberca has other small hermitages, located at the exits of this village. They have a great architectural and artistic value. For example, there is the hermitage of San Blas, rebuilt around the nineteenth century, exactly in 1813, via the road to Batuecas; and that of San Marcos, which, although only its ruins can be seen, is surrounded by natural beauty. 

Also, on the outskirts of La Alberca, is located the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Majadas Viejas, which is characterized by the image of the virgin from medieval times. It has been demonstrated that before the arrival of the Romans there was already a population of the Visigothic period, and the materials of its constructions were reused for the erection of this hermitage.

At the level of the Sierra de Francia is located, at 1723 m of altitude, the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Peña, with a location that favors the panoramic views of the Sierra de Béjar and all the villages that compose it. It is an interesting expedition to make, despite its winding road. Apart from this sanctuary there are also 3 viewpoints. Such as the Mirador del Balcón del Fraile, Santo Domingo and Balcón de Santiago.

Likewise, this Sierra is famous for legends and moments of history that have been passed down through the generations; including walls, fortresses and exploitations of the Roman mines, as for example in Las Médulas; covered today by vegetation. 

This Sierra is also home to the Valley of Las Batuecas, declared in 2000 an Asset of Cultural Interest. So, you can hike walking through this valley and there we will find the Cascada del Chorro waterfall, which you can approach to see Neolithic cave paintings, such as the Canchal de las Cabras Pintadas and the Zarzalón.

This route starts, of course, in the hut of the National Park of Cabañeros de las Becerras, with good indications of the route to follow, until you reach the Cascada del Chorro.