Tomatoes

The town of Miajadas, in the south of the province of Cáceres, is closed linked to irrigated land, where rice and tomato growing play key roles. Tomatoes are the main driver of its economy thanks to the cultivation of this fruit and its use by the  various tomato factories that produce tomato products that can be found in nearly every pantry.

The success of its production and the high quality of Miajadas tomatoes lies in the climatology of the area and soil conditions. There are currently four tomato harvesting and processing factories and three agricultural cooperatives in the town, the direct source of hundreds of jobs and much more indirect employment.

The tomato is so representative of the town that it is considered the ‘tomato capital’, which is reflected as soon as you arrive there, with a sculpture  of a huge tomato at the entrance.

The sculpture is the work of Miguel Ángel Martín Gallardo, an artist from Málaga, who submitted a model of a realistic giant tomato, 5.5 metres in diameter, on a 12-meter base.

Miajadas also enjoys a rich culinary tradition based on this fruit. While there, you must try the gazpacho and other tomato soups, made using recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation among locals, and it is also advisable to visit around 24 July, when the Tomato Festival is held, a large event based around culinary tastings and open-air parties.

Take advantage to learn about the town’s varied artistic heritage. Highlights include the Parish Church of Santiago Apóstol and the Baroque Church of Nuestra Señora de Belén, as well as the Casillas-Tres Palacios palace. The Hermitage of San Bartolomé lies on the outskirts of the town and is part of a great local tradition due to the pilgrimage celebrated there each year.