Badajoz is situated on the banks of the river Guadiana, it is the capital of the province and at the present time it is the most populated city in Extremadura. It has a privileged geographical location with regard to neighbouring Portugal and is almost the same distance from Cáceres and Mérida.

It is clear from archaeological evidence that man has settled in this region since Prehistoric time, although it is in Roman times and above all during the Moorish period when Badajoz became important from a historical point of view, being the centre of the Taifa kingdom called the same name, Badajoz.

From that time, there are a lot of remains, above all the “Alcazaba” (Moorish Fortress), squares and quarters with a flavour of past centuries set around it, like the popular “Plaza Alta” (High Square). Religious and military buildings are other historic-artistic charms in this Extremaduran city, with an interesting Cathedral and a great number of churches and convents, some of them were built as a result of the conquest of the city by the Christian troops of King Alfonso IX of León in 1230 and later rebuilt from the 17th and 18th on. The proximity of the neighbouring Portuguese regions of “El Alentejo” forced it to be in an attitude of defence for centuries, which gave it one of the most impressive defensive systems in all the West peninsular, from this time a great number of bastions and gates to the fortified site are preserved. The inhabitants' social character makes this Extremaduran city a place with a great attractiveness for visitors.

Its Carnivals are very famous all over Spain, which have survived for years with a considerable increase of activities and visitors. Holy Week is progressively renowned and charming for visitors who come here at this time, also being very famous its “Festivales Internacionales de Teatro” ( The International Theatre Festival) or “El Festival Ibérico de Música” (The Iberian Festival of Music). The historical and geographical privileges of the capital city of Badajoz, increase on the cultural ground with the existence of four museums: The Extremaduran and Latin-American Museum of Contemporary Art (MEIAC), the Provincial Archaeological Museum, the Provincial Museum of Fine Arts and the Cathedral Museum.

In addition to this, we can visit another important museum near Badajoz, The Extremaduran “González Barbas” Ethnographic Museum in Olivenza, a beautiful neighbouring town. It is very famous because of its beautiful Manueline-style churches, its Portuguese glazed tiling is noticeable for its beauty. Furthermore Olivenza owns historic medieval buildings and military and civil works from the centuries when the city belonged to the Portugal kingdom. They have a unique great historic- artistic value.