What to do in Badajoz in diciembre

Peak crane season — some 80,000 winter in Extremadura, with the biggest roosts on the Vegas Altas del Guadiana half an hour from the city.

Badajoz Carnival, February 13-22, a Festival of International Tourist Interest — one of Spain's largest, with comparsas, murgas and giant artefactos.

Badajoz's Holy Week, a Festival of International Tourist Interest, opens on Palm Sunday, March 29, with the Triumphal Entry through the old town.

Holy Week peak — on Holy Thursday La Soledad, San Agustin and Vera Cruz process through the cobbled streets, right up to Easter Sunday on April 5.

Los Palomos, Extremadura's largest LGBTI festival, kicks off May 26 — concerts, food routes and pride filling the centre until its big June finale.

San Juan Fair, June 19-28, for the diocese's patron saint — the Caia grounds fill with concerts and rides while the centre runs its daytime fair.

International Folk Festival of Extremadura in mid-July — dance troupes from Bulgaria, the USA, Poland, Portugal and Mexico parade through Badajoz.

Escape to Playa de Cheles on the Alqueva reservoir, a blue-flag freshwater beach 54 km away on Europe's largest artificial lake.

Al-Mossassa Batalyaws in late September — Plaza Alta becomes an Andalusi souk of tents, spices and music, marking the city's founding by Ibn Marwan in 875.

The montanera begins — Iberian pigs head into the dehesa to feed on acorns, the cycle behind DOP Dehesa de Extremadura acorn ham.

Crane Festival in late November — the first waves of the 80,000 cranes wintering in Extremadura arrive, with guided walks to the roosts.