Mérida: Spain's Little Rome

Trip Start May 15, 2008
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Trip End Jul 24, 2008


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Saturday, May 24, 2008

Founded by the Romans in 25 BC for its strategic crossroads location, Mérida was our first stop in Extremadura.  Now the capital of Extremadura, Mérida, called Augusta Emerita, was the capital of Roman Lusitania (their name for the Iberian Peninsula).
Now, the entire town, except for its impressive ruins, looks more or less like a tribute to the Franco era, with 1970s style high rises and unattractive concrete buildings.  However, to Classics enthusiasts, the town is well worth a visit because the ruins are quite impressive and remind one of Spain's interconnected history with the rest of the Mediterranean as well as lengthy history.  One needs to keep in mind however that Mérida is certainly not Rome, or anything close to it, so if you're expecting any Colosseum-type monuments you'll be quite underwhelmed; but, if you go in with an open mind you'll discover the treasures that Mérida has to offer visitors.
Merida - Roman Ruins
Merida - Roman Ruins
 After a long bus ride from Seville, we arrived in Mérida at 11:30 and went straight to the town's most famous ruins, which are located in a nice park area.  The theatre and amphitheatre are truly amazing and quite well preserved.  The theatre is the best of its kind in Spain.  We climbed along the theatre and amphitheatre for about an hour while it rained on and off, giving the day an eerie feel.
After looking at the ruins, we headed to the Museo Nacional de Arte Romano (National Museum of Roman Art), which is in a really nice and new modernist brick and glass building right across the street from the ruins.  The museum, due to its design, uses almost all natural light.  It contains an impressive collection of sculptures, artifacts, and mosaics from the region's ancient history.
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