About Don Benito

I guess I should say a little about where exactly I am going to be living for a year. The town is called Don Benito, in Badajoz province of the autonomous community of Extremadura. Don Benito is a city of 35,000, which makes it the fifth largest city in Extremadura.

Looking at pictures, the town doesn't seem to be an especially beautitul one with old buildings and the like, but there are lots of old cathedrals and castles nearby. The city of Merida is only 50 km away and has Roman ruins, including an almost completely intact amphitheater.

The neighboring town of Medellin is the birthplace of the conquistador Hernan Cortes, and has a cool looking statue of his in the middle of town. Towns like Trujillo, Caceres and Badajoz which have many historic buildings are not too distant. I'm sure I will get over the fact that Don Benito isn't a postcard town, but rather a city of commerce.

Don Benito is hours from anywhere that I've ever been in Spain, so it could be a very different lifestyle than what I am used to when I think of Spain. I hope that it isn't very different from Cadiz province where I spent my last two summers. From what I have read, Extremadura is full of warm, hospitable people so I'm sure it will be lots of fun.


Roman Ampitheater in Merida