Discover Badajoz: Alcazaba, Fortresses and Holiday Apartments

Badajoz combines an Alcazaba with museums, bridges, gardens and other fortifications. The historical introduction begins at the Alcazaba de Badajoz: it was originally built in 875 by Abd-al-Ramman Ibn Marwan “El Yilliqui”; its present form is largely the result of a major reform carried out by the Almohads in the 12th century.

For further orientation in the area, you will also find Campomanes, Zafra, La Zarza, Torremejía, Táliga, Los Santos De Maimona, Higuera De Llerena and Segura De León.

Culture

The Museo del Carnaval de Badajoz is located in La Poterna, a historic building in the city. Local residents exhibit elaborately designed costumes, musical compositions, texts and festival objects there. Every year, the Carnaval de Badajoz fills the streets with costumes, choreographies, murgas, comparsas, choirs and floats or other festival objects.

A different historical period awaits you at the Museo de la Ciudad “Luís de Morales”: the museum presents the history of Badajoz from prehistoric times to the Islamic founding of the city. Different cultural perspectives therefore exist side by side in the city – from living festival traditions to its long historical development.

History

The Puerta de Palmas is a fortified gate opposite the Puente de Palmas. Two cylindrical towers crowned with battlements flank the structure. The Puente de Palmas itself is a stone bridge built towards the end of the 16th century in the Herrera style. Its straight route has a slight rise in the middle and is almost 600 metres long overall.

The northern part of the Alcazaba offers panoramic views over the city. The Jardines de la Galera also adjoin the wall of the Arab Alcazaba, next to the Torre de Espantaperros or Atalaya and next to the Semibaluarte de San Antonio, which forms part of the bastioned city wall. The gardens connect the two fortified areas and offer panoramic views over Badajoz.

Routes

A route along Badajoz’s fortifications can begin on Calle Ramón y Cajal, Avenida Joaquín Costa or Ronda del Pilar. It passes through the city’s Arab, medieval and modern defensive structures. Different architectural forms, viewpoints and sections of the route give each part of the historic fortifications its own focus.

The Hornabeque can be visited freely. Fuerte de San Cristóbal offers views of the Guadiana River, the bridges of the city of Badajoz and the Arab Alcazaba; interested visitors can tour Fuerte de San Cristóbal. The Casas Mudéjares tourist information office provides information about visiting hours for the interior of the Puerta de Palmas and offers content to help visitors understand the buildings and their surroundings.

The Portuguese Restoration War (1640–1668) demonstrated that Badajoz’s earlier fortifications could no longer withstand attacks by heavy enemy artillery.

For the higher-level travel overview: Badajoz.