Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community in western Spain, bordering Portugal and comprising the provinces of Badajoz and Cáceres.
Province of Badajoz: The larger and more populous of Extremadura’s two provinces, in the region’s south. It covers Extremadura’s southern half and includes the regional capital, Mérida.
Roman Theatre of Mérida: An ancient Roman theatre in Mérida, built in the first century BCE and still used for performances. It is among the best-known monuments in the archaeological ensemble of Extremadura’s capital.
Hernán Cortés: A Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that brought the Aztec Empire under Spanish rule. Born in Medellín, he represents Extremadura’s historical ties to Spain’s American empire.
Dehesa: A Mediterranean agroforestry system of open oak woodland used for grazing and farming. Dehesas cover extensive parts of Extremadura and sustain livestock alongside wildlife.
Alentejo: A region of southern Portugal bordering Extremadura and known for plains, agriculture, and low population density. It shares a rural borderland setting with Extremadura but lies within Portugal.
Province of Cáceres: A province in northern Extremadura, bordering Portugal and Castile and León. It forms the region’s northern half and contains Cáceres, a UNESCO-listed historic city.
Cáceres: A city in western Spain whose historic center preserves medieval and Renaissance architecture. Its walled old town is one of Extremadura’s most prominent heritage sites.
Francisco Pizarro: A Spanish conquistador who led the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Born in Trujillo, he connects Extremadura to the history of Spanish expansion in the Americas.
Iberian pig: A pig breed native to the Iberian Peninsula, raised for products including jamón ibérico. Extremadura’s oak woodlands provide acorns that underpin traditional free-range rearing.
Castile and León: An autonomous community in northwestern Spain, composed of nine provinces. It borders northern Extremadura and provides a contrast in scale and regional composition.