Plaza Alta

For centuries Plaza Alta was a principal stage for public life in Badajoz. Facing the Alcazaba, its open space and arcades brought together commerce, administration and celebrations. Some unified frontages were built in the seventeenth century under Bishop Marín de Rodezno, while surrounding buildings belong to other periods. The Arch of Weights connects with San José Square and recalls the regulation of weights and measures, a practical task within the urban economy. A metal market once stood in the square before being moved to the university campus. Look beyond the geometric decoration of its façades: the spacious layout, sheltered arcades and connections explain how meetings and activities gathered below the city’s fortified seat of power over successive generations.