Estrémadure (Spain)

The Estrémadure (in Spanish Extremadura ) is one of the 17 autonomous communities of Spain. Located at the south-west of the country, it divides its borders with the Portugal, the Castille-Leon, the Castille it Manche and the Andalusia.

History

The Celtic Tartessiens, and the Lusitanians were present in Estrémadure before the arrival of the Carthaginois

The Romains founded many cities: Emérita Augusta (Mérida), Norba Caesarina (Cáceres), Pax Augusta (Badajoz), etc Mérida was founded by Auguste in -25.

It was then a ground of Al-Andalus.

Alphonse VIII of Castille seized Plasencia in 1180, and Alphonse IX of Cáceres in 1229, Mérida and Badajoz in 1230. Ferdinand III took Medellín later a few years.

See the article Reconquista.

Estrémadure was divided into two parts in 1833.

The February 26th 1983, Estrémadure obtained its statute of autonomy.

Tourism

Estrémadure preserves monumental and artistic remainders which show the large variety of people and cultures which lived these grounds of the mid-west of Spain since prehistoric times.

Mérida, the antique Emerita Augusta, preserves several architectural vestiges of the Roman epoch, when the city was capital of Lusitanie. Since 1986, it has the National museum of Roman Art, built by the Spanish architect Rafael Moneo. Among these remainders are distinguished the Theater and the Amphitheater Romans, as well as the bridge on the Guadiana and the Aqueduc of the Miracles. Mérida is moreover the capital of the autonomous Community of Estrémadure and all the buildings of the Regional government are located there. The town of Cacérès was declared in 1986 Inheritance of Humanity by UNESCO, because it joins together the urban conjunction of the Middle Ages and the most complete Rebirth of the world. The Sainte-Marie cathedral, the de luxe hotel of the Wind vanes (archaeological Museum), of the de luxe hotels of the family Golfín, the House of the Sun and the Tower of Bujaco and the Arch of Étolie, are most beautiful and impressive monuments. Moreover, it is emphasized while being the seat of one of the two campuses which account the University of Estrémadure and by the dynamism of its cultural life within the autonomous Community.

The situation of Badajoz at the border with Portugal makes that its commercial importance is large. The city, sits of an archbishop's palace, has a cathedral of the thirteenth century. The other remarkable monuments are the De luxe hotel Duke of the Rock, the bridge on the Guadiana river, of the sixteenth century, the archaeological Museum and the Door of Palms. The MEIAC (Museum estrémadurien and ibéro-American of Contemporary art), which exposes the works of art of painters of Estrémadure and Latin America, is also in Badajoz. The other sites of interest of Estrémadure are: the old city of Trujillo, the monastery of Guadeloupe, the town of Pleasure, the valley Jerte and areas of Sierra of the She-cat and Hurdes in the province of Cacérès; the town of Zafra, Sherry of Caballeros, the Southern Countryside, the Earth of Barros and Striped it in the province of Badajoz.

Geography

It is made up of two provinces:

  • Cacérès in the north which corresponds to High Estrémadure ( Alta Extremadura )
  • Badajoz in the south which corresponds to Low Estrémadure ( Baja Extremadura ).

The capital of the community, Mérida, is located in the province of Badajoz.

The principal rivers are the Tage and the Guadiana.

Estrémadure counts 383 cities. Badajoz, with 135.000 inhabitants, is the most populated city of Estrémadure, followed by Cáceres with 82.000 inhabitants and Mérida with 51.000 inhabitants.

Policy

Guillermo Fernández Vara, member of PSOE it Spanish working socialist party is the president of the autonomous community (2007). Its predecessor, Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ibarra, was re-elected on several occasions.

Chronology

  • 1983 : Estrémadure becomes an autonomous community. Regional elections: victory of the PSOE with 35 seats. President: Rodríguez Ibarra.

  • 1987 : regional elections, victory of the PSOE with 34 seats
  • 1991: regional elections: victory of the PSOE with 39 seats
  • 1995: regional elections, relative majority of the PSOE with 31 seats. Izquierda Unida (IU) gains 6 seats
  • 1999: regional elections, victory of the PSOE with 34 seats
  • 2003: regional elections, absolute majority of the PSOE with 36 seats
  • 2007: regional elections, absolute majority of the PSOE with 38 seats. New president: Fernández Vara.

Estrémaduriens famous

Conquistadors

Many a Conquistador S was born in Estrémadure:

External bonds

  • Official site of the government of Estrémadure

  • Official site of Tourism of Estrémadure
  • Official site of the province of Badajoz
  • Official site of the province of Cáceres
  • Site on the town of Merida and the area of Estrémadure

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