BADAJOZ, the Pax Augusta of the Romans, is the capital of Spanish Estremadura. The town was formerly situated on the high ground where the cas tle now stands, and the splendour and extent of its buildings are still apparent in the deserted churches, and in the remains of Roman, Gothic, and Moorish architecture, which mark its ancient site. The mo dern town is situated on the lower ground, and ex tends into a beautiful plain on the banks of the Gua diana. The cathedral is the only public edifice de serving of notice, and some of the chapels are adorned with excellent paintings. The town has five gates, and the streets are narrow and irregular. Without the gate of Las Palmas there is a fine bridge over the Guadiana, built in 1596, and containing 28 arches, the largest of which has a span of 78 feet, and the smallest of 20. The length of the bridge is 1874. feet, and its breadth 20.
Being one of the frontier towns of Spain, and near ly about a league and a half from Portugal, Badajoz is defended by strong fortifications, and by the cas tles of Christobal and Las Pardaleras. It was con.
quered by the Goths in the fifth, and by the Moors in the eighth century, and has undergone numerous sieges in subsequent wars.
Badajoz is the residence of a captain.general and intendant of the province of Estremadura, of a mili tary and civil governor, a military governor of the castle of Christobal, an Alcalde mayor for administer ing justice, and a principal contador of war. It has also an arsenal called La Maestranza, which contains all kinds of arms and military engines.
Badajoz is the seat of a bishop, suffragan of the metropolis of San Jago ; and there are in the town five parish churches, seven monasteries, five nunnit ries, and five hospitals.
The only manufactory in this city is one of hats, # which was established a few years ago by a French man. Population 14,500. West Long. 6° 43', North Lat. 38° 44'. See Laborde's View of Spain, vol. i. p. 356 ; and Semple's Second Journey in Spain, p. 28.