Camping in Badajoz: open dehesa, reservoirs and Roman Mérida
Badajoz is the largest province in Spain and one of those that keeps the greatest proportion of undeveloped natural land. The dehesa of holm oaks and cork oaks covers thousands of hectares where Iberian pigs roam free, and that image of space and silence is precisely what defines the experience of camping here. Campsites are few, which reinforces the quiet, secluded character of the province; those seeking crowds will not find them, but those seeking peace and authentic nature will not need to look far either.
Mérida is the capital and the great cultural landmark of the province. Founded by Augustus in 25 BC as Emerita Augusta, it was the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania and preserves the most important Roman archaeological ensemble in Spain: the Roman theatre, with its imposing stage and its summer classical theatre programme, the amphitheatre, the circus, the temple of Diana in the middle of the city, the Los Milagros aqueduct and the bridge over the Guadiana. The National Museum of Roman Art, designed by Rafael Moneo, is reason enough on its own to visit the city.
The La Serena reservoir, built on the Zújar river, is the largest in Spain by surface area and offers broad areas for fishing, kayaking and swimming during the hot months. Together with the Orellana reservoir, it forms one of the most important lake areas of the Iberian Peninsula for watching waterbirds, with colonies of herons, spoonbills and various species of ducks. The Siberia Extremeña district, to the east, is one of the least-known territories of Badajoz and one of the most attractive for hiking and nature tourism without crowds.
In the south of the province, the Tentudía district and the Badajoz side of the Sierra de Aracena have a mountain character that contrasts with the central plains. Zafra, known as little Seville for its architecture of arcaded squares and its alcázar converted into a parador, is the gateway to the southern countryside district. The border with Portugal adds a special nuance to the whole province: Olivenza, with its Manueline architecture, was Portuguese until 1801 and retains visible traces of that history. Badajoz cuisine revolves around acorn-fed Iberian ham, torta de la Serena, the wines of Tierra de Barros and the fresh cheeses of the dehesa.
