Higuera la Real is immersed in one of the best preserved ecosystems in the world, the Dehesa Extremeña.
In these lands the breeding of the Iberian pig takes place, an animal strongly linked to our culture and our traditional way of life since immemorial times...
The Iberian Pig Interpretation Centre is located on the upper floor of the Jesuit Cloister Cultural Centre. Inside, through different interpretative resources and under an avant-garde image, the visitor will discover essential aspects of our history and our ethnography; he will know the keys to the prestige and quality of our acorn-fed Iberian hams and sausages.
These resources guide and surprise the visitor on his journey.
As a starting point, the interpretation area where the Dehesa Extremeña is presented not only as the framework in which the breeding of the Iberian pig originates, but also as one of the best preserved ecosystems in the world due to the sustainable use of natural resources by the human being and in which multiple experiences of leisure, sport and tourism can be lived. Also, in this first block of content, we try to make "a reference to the past" to understand the historical origin of the presence of the Iberian pig in our culture, for which we must go back to the Celtic origins of the Celtic Castro de Capote since in its sanctuary were found remains of pigs and other animals.
The second block of contents of the CICI focuses on the Iberian pig, an animal strongly linked to our culture and our gastronomic traditions since time immemorial, presenting essential aspects of its breed, its morphology, its life cycle and its diet in the middle of the pastureland based on grasses, herbs and acorns, which are fundamental for the final quality of Iberian products.
A third block of contents focuses on the production of Iberian products, making special mention of the traditional slaughter of the Iberian pig as a whole, an anthropological ritual that has been deeply linked in our land and culture for centuries. In the same way, the value of the traditional processes of artisan elaboration of Iberian pork and sausages is praised.
Finally, several interpretative elements allow the visitor to appreciate and distinguish the main characteristics of the emblematic Iberian ham of Higuera la Real, its health benefits, its appearance, texture and smell , the way to cut it correctly depending on how you want to consume this special product of our gastronomy.
The visit ends in the audiovisual area where the visitor learns useful advices of ham cutting through a video.
There are free guided tours from the Tourist Office.
