We ask Badajoz for its Alcazaba to welcome us with centuries of history, for the streets of its old town to invite us to wander through them time and again, and for the Puente de Palmas, spanning the River Guadiana, to treat us to its sunsets. In summer, despite the heat, we want exactly the same. We might just choose to enjoy it once the sun starts to go down and tweak our plans slightly: perhaps we’ll skip its hearty migas, but make the most of ajo blanco and other lighter, more refreshing tapas. Because yes, Badajoz is well worth visiting in summer too, and these ideas prove it:

Just because the heat is relentless during the day doesn’t mean you need to stay at the hotel. Culture may be a refuge in the figurative sense, but in this city, it is also one in the most literal sense. Its museums offer cool spaces where you can escape the high temperatures. Wander through the interior of a former prison, now home to the Museum of Contemporary Art; discover historic artefacts in one of Badajoz’s oldest buildings, which today houses the Provincial Archaeological Museum; or stroll among works by Dalí and Picasso, alongside pieces by local artists, at the Museum of Fine Arts.

With the city’s water park just a 15-minute drive from the centre of Badajoz, it’s hard to resist spending a day there. Among its attractions, you’ll find swimming pools, including wave pools and calmer ones for younger children; a stretch of water designed to make you feel as though you’re swimming in a lagoon; and, of course, water slides that you can ride with or without inflatables. The choice is yours.

It may not get talked about much, but in Badajoz, they take ice cream very seriously. Especially artisan ice cream. And original flavours. They know all about that at Los Valencianos ice cream parlour, a local favourite when it comes to making afternoon treats that little bit better, with ice creams whose creaminess is obvious at first glance and whose more unusual flavours never fail to surprise anyone peering into the display counter. Around here, you can try creations that taste, for example, of Dubai chocolate. Without giving up the classics, of course.

‘Badajoz, La Ciudad Encendida’ is the name of the city’s summer programme, held during the months of July and August, bringing culture and heritage to some of Badajoz’s most iconic locations. The Alcazaba, San Cristóbal Fort, the Jardines de la Galera and various spots around the historic centre become the setting for concerts, guided night-time tours and other cultural activities.

The programme may vary from one year to the next, but it usually includes activities designed to help you discover the city from a different perspective, making the most of the cooler hours of the day and some of its most representative heritage sites.

Yes, even though Badajoz is an inland province, they can still proudly say that “there’s a beach here too”. In fact, we’ll go one better and tell you that it has seven Blue Flag beaches, the distinction recognising the environmental quality, safety and services of a bathing area. Your destination will be La Dehesa, in the town of Cheles, on the border with Portugal. There, you can take a dip in the Alqueva Reservoir, the largest artificial lake in Western Europe, a vast expanse of water which, although mostly located on the Portuguese side, leaves enough room on this side of the border for its own little stretch of coastline: there’s grass and white sand, parasols and a shoreline, as well as plenty of fresh water waiting for you to dive in.

Beside the river and opposite a park, sheltered from the Badajoz heat. That’s how the Sercotel Gran Hotel Zurbarán welcomes its guests. Here, we like to start the day slowly, allowing ourselves those extra five minutes between the sheets; treating ourselves to lavish buffet breakfasts and making everything easy for you. Want to keep up your fitness routine? Our gym is waiting for you. Not sure where to park? Don’t worry, there’s a space for you in our car park. Fancy exploring the city? Stop by reception and we’ll tell you all about our must-see recommendations.