Villanueva de la Serena, city, Badajoz provincia (province), in Extremadura comunidad autónoma (autonomous community), western Spain. It lies east of Badajoz city, near the confluence of the Guadiana and Júcar rivers. Villanueva is in the stock-raising district of La Serena, whence comes its name. Melons are an agricultural specialty of the city. Villanueva has a 16th-century church in the style of Juan de Herrera, and the remains of a Roman settlement are nearby. Pop. (2008 est.) 22,072.