Moving to the town of Zafra in Extremadura, Spain

We list expat stories of their move to the town of Zafra in the Spanish province of Extremadura. We find out what is unique about Zafra.

Hi there, let me introduce myself, I am Vicki Blaylock and I now live in El Raposo, a small hamlet near the medieval town of Zafra in southern Extremadura, just over one hour from the vibrant city of Seville.

Why Retirement is a Terrible Idea (What to Do Instead)...

For 30 years, I built businesses with one goal in mind: the finish line. Like many, I pictured the classic dream—moving to Spain, soaking up the sun, and finally switching off. But now that I’m here, I’ve started questioning everything.

Watch the video below and let me know in the comments: are you ready to retire or reinvent instead?

My husband Ken and I began to seriously think about early retirement, and what that could possibly mean for us.

Having travelled many times to India and the Far East, the thought of spending the winter months on a remote beach in India was very appealing. But then we thought, hang on, what about the rest of the year?

So despite the fact that we had avoided thoughts of retiring to Spain (at all costs!) one day I saw a newspaper article on Extremadura. Wow! I thought, Spain isn’t all quick fix tans, discos, high rise apartments and lager louts!

It does actually have a culture, and there are parts of Spain which haven’t been taken over by the British, and where “old fashioned values” still exist, and further more, those values do matter greatly to the local people.

So, we looked at the map of Spain, and decided, as a first step, to one of the most charming and historical towns found north of Seville – Zafra.

Our first encounter with Zafra in November 2004 was unforgettable. It was like stepping back in time 30 years. I must confess to being a naturally suspicious person, and thought that, as we spoke no Spanish and therefore stuck out like sore thumbs, people would take advantage of us – but No!

Although there were significant language barriers, local people were (and still are) extremely kind and patient with us.

The following April saw us visiting Extremadura again, further north this time, where we were again impressed with the views and the scenery and by the friendliness of the local people.

However on returning to Zafra at the tail end of our visit, it felt as though we were coming home.

So what attracted us to Zafra? Well… apart from the people, Zafra itself is a beautiful little town in southern Extremadura, located at the base of the Sierra de Castellar Mountains, midway between Seville and Mérida.

Indeed, Zafra is often referred to as “Little Seville” with its narrow, winding streets and pretty plazas. Zafra has a wealth of historical buildings and areas dating back to the 13^th Century.

We finally decided to take the plunge and we moved out here in March 2007, and have no regrets. Our initial assessment and observations of the area, lifestyle and quality of life have proven to be correct.

Below is my story of moving to the Zafra area in greater detail…