A WALKING TOUR OF BADAJOZ

We start to walk around the walled enclosure built to defend the Islamic city of Batalyaws, now Badajoz.

The 8-hectare area is surrounded by a wall marked by defensive towers. We can walk on the walls all around the citadel and enjoy spectacular views of the city, the river and the countryside.

You can visit the citadel of Badajoz following the rampart of its wall, from which you can gain access to the different settings of its inside. Throughout the route you will find the main elements of the Citadel explained through informative boards, from which further information can be downloaded to your telephone by means of QR codes.

History

The citadel or fortress had a privileged strategic location giving Badajoz a paramount importance in the control of the borders between Al-Andalus and the Christian kingdoms in the 12th and 13th centuries. After the conquest by the king Alfonso IX of Leon, the city played a key role in the numerous fights between Castille and Portugal. In the Napoleonic wars the city was sieged several times by French troops and by allied forces commanded by Lord Wellington

Facts

This is the most notable structure in the city of Badajoz which shows the influence of the ancient Moorish culture. In fact, Badajoz was founded by Ibn Marwan, an Arab nobleman, around 875. In 1021 it became the capital of a small Muslim kingdom (taifa), called Aftasí Kingdom with around 25,000 inhabitants.

The Alcazaba is one of the best preserved and one the most important Arab fortifications in Spain due to its size. It was built by the Almohad in the 12 century, but some suggest it may date back to the city’s origins in the 9 century.

This citadel is located on top of a hill on the banks of the Guadiana river bordering Portugal. With its walls and towers Badajoz became a strategic stronghold for the Muslim inhabitants for four centuries.

The Alcazaba of Badajoz is a walled oval enclosure, adapted to the shape of the hill on which it sits, and with the defensive structure typical of the time: solid walls, defensive towers called “albarrana” (this means that they placed on the outside of the wall) and an interior enclosure in which the original city was located.

Route

You can access the citadel by any of its four main gates. Enter via Puerta del Capitel (Capital gate as there is a capital -- the uppermost part of a column-- from Roman origin above the horseshoe the arch of this gate.

This gate is just outside Plaza Alta square. In order to complicate the access to the castle in case of an enemy attack, this gate has an entrance in bend, which allowed the troops stationed in the wall to make a greater defense. At the same time, this shape also impeded quick access by enemies.

Once inside, you can climb up to the walls and walk around the battlements. The best thing are the views. From the section that is closest to this gate you have outstanding views over the city centre and Plaza Alta square. As you walk around, you’ll be able to see the Guadiana river and its bridges and to the west the nearest Portuguese city.

If you go to the east along the walkways in the walls you can get to another impressive watchtower known as the Espantaperros Tower.

Inside the citadel you can find a Renaissance palace which is now home to a provincial museum.

The citadel has several watchtowers, but the Torre de la Atalaya, known as Torre de Espantaperros (The Dogs Frightener Tower) is the most well-known and a symbol of the city. The legend says that the bell ringing frightened infidels, who were referred to as ‘dogs’. Today, the only sound from the tower you can hear is the storks’ bill-clattering.

Interesting fact: If you’ve been to Seville, the Torre de Espantaperros will certainly remind you of the famous Torre del Oro in Seville. Initially, you may think that Torre de Espantaperros was inspired by the Torre del Oro, but the truth is Badajoz’s tower was built around fifty years before!

Apart from the Alcazaba, Badajoz is the perfect city to wander and discover its squares, gardens, walled spots, churches, museums and unique buildings.

This is a list of some of the places you must not miss. All of them within walking distance from the centre of the city

Places to document for the infographic

1. Torre de Espantaperros

2. Puerta del Capitel

3. Puerta de Yelves

4. Palacio de los Figueroa- Museo Arqueológico

5. Estatua de Ibn Marwan

6. Convento de las Adoratrices

7. Casa Consistoriales

8. Casas Mudejares

9. Estatua de Ibn Marwan

10. Restos visigodos en la Plaza Alta

11. Plaza de la Soledad- Estatua de Porrina de Badajoz

12. Edificio La Giralda

13. Capilla de la Virgen de la Soledad

14. Catedral de San Juan

15. Estatua de Luis de Morales

16. Plaza de España

17. Plaza de San Francisco

18. Puerta Palmas

19. Teatro López de Ayala

20. Palacio de Congresos

21. Museo de Bellas Artes

22. MEIAC

23. Plaza de San Andrés

24. Parque de Castelar

25. Jardines de la Galera

26. Puerta Trinidad

27. Puerta Pilar

28. Muralla en el Baluarte de Santiago

29. Estatua de Zurbarán

30. Convento de las Descalzas en la Plaza López de Ayala

31. Jardines de la Galera