# Badajoz

> municipality in Extremadura, Spain

**Wikidata**: [Q15679](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15679)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badajoz)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/badajoz

## Summary

Badajoz is a place in the Province of Badajoz in Spain[1]. It was established in 1834, and its capital is Badajoz city[1].

## Summary
Badajoz is a municipality and city in Extremadura, Spain, serving as the capital of the Province of Badajoz. Located in the Guadiana River Valley, it has a rich history marked by significant events such as the Sieges of Badajoz and a population of over 150,000 as of 2025. It is a key cultural and administrative center in southwestern Spain.

## Key Facts
- **Area**: 1,470 square kilometres.
- **Population (2025)**: 150,209 (register office).
- **Coordinates**: 38.87789° N, -6.970609° E.
- **Elevation**: 185 metres above sea level.
- **Time Zones**: UTC+01:00 (standard time) and UTC+02:00 (daylight saving time).
- **Capital Of**: Province of Badajoz.
- **Country**: Spain.
- **Demonym**: *Pacense*.
- **Patron Saint**: Joseph.
- **Website**: [https://www.aytobadajoz.es/](https://www.aytobadajoz.es/) (Spanish).
- **INE Code**: 06015.
- **Mayor (2013–)**: Francisco Javier Fragoso Martínez.
- **Twinned With**: Santarém and Nazaré (Portugal).
- **Borders**: La Albuera, Alburquerque, Elvas (Portugal), and others.
- **Contains Settlements**: Badajoz city, Balboa, Villafranco del Guadiana, and others.
- **Historical Events**: Siege of Badajoz (1812), First and Second Sieges of Badajoz (19th century).

## FAQs
- **Where is Badajoz located?**  
  Badajoz is situated in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, in the Guadiana River Valley, bordering Portugal to the west.

- **What is Badajoz known for historically?**  
  It is renowned for its strategic military significance, particularly during the Peninsular War, including the Siege of Badajoz in 1812 led by the Duke of Wellington.

- **How has Badajoz’s population changed over time?**  
  The population peaked at 150,621 in 2013, fluctuated slightly in subsequent years, and stood at 150,209 in 2025, according to register office data.

- **What are Badajoz’s key administrative roles?**  
  It is the capital of the Province of Badajoz and part of the Mancomunidad de Badajoz, Almendral y Valverde de Leganés.

- **What geographical features define Badajoz?**  
  The city is located in the Guadiana River Valley and bordered by the Gévora River, with an elevation of 185 metres.

## Why It Matters
Badajoz holds historical and cultural significance as a crossroads of Spanish and Portuguese influence. Its strategic location has made it a focal point of military conflicts, shaping regional and national history. As the provincial capital, it serves as a political, economic, and cultural hub for Extremadura, contributing to the region’s identity and development. Its preservation of medieval architecture and annual festivals, such as the Festivals of San Juan and the Carnaval de Badajoz, further underscore its role in maintaining Spain’s heritage.

## Notable For
- **Historical Sieges**: Key battles during the Peninsular War and Spanish Succession.
- **Cultural Landmarks**: Alcazaba fortress, Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, and the Archaeological Museum of Badajoz.
- **Geographical Position**: Gateway to Portugal and the Guadiana River basin.
- **Administrative Importance**: Capital of Spain’s largest province by area (Province of Badajoz).
- **Festivals**: Unique traditions like the "Fiesta de la Virgen de la Soledad" and "Feria de Badajoz".

## Body

### Geography & Location
Badajoz spans 1,470 km² in the Guadiana River Valley, bordered by Portugal to the west and the provinces of Cáceres (north) and Seville (east). It lies at 38.87789° N, -6.970609° E, with an elevation of 185 metres. The city is part of the Mancomunidad de Badajoz, Almendral y Valverde de Leganés and shares borders with municipalities such as Mérida, Olivenza, and Elvas (Portugal).

### History
- **Founding**: The modern municipality was established in 1834, though human settlement dates to the 9th century BC (e.g., the pre-Roman *Budia*).
- **Sieges**: 
  - **1812**: Captured by Anglo-Portuguese forces under Wellington during the Peninsular War.
  - **19th Century**: Experienced multiple sieges during the Spanish Succession and Carlist Wars.
- **Timeline**: Key events include Roman occupation, Moorish rule (8th–13th centuries), and its role in the Spanish Civil War.

