Roman arch of Cáparra

The Roman town of Capera (now Cáparra) once stood the dehesa of Casablanca, in the municipalities of Oliva de Plasencia and Guijo de Granadilla. The Silver Way cut through the middle of the town, which gradually decreased in importance until disappearing after the road fell into disuse.

Currently only some traces are left, most remarkably the splendid arch, unique in Spain with these characteristics, as this is a quadrifrons arch, meaning it has four sides. It stood in the centre of the town, surrounded by the main monuments, such as the thermae, some remains of which can still be seen today.

It is estimated that it would have been built in the late 1st century AD by order of Fidus Macer, according to the inscriptions on the arch itself. It rises up on four pillars that support four semicircular arches, and each pillar rests on a base finished with a cornice. One can also see pedestals on the sides that faced the Roman road, where statues or effigies probably stood.