Of course, for the young, adventure is what they seek. So, Pizarro and his buddies started running to the sea, knowing the ship would be waiting for them, and off they went to the most extraordinary adventure Europe had to offer at that time: The New World.
Trujillo. Source: aesta1
Trujillo is a peaceful backwater in Caceres. It was the 16th century. The boys are bored, and the colorfully dressed nobleman comes to the village square and says how about some real adventure?
Plaza Mayor with Statue of Pizzaro. Source: aesta1
For the village of Trujillo, the most important thing was that the boys came back with silver and gold and outrageous stories, and the town never recovered.
The boys ticked off the waiting girlfriends when they revealed a line of Inca princesses that made the local cheerleaders look a little shabby.
So, the quiet little town morphed into a beautiful jewel box of a city with Pizarro still grinning at the life he found. The Incas, of course, wished the boys had stayed at home.
Trujillo Caceres Map
Who are these Trujillo Boys?
The greatest of these Trujillo boys were Francisco Pizzaro, who conquered Peru; Francisco de Orellana, founder of Guayaquil, Ecuador, and the first European to explore the Amazon; Francisco de las Casas, who accompanied Hernan Cortes in his conquest of Mexico, and founded the city of Trujillo in Honduras, Diego Garcia de Paredes, a distinguished warrior and his son of the same name who founded Trujillo and other cities in Venezuela, Nuno de Chaves who founded Santa Cruz de la Sira in Bolivia and so many others whose names are all over South America.
Pizzaro. Source: Wikimedia, Public Domain
Francisco Pizzaro. Born in Trujillo, an illegitimate son of an infantry colonel Gonzalo Pizzaro with a poor woman, Francisca Gonzalez, he grew up with no literacy. Hence, he saw the expeditions as his only hope for the future.
In 1509, Pizzaro joined an expedition to the New World, where he got the positions of Mayor and Magistrate in Panama.
But Pizzaro knew of the riches of the Incas and led a successful expedition, killing the Inca King, Atahualpa. He also founded Lima, which he claimed to be his top achievement. Sadly, he died there, but today, Trujillo honors him with a colossal statue in the Plaza Mayor as their most famous son.
Francisco de Orellana, another son of Trujillo, was the first European to complete the navigation of the Amazon River, which was named Rio de Orellana. He also founded Guayaquil, which is now part of Ecuador. Francisco de las Casas, another native of Trujillo and a cousin of Hernan Cortes, was the one who carried the news of Cortes's appointment as Governor of New Spain. For this, he was awarded the Yanhuitlan as his encomienda. Here, his wife, Maria de Aguilar, also a cousin of Cortes, started the famous silk industry from the mulberry seeds that Cortes gave. He also founded Trujillo in Honduras.
Bust of Francisco de Orellana by Ximenex. Public Domain. Wikimedia
Diego Garcia de Paredes is noted for his strength and has distinguished himself in several wars and conquests. A son of the same name founded Trujillo in Venezuela.
Nuno de Chaves founded Santa Cruz de la Sierra in Bolivia.
Diego Garcia de Paredes. Source: Public Domain. Wikimedia. Juan Schorquens
There are a thousand other names from Trujillo, who also served in the various conquests of the New World and whose names are now all over the Americas.
Trujillo. Source: aesta1
What Was Trujillo Like Before the Conquistadors
The original town of Trujillo, built on a granite ledge on the hillside, offers impressive views of the plains. Celts, Visigoths, Romans, Moors, Jews, and Christians have left their marks on the city.
Established by the Romans around 206 BC, Trujillo is one of the oldest cities in Spain. The Visigoths in 414 ACE, who were at this time already Christians, took over from the Romans.
The Almohads Muslims took over in 714. In 1256, Trujillo was granted sovereignty under the Christian crown. The Jews, also residents in this place together with the Muslims, were given a choice: to convert or leave.
Meanwhile, the Visigothic lords established a tenuous hold over the peninsula. They rewarded Trujillo for its loyal support of Christian forces.
The most notable award was its designation as a regional commerce center in 1465. This change aided Trujillo in building up its traditionally agrarian commerce into a more substantial trade economy.
Trujillo Today. Source: aesta1
What Is Trujillo Like Today?
Today, the city stands in the middle of the Plaza Mayor with a Moorish Castle and palaces, manor houses, and towers, all monuments to the adventurous spirit of Trujillos' young men.
There is the bronze monument to Pizzaro atop his horse in the main square by American artists Mary Harriman and Charles Runse.
From the main square, you can go up steep, narrow streets and explore the corners where these great conquistadors first dreamt of the New World.
When you visit, there are some interesting things you can do in Trujillo, Spain:
Visit the Plaza Mayor: The Plaza Mayor is the main square in Trujillo, and around it are historic buildings, including the 15th-century Town Hall and the 16th-century Palacio de los Duques de San Carlos.
Visit the Palacio de los Duques de San Carlos: The Palacio de los Duques de San Carlos is a 16th-century palace once the home of the Dukes of San Carlos. The palace is now a museum and houses a collection of art and artifacts from the family's history.
Visit the Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor: The Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor is a 17th-century church home to several important works of art, including a 16th-century altarpiece by Alonso Berruguete.
Visit the Museo de Trujillo: The Museo de Trujillo is a museum that houses a collection of artifacts from the city's history, including archaeological finds, religious art, and furniture.
Visit the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo: The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo is a museum that houses a collection of modern and contemporary art.
Take a walk through the city's historic center: Trujillo's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to several landmark buildings, including the 15th-century Plaza Mayor, the 16th-century Palacio de los Duques de San Carlos, and the 17th-century Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor.
Visit the city's surrounding olive groves and vineyards: Around Trujillo are olive groves and vineyards known for producing olive oil and wine. Visitors can tour the olive groves and vineyards and learn about the process of making olive oil and wine.
Enjoy the city's nightlife: Trujillo has a lively nightlife scene, with several bars and restaurants. Visitors can enjoy a night in town and sample some of the city's local cuisine.
Also, explore other corners of Spain and its interesting history:
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