Mérida Things to Do

It was built on the Ist century, with a cement structure, covered with brick and granite. It was said to bring water from Proserpina Lake to Merida (about 5 kms.), although only the urban part of the aqueduct was elevated from the land, to save the uphill to Proserpina Lake. It's not so well preserved as the San Lazaro Aqueduct, but, in my opinión is more beautiful and interesting than that one.

Se construyó en el siglo I d.C. con una estructura de hormigón cubierta con ladrillo y granito. Parece ser que llevaba agua desde el Lago Proserpina hasta Merida (unos 5 kms.), aunque solo la parte urbana del acueducto esta elevada sobre el suelo, para salvar el desnivel hasta el lago Proserpina. No está tan bien conservado como el Acueducto de San Lázaro, pero, en mi opinión es más bonito e interesante que este.

If you are going to visit Merida, the Roman Art Museum is definitely a must. Most of the original sculptures found in excavations are here. So, what you are going to see all around Merida streets are mainly copies: originals are shown here. Moreover, it houses huge and impressive mosaics, coins and all kind of antiques. It's one of the most visited attractions in Extremadura. In fact, I haven't ever met anybody who hasn't liked the Museum.
Si vas a a visitar Merida, el Museo de Arte Romano es una parada obligada. La mayoria de las esculturas originales encontradas en las excavaciones estan aqui. Asi que, lo que vas a ver por las calles de Merida son sobre todo copias: los originales se exhiben aqui. Ademas, alberga impresionantes y enormes mosaicos, monedas y todo tipo de antiguedades. Es una de los lugares mas visitados de Extremadura. De hecho, no he conocido a nadie a quien no le haya gustado el Museo.

If I had to choose, I am not sure that I would select the theatre as my Merida favorite monument. But only for a reason: I often cross the Roman bridge, I walk usually beside the Aqueduct, while I only visit the theatre once a year, more or less. In spite of my personal affections, I admit that the Roman theatre is the most impressive monument in Merida. You can buy a ticket for both theatre and Roman Museum, and it will allow you to go into the theatre through a tunnel which starts at the Museum. Don't miss it.

Si tuviese que elegir, no estoy segura de que seleccionase el teatro como my monumento favorito en Merida. Pero solo por una razon: cruzo a menudo el puente romano, habitualmente paseo muy cerca del Acueducto de los Milagros, mientras que solamente visito el teatro una vez al año, mas o menos. A pesar de mis preferencias personales, reconozco que el Teatro Romano es el monumento mas impresionante de Merida. Puedes comprar una entrada conjunta para el Teatro y el Museo Romano, y en ese caso podras entrar al recinto del teatro a traves de un tunes que comienza en el museo. No te lo pierdas.*

The Roman bridge that crosses the Rio Guardina.

60 arches long - the seven in the middle are 15th century replacements, the bridge was still in use until the early 1990s!!#

Defence of the old bridge was provided by the Alcabaza built by the Moors - an excellent view of the bridge is provided from the walls of the Alcabaza - combined entry ticket available for 6 euro. or single entry 3 euro.

Most monuments in Merida are Roman, but not all of them. The Alcazaba is an example of this. It was constructed by Abderraman II orders in 828, when a good amount of peninsular territory was occupied (and ruled) by Muslims. It is a defensive structure: its walls are 10 meters high and were built with materials taken from other buildings. Recent excavations have shown the remains of a Roman roadway below. It opens from 9.30 to 13.45 and from 16.00 to 18.15.

Muchos monumentos en Merida son romanos, pero todos. La Alcazaba es un buen ejemplo de esto. Fue construida por orden de Abderraman II en 828, durante la ocupacion musulmana. Es una estructura defensiva: sus murallas tienen 10 metros de alto y fueron construidas con materiales tomados de otros edificios. Recientes excavaciones han mostrado restos de una calzada romana debajo. Abre de 9.30 a 13.45 y de 16.00 a 18.15.

Roman Bridge was the first work made in Emerita Augusta after the fondation of the city, in 25 b.C. It is the longest in Spain (792 m) and it has 60 arcs. The pillars have a round shape to deal with river currents. It has a concrete nucleus covered with granite. An almost incredible detail is that there was traffic circulation over the bridge up to 1993.

El Puente Romano fue la primera obra realizada en Emerita Augusta desde la fundacion de la ciudad en el anho 25 a.C. Es el mas largo de la Peninsula Iberica (792 m) y tiene 60 arcos. Los pilares tienen forma redondeada para soportar la corriente del rio. Tiene un nucleo de hormigon cubierto con sillares de granito. Un detalle casi increible es que no se peatonalizo hasta el anho 1993.

1 more image

Also across river Guadiana we find the Public Library (Biblioteca del Estado). It has been built from 1993-1997 under the plans of architect Luis Arranz. I am not so fond of it, although I admit it has a lot of natural light and offers good services to Merida citizens. I dont understand very much why it has a so huge exterior stairs which seems to go nowhere.

