Alcabaza of Badajoz

It is one of the Arab fortified castles better conserved, with several towers that are already intact. It is located over the summit of the hill La Muela, dominating the rest of the town.

Firstly, it was built with adobe, but in the XII Century, during the Almohad caliph Abu Yaub Yusuf´ s reign, the Almohads enlarged and rebuilt it with stone. It became one of the most important fortified towns in the Iberian Peninsula due to its strategic and defensive location. Rests of the walls and Arab Almohad towers have survived. The Tower of Espantaperros that is located on the East side of the Alcabaza of Badajoz should be highlighted. It is the strongest vigilance tower in the whole precincts. It has an octagonal floor and it maintains all its height. The main part of the tower is solid, except for its two upper floors and the original entrance to the Alcazaba. The most famous gates are the gate of the Capitel and the gate of Traición (Gate of Betrayal).

Inside the Alcazaba we can find the Palace of the Dukes of La Roca from the XVI Century that is nowadays the head office of the Museo Arqueológico Provincial (Badajoz Archaeological Museum). There are also an important library and several special laboratories for restoration and photographs.