Barcarrota launches 'Siglos de Silencio' 16th‑century night tour

On Saturday, 1 August, the town of Barcarrota in Extremadura will host a nocturnal guided tour called “Siglos de Silencio”. The event, beginning at 22:00, will move visitors through six historic locations where scenes from the 16th‑century social, political and religious life are reenacted with theatre, music and elaborate set‑design.

More than a hundred local volunteers are taking part, coordinated by Mayor Miguel Rodríguez, who described the project as “the most ambitious to date because of its technical and scenic innovations”. The Diputación Provincial de Badajoz backs the initiative; its third vice‑president Ramón Díaz Farias said, “From the Diputación we have a firm commitment to support actions that protect heritage and become a true engine of socio‑economic development for our villages.”

A highlight of the edition is the discovery of Barcarrota’s historic library and its “books walled up” for four centuries to escape Inquisition persecution. Municipal librarian Juan Manuel González emphasized the “historical and bibliographic value” of the collection, which includes the only surviving 1554 payroll of Medina del Campo for the *Lazarillo de Tormes*. The tour also pays tribute to figures linked to the town, such as conquistador Hernando de Soto and Isabel de Bobadilla, former governor of Cuba.