Initially, we intended to enjoy some lunch and a short walk and then resume our day trip. Instead, we stayed here for a little longer because Trujillo was alluring. At first glance, it looked like a typical Spanish town but when we reached the main square, our opinion changed. The influence of Cortes and Pizarro is commemorated in Trujillo.
The old town of Trujillo has a special appeal with its old stone buildings, churches, towers, archways…all quite picturesque and somewhat captivating. In Trujillo, you feel that you are walking through a truly historical town, which inspired travellers and explorers alike.
The walled city of Trujillo showcases its Conquistador heritage gloriously. Trujillo is a well preserved medieval town, with its square, labyrinth of houses, churches and courtyards enclosed within its walls. The town personifies the Extremaduran feel of a society going about its business unconcerned about the modern age, nor the extreme conditions.
The Plaza Mayor is a spectacular plaza. The square is “surrounded by baroque and Renaissance stone buildings” with intricate, beautiful facades backed by a skyline of towers and turrets.
It’s simply a pretty place to walk around. The main attraction has a bronze statue of the famous conquistador Francisco Pizarro, the Trujillo native son who became conqueror of Peru, rearing on his horse in the gracefully stepped Plaza Mayor and eyeballing the grand palace his family built in Trujillo’s 16th century heyday.
Castillo de Trujillo is another striking structure in town, built on a hill overlooking the main city. This is essentially a 13th century castle built on top of an Arab fortress, which is estimated to have dated back to the 800s. It is one of the main things to see in Trujillo.
The Historical Centre has kept the town’s authenticity, charm and romance. It portrays a rich cultural heritage which can be seen in its architecture. Walking along the road to the fortress, I was asking myself what a sunset looks like seen from there? Or a sunrise? How must it have looked to the soldiers that were patrolling on that road keeping the horizons under scrutiny? I wondered how it must have been to live in those times?
What was remarkable about Trujillo was the lack of tourism —we almost had the old town to ourselves. We enjoyed the streets and I tried to capture the magic in my pictures. Photographically, a stunning place. Personally, I prefer the Historical Centre although the main square surrounded by beautiful palazzos and the tribute to its famous Conquistador son, is wonderful.
