La Nava de Santiago: Church, Dolmen and PR-BA44

When planning a stay in La Nava de Santiago, you can choose from several points of focus: architecture and local history, the Ruta de Los Olivares y la Campa, or the celebrations in honour of Santa Quiteria. The Dolmen de Lácara is another landmark. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by deciding which of these themes you want to shape your stay.

Parish church and local history

The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is considered the most outstanding architectural landmark in La Nava de Santiago. It is built of rubble masonry and ashlar. Its structure includes a tower above an arch and an attached cylindrical section. The combination of different types of masonry and the distinctive tower construction give the church a clearly recognisable architectural profile.

The Capilla de Santiago was built inside the church in 1662 by Doña Juana de Ovando; its dome is decorated with paintings. The parish church’s artistic collection also includes an altarpiece and four marble Evangelists, created by Francisco Morato. Alongside the exterior architecture, these offer specific points of interest in the history of art.

Another trace of local history can be found on Calle Palacio: its name comes from the former manor house of the Ovando family, which was later associated with the Marquises of Valdeoro. The street name thus recalls the house’s former significance, without equating its historical function with its present-day use.

Dolmen de Lácara

The Dolmen de Lácara, together with the Anta Grande do Zambujeiro near Évora, is described as the largest known monument of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula. This comparison places the monument within the broader context of megalithic structures. The dolmen is accessible year-round without restrictions; parking is available next to the entrance gate. Check the access information again before your visit.

On 30 September 2025, the Junta de Extremadura announced the completion of improvements to the car park beside the EX-214 road and to the path towards the Dolmen del Prado de Lácara. The work also included drainage ditches, structures and fords. As infrastructure conditions can change, check the current state of the access road and car park before travelling.

Hiking the PR-BA44

The Ruta de Los Olivares y la Campa PR-BA44 is a 13.1-kilometre circular route of low difficulty. The trail passes through a landscape shaped by dehesa and traditional olive groves and crosses the Arroyo del Corcho. It also reaches the valley of the Arroyo de la Campa; the route offers views towards the Sierra del Machal. The distance, landscape and views provide practical points of reference for planning your hike.

The trail starts at the entrance to the village, on the pedestrian promenade beside the channelled Arroyo del Lugar. An information board is at the junction of Calle Pocita and the Arroyo del Lugar, in front of the small bridge. There is an unpaved parking area nearby. Check the route details and access locally before setting off.

Celebrations in honour of Santa Quiteria

The Fiestas de Santa Quiteria are La Nava de Santiago’s patron saint celebrations and take place on 22 May. The Romería de la Patrona, meanwhile, falls on the Sunday after Easter Sunday, so its date changes with Easter. This distinction matters when planning around these dates: the patron saint’s day has a fixed date, while the Sunday of the romería does not.

The traditional pilgrimage in honour of Santa Quiteria is popularly known as “Matapegas” and is held in honour of the patron saint. The romería includes tasting freshly tapped Pitarra wine. It is also considered a communal occasion when residents share food and drinks. These customs give the celebration its distinctive character, without implying that food and drink are available year-round.

Discover more destinations: Medina de las Torres, Oliva De Mérida, Santa Amalia, Trujillanos, Valdelacalzada, Valencia De Las Torres, Valdecaballeros, Villalba De Los Barros.

For the broader travel overview: Badajoz.