Things to see in Badajoz
This is the most popular city in Extremadura, and the capital of the province of Badajoz, one of the two provinces into which the region is divided (the other is Caceres). Badajoz was once one of the most important Moorish strongholds in western Spain, home to Muslim kings who left behind the city's name (their kingdom was called Batalvoz) as well as an impressive castle-fortress and massive ramparts.
Today, it's hard not to get the impression that the town has seen better days, hardly surprising considering its troubled history. Its frontier position, just 3 miles (5 km) from the Portuguese border, has made it particularly vulnerable, and it has been torn by just about every war fought on the Iberian Peninsula in the past 500 years. One of the worst scenes of carnage occurred in 1812, during the Peninsular War, when 5,000 of the Duke of Wellington's 15,000 troops died here trying to drive Napoleon's occupying forces back toward France. During the early stages of the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil War, Badajoz was the scene of a brutal massacre when Franco's Nationalist rebel forces captured it and then rounded up scores of citizens and herded them into the bullring, where they were executed by machine gun.
Badajoz is not the kind of place in which to spend a great deal of time, but it is fascinating to climb up to the top of the town to get an idea of what it once was. Visit the Alcazaba, the Moorish fortress (open daily during daylight hours; no admission charge), and take a closer look at the Torre del Apendiz, known locally as the Torre de Espantaperros, or Dog Scarer Tower (explanations for the origin of the name vary, but the most likely is that it formerly held a huge bell that when rung would send the local pooches scurrying frantically). Inside the fortress is the Museo Arqueologico. This vantage point also gives a good view of the Puente de las Palmas, the fine 16th-century bridge that leads across the Guadiana and into town through the crenelated Puerta de las Palmas gate.
The area around the Alcazaba is still very Moorish in feeling a glimpse into the courtyards of some of the houses reveals typically Arabic tiles and ornate columns. Farther down, in the town's main square, Plaza de Espana, stands a monument to the 16th century painter Luis de Morales, a native of Badajoz. Several of his paintings can be seen in the Museo de Bellas Artes, which is closed Sundays and afternoons; admission charge. The 13th-century Gothic Catedral de San Juan, which stands in the same square, also houses works by Morales, as well as by Zurbaran and Ribera. The Oficina de Turismo de Badajoz is at 3 Plaza de la Libertad. Closed weekend afternoons.
Today, it's hard not to get the impression that the town has seen better days, hardly surprising considering its troubled history. Its frontier position, just 3 miles (5 km) from the Portuguese border, has made it particularly vulnerable, and it has been torn by just about every war fought on the Iberian Peninsula in the past 500 years. One of the worst scenes of carnage occurred in 1812, during the Peninsular War, when 5,000 of the Duke of Wellington's 15,000 troops died here trying to drive Napoleon's occupying forces back toward France. During the early stages of the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil War, Badajoz was the scene of a brutal massacre when Franco's Nationalist rebel forces captured it and then rounded up scores of citizens and herded them into the bullring, where they were executed by machine gun.
Badajoz is not the kind of place in which to spend a great deal of time, but it is fascinating to climb up to the top of the town to get an idea of what it once was. Visit the Alcazaba, the Moorish fortress (open daily during daylight hours; no admission charge), and take a closer look at the Torre del Apendiz, known locally as the Torre de Espantaperros, or Dog Scarer Tower (explanations for the origin of the name vary, but the most likely is that it formerly held a huge bell that when rung would send the local pooches scurrying frantically). Inside the fortress is the Museo Arqueologico. This vantage point also gives a good view of the Puente de las Palmas, the fine 16th-century bridge that leads across the Guadiana and into town through the crenelated Puerta de las Palmas gate.
The area around the Alcazaba is still very Moorish in feeling a glimpse into the courtyards of some of the houses reveals typically Arabic tiles and ornate columns. Farther down, in the town's main square, Plaza de Espana, stands a monument to the 16th century painter Luis de Morales, a native of Badajoz. Several of his paintings can be seen in the Museo de Bellas Artes, which is closed Sundays and afternoons; admission charge. The 13th-century Gothic Catedral de San Juan, which stands in the same square, also houses works by Morales, as well as by Zurbaran and Ribera. The Oficina de Turismo de Badajoz is at 3 Plaza de la Libertad. Closed weekend afternoons.
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