Secret Places in Southern Spain: A Complete Travel Guide to Badajoz

🏙There is a low-key town in southern Spain that is both delicious and fun. It is Badajoz in Extremadura. This historic city close to the Portuguese border is a blend of Moorish culture, Spanish traditions and Portuguese style. It has both magnificent historical sites and mouth-watering cuisine. If you like long history, exotic architecture, and street food full of fireworks, then Badajoz will definitely be a surprise place on your travel list! Plaza Alta (Picture 1-2) is quite photogenic, and the red and white arcades are particularly suitable for taking photos. This square was once the commercial and social center of Badajoz, and it still retains a strong historical atmosphere. ✨ Travel Tips: 📸 Best time to take photos: before 10am or after 5pm, avoid strong sunlight. 🎭 Recommended experience: If you catch a local festival (such as Carnival, Easter), there will be open-air performances and markets in the square, which is very lively! Not far away is the Badajoz Castle (Alcazaba de Badajoz), a Moorish castle built in the 12th century and declared a Spanish historical monument in 1931. ⏳ Historical background: It was built in the 12th century by the Moors and later recaptured and reinforced by the Christians. In 1931, it was listed as a national historic monument by the Spanish government. Standing on the city wall, you can overlook the Guadiana River and the entire city. 🎟 Tour highlights: ✅ Defense Tower (Torre de Espantaperros): It is one of the symbols of Badajoz and is similar in style to the Golden Tower in Seville. ✅ Castle Garden: The ancient city walls, arches and lush green gardens complement each other, and walking through them is like traveling back to the Moorish era. ✅ Sunset view: It is recommended to go there in the evening, standing on a high place overlooking the city, and the sunset shining on the red brick walls is beautiful. Here you can also find a variety of fresh local ingredients, such as Iberian ham. Every year, the small town of Monesterio next to it holds the Ham Day (Día del Jamón de Monesterio). During the event, many stalls will be set up in the city for everyone to taste a variety of hams and cured meats, and there will also be interesting ham cutting competitions. 🚗Badajoz is not very large, so after visiting, you can go to the nearby medieval city of Mérida. It’s less than an hour’s drive away, so it’s perfect for a packed trip!