Badajoz (formerly written Badajos in English), the capital of the Spanish province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, is situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid-Lisbon railway. The population in 1990 was 126,781; in 2002 it was 136,851.
Badajoz is the see of a bishop. It occupies a slight eminence, crowned by the ruins of a Moorish castle, and overlooking the Guadiana. A strong wall and bastions, with a broad moat and outworks, and forts on the surrounding heights, give the city an appearance of great strength. The river, which flows between the castle-hill and the powerfully armed fort of San Cristobal, is crossed by a magnificent granite bridge, originally built in 1460, repaired in 1597 and rebuilt in 1833. The whole aspect of Badajoz recalls its stormy history; even the cathedral, built in 1238, resembles a fortress, with massive walls.
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Badajoz places
Other areas
Badajoz
Cáceres
Mérida
Plasencia
Trujillo
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Guide to Badajoz
What to see in Badajoz:
Alcazaba - one of the best conserved walled Arab castles in the whole of Spain with various towers still intact
Historical quarter - stroll around the old part of the town to admire the old plazas (especially Plaza de San José, Plaza de España and La Plaza Alta) and churches. Look for the two towers flanking the old entrance to the city dating from the 16th century, Puerta de Palmas.
Churches: Iglesia de Santa Domingo, Iglesia San Andrés, Iglesia San Agustín de la Concepción
Cathedral: Catedral de San Juan - a very impressive building built between the 13th and 16th centuries. Predominantly gothic and romanic, with three aisles and twelve inner chapels.
Puente de las Palmas: A bridge built in the 16th century and crossing the Guadiana river with 32 arches, 582m in length and 13m in height.
Museums in Badajoz: MEIZC, Extremadura's Iberoamerican Museum of Contemporary Art, Virgen de Guadalupe, 7. Impressive red brick building; Museo Arqueológico, Palacio de los Duques de la Roca, in the interior of the Alcazaba on the site of the old Mosque with many exhibits of prehistoric, Roman, Visigo and Arab objects; Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes, San German, 1, Art gallery.
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