Spain/Extremadura: Montánchez
Montánchez is a small village in mountainous province of Extremadura, sitting on top of a mountain range. Romans founded the town, Moors fortified it and built a massive clifftop castle above it, and Christians erected the cathedral (that is basically the story of almost every town in Spain). The hike up to the castle offers a super panoramic view of the town and the landscape of the province of Extremadura, and all the wild oak forests. And this is where the real fame comes to Montánchez – it’s the unofficial capital of the Jamon Iberico production in Spain – form the black pigs roaming freely in these oak forests and eating 100% oak diet. The town has several jamon bodegas where you can try this otherworldly delicious stuff, recognized with a DO label just like champagne or jerez.
