Route of the Dehesas de Extremadura through the province of Badajoz

The beauty of the countryside here does not only centre on the Iberian pigs, but also on the impressive mixture of monuments and nature.

Monesterio and Jerez de los Caballeros are production centres of Iberian ham from the dehesas of Extremadura in Badajoz that cover a large and varied geographic area.

The districts of Olivenza, Campiña Sur, la Serena, Sierra de San Pedro Los Baldíos, Zafra Río Bodión, Sierra Suroeste and Tierra de Barros offer some of the most beautiful countryside for Iberian pig farming, although it is also famous for its cheese, wine and delicious beef that also have their own protected designation of origin.

Other places we have not to forget on a food tourism route through the province of Badajoz are Fregenal de la Sierra, with a Templar Knights past; Monesterio with a good offer of restaurants, and where they celebrate a Ham Festival that attracts a lot of visitors; Calera de León, seat of the Knights of Santiago with its impressive Conventual; or Zafra with a magnificent historic centre.

Designation of Origin of the Iberian ham

The breeding and production area on the Route of the Iberian Ham is in the Autonomous Communities of Andalucía, Castilla y León and Extremadura. These areas are marked out by the Regulating Council of the Designation of Origin of the Iberian ham. Guijuelo, la Dehesa de Extremadura, Jamón de Huelva and Los Pedroches are the four areas with Designation of Origin at present.

Curing stages of Iberian ham

After the free range grazing, the pig is slaughtered in the traditional way or industrially to reduce stress so that the quality of the meat is not affected. At the time of slaughter the blood is used for making cold meats and preserves.

Ham festivals

There are professional trade fairs, gastronomic events, congresses and local festivals centred around Iberian ham in the areas all along Route that give ham a festive quality that attracts thousands of visitors.