Palacio de las Veletas & Museo de Cáceres
Most visitors walk past the Palacio de las Veletas without realising that beneath its elegant Renaissance courtyard lies one of the most extraordinary Moorish survivals in Spain — an intact 11th-century Almohad aljibe (cistern) with horseshoe arches reflected in still green water, buried in perfect darkness underground.
The Aljibe — Cáceres' Best Kept Secret
The aljibe was built by the Almohads in the 11th century to supply the city's alcazaba with water. It consists of five naves of horseshoe arches resting on granite columns, all perfectly preserved and still holding water — an eerie, beautiful space that feels more like a subterranean mosque than a water tank.
Descend the stone steps and let your eyes adjust; the arches reflecting in the dark water below create one of the most photogenic and atmospheric sights in all of Extremadura.
The Museum Above
The palace above the cistern houses the Museo de Cáceres, which covers both archaeology and fine art. The archaeological wing has Bronze Age stelae, Roman mosaics and Visigothic jewellery found across Extremadura — compact but genuinely excellent.
The fine arts section includes works by Picasso, Miró and El Greco alongside a strong collection of contemporary Extremaduran artists. The whole museum takes about 90 minutes to explore properly.
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