Tambien al otro lado del rio Guadiana, encontramos la Biblioteca del Estado. Se construyo de 1993 a 1997 bajo la direccion del arquitecto Luis Arranz. No me gusta tanto como el Palacio de Congresos, aunque reconozco que tiene mucha luz natural y que ofrece buen servicio a los emeritenses. No entiendo muy bien porque tiene una escalera exterior que no parece ir a ninguna parte.

My favourite building across the river is the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones. It one is so recent that the whole project is not finished yet: there was a square in the project that is not completed and there are relatively few acts in this new building. The complex is composed by two halls which share the entrance platform. It combines arquictecture and sculpture: the exterior layer is carved with incisions that make it irregular and somehow textured, like a kind of bas-relief. It was constructed under the plans of architects Enrique Sobejano and Fuensanta Nieto.

Mi edificio favorito al otro lado del rio es el Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones. Es tan reciente que todavia no se ha completado todo el proyecto: falta una plaza y aun hay relativamente pocos actos en este nuevo edificio. El complejo esta formado por dos grandes salas que se dan la espalda y que comparten una misma plataforma de acceso. Combina arquitectura y escultura: la capa exterior de revestimiento esta totalmente llena de incisiones que la hacen irregular y de alguna manera, con textura, como una expecie de bajorrelieve. Se construyo bajo los planos de los arquitectos Enrique Sobejano y Fuensanta Nieto.

In Merida we have the longest Roman bridge in Spain, but also a very modern bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava, the architect who made the project of Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias in Valencia. It has a pedestrian path in the middle of the bridge, but elevated over the cars path, so it is really safe to walk on the bridge.

En Mérida tenemos el Puente Romano más largo de España, pero tambien un puente muy moderno, disenhado por Santiago Calatrava, el arquitecto que hizo el proyecto de la Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias de Valencia. Tiene un carril peatonal en el medio del puente, aunque elevado con respecto a los carriles para coches, de modo que es muy seguro caminar por el puente.

There are always a couple of stork's nests in the top of the aqueduct. In Spain it's said that storks bring babies... so be careful!

Siempre hay un par de nidos de ciguenhas en lo alto del acueducto. En Espanha se dice que las ciguenhas traen bebes... asi que ten cuidado!

It's located about 4 kms. far from Merida city centre. It is a Roman reservoir, which was used a a huge deposit of water for the city. They transported water to the city by the means of a cannal and then to the Los Milagros Aqueduct into the city. The Reservoir is considered to be built between I and II century. Presently, in addition to being another Roman wonder to admire, it is a nice place for a nature walk. Local people usually owns a house here to stay on summer (temperature is not so high here).

Está situada a unos 4 kms. del centro de Mérida. Es una presa romana, que se usaba como un enorme depósito de agua para la ciudad. Transportaban el agua desde la ciudad por medio de un canal y desde ahí a Acueducto de los Milagros en la ciudad. Se considera que el embalse se construyó entre los siglos I y II d.C.. Hoy en día, además de ser otra maravilla romana que admirar, es un lugar agradable para un paseo por la naturaleza. Los emeritenses suelen tener casas allí para quedarse en verano (la temperatura no es tan alta).

If you visit Merida in the summer, check if there is any performance at the Roman Theatre. There is a well-known Festival every year (it is at its 52 edition) with several classical plays, concerts, opera, ballet and so on during July and August. It give us the opportunity of enjoy "Antigona", for instance, in a stage that looks even more impressive than at sunshine.
Tickets usually cost from 10-25 euros, depending on the spectacle and the theatre area. There are discounts for students.

Si visitas Mérida en verano, comprueba si hay alguna actuacion en el Teatro Romano. Hay un reconocido Festival todos los años (es su 52 edicion) con varias obras clasicas, conciertos, opera, ballet, etc., durante julio y agosto. Nos da la oportunidad de disfrutar, por ejemplo, de "Antigona", en un escenario que incluso parece mas impresionante que a la luz del dia. Las entradas suelen costar entre 10-25 euros, dependiendo del espectaculo y de la zona del teatro. Hay descuentos para estudiantes.

Columbaria is the term used to describe the open-air tombs that can be found just to the north of Mithraeum House. Amongst other tombs in this area, there are two small granite buildings. Both have wall paintings depicting the familes, and the painting in the picture has been identified as belonging to the Voconius family. The tombs have been dated to the second half of the fist century AD.

This villa lies outside of the old Roman city walls, next to the modern bullring. It is named because of the remains discovered on the site now occupied by the bullring, which were connected with the worship of Mithras.

The villa contained a number of rooms which were finely decoratd with wall-paintings and mosaics, and the picture shows part of the cosmological mosaic in one of the main reception rooms.

The remains of the villa are roofed over, and there is a walkway around and over the site giving a good view of the ruin.

The ticket for the site includes entry to the area known as Columbaria, which merits a tip of its own.

Between the columns of the stage facade there are a number of statues - some are believed to be portraits of the emperors. They are not the original statues, but copies. The originals have been moved to the nearby National Museum of Roman Art.