The Muralla de Plasencia is an impressive medieval military enclosure that embraces the historic center of the charming city of Plasencia.

Its history dates back to the end of the 12th century, when Alfonso VIII of Castile took control of the existing Andalusian settlement in this place. In 1186, he transformed this corner into an outstanding city in his new lands, thus giving birth to today's Plasencia. Alfonso VIII sought to safeguard his southern border from the Andalusian territories, and at the same time, to establish a boundary with the kingdom of León to the west.

The Castilian king's wish was that Plasencia should be erected as a fortress city, capable of facing both Muslims and Leonese. The wall surrounding the city has a double defensive system: a thick main wall and a lower outer barbican, both separated by a moat. In addition, the Jerte River provided an additional defensive component by surrounding a large part of the city.

As time progressed, the walls lost their strategic purpose due to the unification of the Crown of Castile and the advance of the Christian frontier to the south. Nevertheless, they continued to play their defensive role.

Because of the present condition of conservation, with numerous fragments of wall missing, we estimate that its perimeter covered about 2.44 kilometers, without considering the barbican and the cubes.

One particularity that distinguishes the Plasencia Wall is its irregular pentagonal shape, a unique feature compared to other medieval walls in Spain. This particular configuration was molded according to the geographical conditions of the terrain on which it was erected, giving it a distinctive and special character.