Route length: 3 km (approximately). Duration: 2 hours (approximately). Difficulty: High. Season: Autumn, winter, and spring. Location: Castle of the Culebra, located on the hill of the same name. Acce... (plus +)

Route length: 3 km (approximately). Duration: 2 hours (approximately). Difficulty: High. Season: Autumn, winter, and spring. Location: Castle of the Culebra, located on the hill of the same name. Access is from Castillo street. For the ascent, we use a path near the water tanks. ROUTE The route begins at the Tourist Office, going up the side walk that runs along the road connecting to Palomas, until reaching Castillo Street. There, you will climb a small slope continuing along the path that will lead the walker to the left, joining the path adjacent to the water tanks where the hiker will conquer terrain, crossing areas dotted only by olive trees, thyme, and shrubs along with beautiful orchids and almond trees during their flowering season. Halfway up the hillside, we find a fork where one of the three natural water cisterns that can be seen on the slope of the castle can be accessed. To do this, you must enter through one of the first gates found on the path, which is formed by an arch that transports the walker to the 9th century. Between walls and cliffs, the conquest of the castle continues to the "Puerta del Sol", with a small viewpoint, from which you can appreciate the bell shape of Alange and, as if it were a soldier sent by the Emir of Córdoba Muhammad I, the walker continues their access along a narrow path surrounded by rocks and cliffs to come face to face with the main body of the fortress, this being one of the most challenging sections of the entire route. The hiker can imagine the fierce battles that would have taken place in front of the Tower of Homage or how the Arabs could have dominated the entire region, now transformed with impressive views of the lake from where the numerous surrounding towns can be seen: Mérida, Don Álvaro, Villagonzalo, and La Zarza, among others, as well as environmental points of interest such as the Guadiana River, the Sierra de Peñas Blancas, and the Sierra Grande de Hornachos. After having conquered the castle, the walker will begin their descent, contemplating the remains of an ancient road from the Mérida gate and the best sections of the west wall that are preserved, leaving the rocky quartzite promontories known as "Callejón de los Frailes" that overlook the dam to the left. The descent will take place through the shady area, where there is denser vegetation due to the climatic conditions of the area. Another of the cisterns will be skirted, leaving the hill to the right, sighting some of the towers suspended on the cliffs. The path joins the path adjacent to the water tanks to descend through the same place it accessed. SURROUNDINGS The rocky massif of the Castillo hill, due to its configuration, presents two areas with different climatic conditions, the sunny side with vegetation resistant to the sun and high temperatures, and the shady side, with a botanical richness that would only be possible in its humid conditions. Due to its climatic conditions and natural environment, it has a great botanical richness, thanks to which we can mention various species of orchids, lilies, hawthorn, wild geranium, cornicabra, and olive trees. We can also see a wide variety of birds: black redstart, black-eared wheatear, Bonelli's eagle, pallid swift, Alpine swift, Eurasian crag martin, rock bunting, and Eurasian eagle-owl. Among the reptiles, the most common are the horseshoe whip snake, ladder snake, southern smooth snake, Moorish gecko, ocellated lizard, and pygmy marbled newt.
(minus -)