Location: Badajoz
Top Things to do in Badajoz
The 10 Best Things to Do in Badajoz, Spain
Badajoz (Spanish pronunciation: [baðaˈxoθ]; formerly written Badajos in English) is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. It is situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana. The population in 2011 was 151,565.
Restaurants in Badajoz
1. Rincon Nazari
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 479 reviews
Reviewed By valdeac - Atlanta, GA
As an international visitor to Badajoz, I was interested to try this place as it's listed as the #1 thing to do in Badajoz alongside many of the city's other well known landmarks. And although it does have a very attractive Arabic-style interior, it is nothing more than a bar. This listing would be more accurate if the location were reclassified as Nightlife rather than a Landmark.
Drink menu is very standard--cocktails and liquor only, no wine. Service was slow and inattentive, and drinks ran more expensive than we were used to seeing (5 Euro per cocktail). If you're an out-of-town visitor looking to experience an evening in Badajoz you may be better served by strolling the lovely streets and/or grabbing a copa and tapas at one of the city's many cafes.
2. La Alcazaba
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 326 reviews
Reviewed By Amazon122s - Santa Comba Dao, Portugal
The Alcazaba of Badajoz is an ancient Moorish Citadel, built by the Almohads in the 12th century, although it probably existed already in the 9th century, as Badajoz was founded in the year 875. History tells us that it was the residence of the rulers of the taifa of Badajoz and this in the 11th and 12th century. The “Alcazaba” is declared as a national monument in 1931. The actual walls are dating mostly from the “Almohad” age, but they have discovered traces of earlier walls who could possibly dating from the years 913 and 1030, the Alcazaba was being rebuilt into the form we can see it now, and this in the year 1169. Nice location to walk in, and also a small museum we can find on this location. By walking on the walls you also can have a nice view on the left side of the “Convent de MM. Adoratrices”, and when arriving almost at the end, you can see from here also the “Puente de Palmas”. Before you are intend to leave the Alcazaba, do not forget to visit the “Archaeological Museum” at this location. When not leave the Alcazaba by the same way we did come into it, turn to your right and go once again down street, here we have the “Tourism Office”.
3. Plaza Alta
Overall Ratings
4 based on 176 reviews
Reviewed By Amazon122s - Santa Comba Dao, Portugal
Plaza Alta de Badajoz.
This location does exist already from the 17th century. On this location they also keep the market. In the 15th century almost all the houses on this “Plaza” were from Judes and Mores. Very nice location to spend some time, and from here you are walking still down street, and once you have passed the “Arch”, you will see the entrance to the “Alcazaba” of Badajoz.
4. Puerta de Palmas
Overall Ratings
4 based on 151 reviews
Reviewed By madamedefarge - Derby, United Kingdom
You really have to walk into the city through this magnificent gate/archway. It has two big towers and the coat of arms of Charles V on one side of it. The decoration is worth taking some time to look at too. It may not be much in some ways, but it is the symbol of Badajoz and worth seeing.
5. Archaeological Museum of Badajoz
Overall Ratings
4 based on 83 reviews
Archaeological museum that presents the history of the province of Badajoz from the Lower Paleolithic to the XVIth cent.
Reviewed By BennyMalaga - Malaga, Spain
The Provincial Archaeological Museum is located at Plaza de José Álvarez y Sáenz de Buruaga
It is situated in the Arabic Alcazaba, inside the palace of the Duques de La Roca, a building from the 16th century. The building was a fortified palace with a central patio. There are some Mudejar elements in the building that have been conserved. The museum was founded in 1867 by the Comision Provincial de Monumentos. The museum is now located in La Galera, a building beside the Torre de Espantaperros and the museum was finished in 1989. The museum has more than 15,000 pieces that were gathered in the province of Badajoz. The periods covered are prehistory, Tartesian, Roman, Visigothic, Islamic, and the Christian Middle Ages. One can see Roman Mosaics, Visigothic pilasters, tombstones of Taifa Kings of Badajoz, and steles.
6. Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By Amazon122s - Santa Comba Dao, Portugal
The “Museu Provincial de Belas Artes de Badajoz” is at less than 100 meters from the “Giralda Building” in the same street. It is founded in the year 1920 and is actually considered to be the principal “Pinacoteca” of the “Estremadura” due to the quantity and quality of the objects in the museum. You can see works from allot of artists. The entrance is for free.
7. Puente de Palmas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Amazon122s - Santa Comba Dao, Portugal
El Puente de Palmas
This bridge is the oldest one of the city of Badajoz and is crossing the Guadiana River and this at the “Puerta de Palmas” the connection between the city and the locations of “San Fernado & Santa Isabel” at the boorder of the river. The bridge has being built in between 1460 and 1511. The bridge has 32 arches and has a length of about 585 meters, this dimensions have changed with time and the reconstructions. One of the best views you will have from the walls of the Alcazaba.
8. San Juan Bautista Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4 based on 80 reviews
Reviewed By BennyMalaga - Malaga, Spain
The Badajoz San Juan Bautista Cathedral is located at Calle de José López Prudencio, 2. The church is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista). The outside of the Cathedral resembles a fortress because this was where the populace took refuge during the continuous wars that involved the city. The construction work was ordered by Bishop Pedro Perez in 1232 and it was only in the 17th century that the church was completed. The building has a high tower with large windows in the top floor and the tower dates from the 15th century. The tower is 41 meters tall and is 11 meters wide. The top of the church has battlements. The main door is that of San Juan Bautista, and on its top there is the image of the saint. The ground plan of the church is a Latin cross, with three naves that are quite austere. The roof has Gothic arches. Since the construction continued into the 17th century, the church has many styles, the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque. The choir stalls are Renaissance and the main altar has the Churrigueresque style, which was created in 1717. There are a total of 12 chapels and one of them is the Encarnacion or Fonseca Chapel, which has an 18th century altarpiece and an alabaster relief of the Virgin with the Child that was created by the artist Desiderio de Settignano, who was a disciple of Donatello. There is a Renaissance cloister that is adorned with tile and has tombs on the floor. There is a Diocesan Museum that has beautiful silverware and paintings by Luis de Morales, from the 16th century. The Cathedral was declared an Artistic Historical Monument in 1931.
9. Chapel of La Soledad
Overall Ratings
4 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By BennyMalaga - Malaga, Spain
The Chapel of La Soledad is located at the Plaza de la Soledad. The primitive chapel of La Soledad was built up in 1664 at the request of Francisco de Tutaville y de Tufo, Duke of San Germán and General Captain of Extremadura. This temple was constructed to host the beautiful image of Nuestra Señora de La Soledad, which Duke had asked a sculptor of Naples to make in 1660. This chapel gave its name to the square. It suffered from damages during the Peninsular War and had to be pulled down. The elaborated marble façade together with the image of the Virgin are the only remains. The new Chapel was finished by the architect Martin Corral in 1935, and the image of the Virgin of La Soledad was transferred in a procession from the Cathedral to its new house. The chaple is an emblem of the city, as it hosts the most venerated image of Badajoz, its Patron Saint. On the inside, the Chapel has two floors, with two well distinguished naves. The lower older one is decorated with coffered ceilings, and the high altar is dominated by the image of the Virgin (Italian Madonna from the 17th century). The upper Chapel is beautiful and has been financed by the Olleros family. It is decorated in Neo-byzantine style and it is the replica of King Louis II ‘s Throne Room. The church also has the polychromed sculptures of Christ tied to the Column and the Crucified.
10. Museo del Carnaval de Badajoz
Overall Ratings
4 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By BennyMalaga - Malaga, Spain
The Carnival Museum of Badajoz is located at the Plaza de la Libertad. The Carnival is very important in the city of Badajoz and this museum explains its elements, including its history. The museum shows costumes that were worn in previous carnivals, musical compositions, and other things related to the carnival. The costumes of persons who won the contest in the previous years are shown. There are also videos showing what happens in the Carnival.
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