Peraleda de la Mata town hall

Peraleda de la Mata town hall is the seat of local government in Peraleda de la Mata, a municipality in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, part of the Campo Arañuelo district near Navalmoral de la Mata. The building sits on Plaza de España, the town's main square, and stands out as one of the best-preserved pieces of civic architecture in the area.

How do you get there?

Peraleda de la Mata lies in the northeastern part of Cáceres province, close to the road network linking Navalmoral de la Mata with the surrounding towns of the Campo Arañuelo district. Driving is the most practical option — Navalmoral de la Mata is the nearest town with train and bus connections, and from there it's only a short drive to Peraleda de la Mata. The town hall sits right in the centre, on Plaza de España, so once you arrive it's easy to find: just head for the main square.

What will you see on Plaza de España?

The town hall building itself is notable for its solid construction and good state of preservation, making it one of the architectural highlights of the town. The same square is home to a fountain known locally as La Pilata, surrounded by historic townhouses that give the square the feel of a typical small-town centre in Extremadura. It's the natural starting point for exploring Peraleda de la Mata on foot.

What's the history behind this place?

The municipality's territory has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with the important archaeological sites of Valparaíso and Las Coscojas found within its boundaries. The Romans left their mark through settlements near Vega Alarza and Valparaíso, and Jewish and Arab communities also passed through the area in later centuries. Peraleda de la Mata was granted town (villa) status in the 17th century through a royal charter from King Philip IV, which guaranteed its independence from nearby Plasencia. In the 20th century, the introduction of irrigation systems reshaped the landscape and economy of the municipality, transforming the surrounding farmland.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Close to the town centre, a Roman bridge with a single semicircular arch still spans the Valparaíso stream — a surviving fragment of the ancient road that once connected Augusta Emerita (modern Mérida) with Toletum (Toledo). A few kilometres toward Guadalupe lies the Valdecañas reservoir on the Tagus river, near which stand the ruins known as Los Mármoles — remnants of a Roman settlement that once belonged to Talavera la Vieja, a town submerged when the reservoir was flooded in 1963.

When is the best time to visit?

Extremadura has a continental climate with hot summers and cooler winters, so spring and autumn are the best times to visit Peraleda de la Mata, when temperatures are mild and the surrounding landscapes — including the area around the Valdecañas reservoir — look their best. Summer can get very hot, which makes long walks through town during the middle of the day less comfortable.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the town hall in Peraleda de la Mata located? It stands on Plaza de España, the town's main square, right in the centre of the municipality within the Campo Arañuelo district of Cáceres province.

Can you visit the inside of the town hall? It's an active municipal government building, so access inside is limited to office hours and official business — visitors typically admire its façade and the surrounding square from outside.

What else is worth seeing in Peraleda de la Mata? Besides the town hall, look for the La Pilata fountain on the same square and the Roman bridge over the Valparaíso stream, plus the Valdecañas reservoir and the Los Mármoles ruins a few kilometres away.

How do you get to Peraleda de la Mata? Driving is the easiest option, using the road connections through Navalmoral de la Mata, the nearest town with public transport links in the Campo Arañuelo area.