After the Maratón de Don Benito: Medellín

The Route: Don Benito → Medellín → Don Benito Logistics: Car or taxi, about 15 minutes each way. Level streets in town, a steep hill to the theatre and castle. Marathon Month: February Duration: Day trip

Don Benito ──(about 15 mins by car)──> Medellín ──(about 15 mins)──> Don Benito

The Maratón de Don Benito sends runners four times round the same town circuit. The next morning, the closest change of scene is Medellín, about 10 km south-west on the Guadiana. It is a quiet town with far more history than its size suggests, and it can be seen in half a day.

February in the Vegas Altas is cool, with bright days in the low to mid-teens and cold mornings. The irrigated farmland along the Guadiana is bare, and the river runs high after winter rain.

Buses between Don Benito and Medellín are infrequent, so take a taxi or drive. It is about 15 minutes.

The bridge and the square

Medellín lies at the foot of a hill beside the river, which is crossed by the long stone Puente de los Austrias, built in the seventeenth century. Its walkway is level and gives the best view of the town and the castle above.

In the main square stands a bronze statue of Hernán Cortés, who was born in Medellín in 1485 and went on to conquer the Aztec empire. The square and the streets around it are flat enough for tired legs.

The Roman theatre and the castle

Medellín was the Roman colony of Metellinum, and its Roman theatre was excavated from the southern slope of the castle hill in recent decades. The seating climbs the hillside, and the town's church of Santiago stands on top of part of it. Reaching it means a short climb from the square; visits run at set times with a small fee, and opening days vary, so check with the town's tourist office before going.

The castle crowns the hill above the theatre, a long walled enclosure with views over the plain and the river. The approach is steep and on rough ground. On the day after a marathon it can be admired from the bridge; leave the climb for later in the week, or drive as close as the road allows.

The return

Medellín has a few bars for a coffee or a simple lunch. Don Benito is 15 minutes back for a longer meal.