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The small town of Guadalupe is dominated in every way by the great Monasteriso de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, which for five centuries has brought fame and pilgrims to the area. It was established in 1340, on the spot where an ancient image of the virgin, said to have been carved by Saint Luke, was discovered by a a shepherd fifty or so years earlier. The delay was simply a question of waiting for the Reconquest to arrive in this remote sierra, with its lush countryside or forests and streams. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Guadalupe was among the most important pilgramage centres in Spain: Columbus named the Caribbean island in honour of the Virgin here, and a local version was adopted as the patron saint of Mexico. Much of the monastic wealth, in fact, came from returning conquistadores, whose successive endowments led to a fascinating mix of styles. The monastery was abandoned in the nineteenth century dissolution, but early this centry was reoccupied by Franciscans, who continue to maintain it. The town itself is a fitting complement to the monastery and contryside, a net of narrow cobbled streets and overhanging houses, around an arcaded plaza, the whole overshadowed by the monastery´s bluff ramparts. There´s a timeless feel, only slighyl diminished by modern development on the outskirts. Guadalupe is an ideal base if you are seeking property or have a wish to discover more about Extremadura. Madrid and Toledo are an easy drive and Portugal can be reached in less than 3 hours. The outstanding Parador de Guadalupe housed in a beautifully restored 15th Century hospital should not be missed. There are lots of places to eat, specialities of the area include the Extramaduran trout.