Olivenza, Administrative division in Extremadura, Spain.
Olivenza is a municipality in the province of Badajoz on the left bank of the Guadiana, near the Portuguese border. The territory includes several smaller settlements and spreads over gently rolling farmland with olive groves and cereal fields.
The region belonged to Portugal until 1801, when it passed to Spain after the War of the Oranges. The transfer brought new administrative structures, but many residents kept their language and customs.
Street signs in older quarters preserve Portuguese-style names like Rua dos Mártires, while residents shift between both languages in daily conversation. Buildings show whitewashed fronts and wrought-iron balconies that recall the long period under Portuguese rule.
Regional roads link the town to Badajoz in the north and nearby Elvas in Portugal. The town center is walkable, while outlying villages require a vehicle.
Diplomatic documents from the 19th century are sometimes quoted when visitors ask about the region's belonging. The question remains unresolved in official registers, though daily life is fully administered under Spanish rule.
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