Zafra

'Zafra is a town situated in the Province of Badajoz (Spain), where it is one of the most important. It has a population of 15, 542, according to the figures of 2004.

History

Human traces of great antiquity have been found in the area. In the "El Castellar" mountains are located caves with pictograms. Also, a fort dating to the Bronze Age was found in the nearby chapel of Belén.

In the surrounding areas there are many roman villas, reminiscent of the the legendary Segeda, which could be the origen in the town. A significant fact is that Zafra is located between the Emérita (Mérida), the ancient capital of the Roman province of Lusitania, and Seville, the capital of the province of Bética Hispalis.

In medieval times, Zafra was situated on the border which divided the domains of Seville and Badajoz, and in 1030 a defensive fortification was contructed in the Castellar Mountains. This fort would be named Sajra Abi Hassán by the Moorish geographer Al-Bakrí in 1094. The Arabs named the town Safra, or Cafra, from which is derived today's Zafra.