Did you know that Alcántara literally means «the bridge»? It’s only to be expected, given that this 2nd-century Roman colossus is still standing, defying the River Tagus almost two thousand years later. But crossing it is just the start.

To enter the villa is to step into the headquarters of the monks of the Order of Alcántara. There’s a reason why it has a high density of assets of cultural interest, an open-air museum in practice.

The fact is, the town has more layers than an onion: with palaces bearing coats of arms everywhere, such as that of the Roco-Campofrío family or that of the Marquises of Torreorgaz; churches such as Santa María de Almocóvar or the Convent of St Benedict, a Renaissance gem where the classical theatre comes to life every summer.

An interesting fact: it is said that the monastery’s recipe book was so famous that Napoleon’s troops took it away, inspiring such universally popular dishes as béchamel sauce.