### Demographics
- **Population Trends**: 
  - 2001: 136,319  
  - 2013: 150,621 (peak)  
  - 2025: 150,209 (latest data)  
  - Gender Breakdown (2019): 73,078 male, 77,624 female.
- **Language**: Spanish (official), with local Extremaduran dialects.

### Governance & Politics
- **Mayor**: Francisco Javier Fragoso Martínez (since 2013).
- **Administration**: Divided into municipal districts, including the historic center and suburbs like Balboa and Gévora.
- **Licence Plate Code**: "BA".

### Economy & Infrastructure
- **Transport**: Served by Badajoz Airport (BZG) and railway links to Madrid and Lisbon.
- **Postal Codes**: 06001–06012.
- **Dialing Code**: +924.

### Culture & Landmarks
- **Architecture**: Notable sites include the Alcazaba (12th-century Moorish fortress), San Juan Bautista Cathedral, and the Puente de Carlos V.
- **Festivals**: 
  - Carnaval de Badajoz (February/March).
  - Feria de Badajoz (June).
  - Fiesta de la Virgen de la Soledad (September).
- **Museums**: Archaeological Museum, Fine Arts Museum of Badajoz.

### Education & Research
- **Institutions**: University of Extremadura (Badajoz Campus), founded in 1973.
- **Archives**: Provincial Historical Archive of Badajoz.

### Environment
- **Waterways**: Bordered by the Guadiana and Gévora rivers.
- **Climate**: Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild winters (Köppen *Csa*).

### International Relations
- **Twin Towns**: Santarém and Nazaré (Portugal).
- **Cross-Border Collaboration**: Part of the Euroregion Alentejo-Algarve-Extremadura.

### Related Entities
- **Province of Badajoz**: Largest province in Spain by area (19,713 km²).
- **Extremadura**: Autonomous community established in 1983, with Badajoz as its co-capital (alongside Mérida).
- **Notable Settlements**: Mérida (Roman ruins), Olivenza (Portuguese-influenced town), and Alburquerque (medieval fortress).

### Data & Identifiers
- **Wikidata ID**: Q1846.
- **ISNI**: 000000012286158X.
- **VIAF**: 145459297.
- **GeoNames ID**: 6355880.
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID**: 342316.

## References

1. Nomenclátor Geográfico de Municipios y Entidades de Población (20240402 edition)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
4. Register of Local Entities
5. OpenStreetMap
6. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/spain/timezones.php)
7. Integrated Authority File
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. MusicBrainz
10. Municipal Register of Spain 2013
11. Municipal Register of Spain 2012
12. Municipal Register of Spain 2011
13. Municipal Register of Spain 2010
14. Municipal Register of Spain 2009
15. Municipal Register of Spain 2008
16. Municipal Register of Spain 2007
17. Municipal Register of Spain 2006
18. Municipal Register of Spain 2005
19. Municipal Register of Spain 2004
20. Municipal Register of Spain 2003
21. Municipal Register of Spain 2002
22. Municipal Register of Spain 2001
23. Municipal Register of Spain 2014
24. Municipal Register of Spain 2015
25. Municipal Register of Spain 2016
26. Municipal Register of Spain 2017
27. Municipal Register of Spain 2018
28. [Cifras oficiales de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal a 1 de enero. National Statistics Institute](http://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/index.htm?padre=525)
29. Municipal Register of Spain 2019
30. Municipal Register of Spain 2020
31. Municipal Register of Spain of 2021
32. Municipal Register of Spain of 2022
33. Municipal Register of Spain of 2023
34. Municipal Register of Spain of 2024
35. Municipal Register of Spain of 2025
36. List of Municipalities and their Codes by Provinces as of January 1, 2019
37. [Source](https://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/es/index.htm?padre=517&capsel=525)
38. GeoNames
39. BBC Things
40. Límites municipales, provinciales y autonómicos
41. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)