Mérida Travel Guide

 
by ranger49
 
  •   Mérida
    by ranger49
  • Ancient bridge
      Ancient bridge
    by ranger49
  • ...and the Modern one
      ...and the Modern one
    by ranger49
  • Roman remains, Mérida.
      Roman remains, Mérida.
    by AsturArcadia
  • The Roman remains even straddle the railway.
      The Roman remains even straddle the...
    by AsturArcadia
 

Pro

angiebabe profile photo

  lots of excellent roman ruins and evidence of life a couple of thousand years ago here! 


Con

freyas_dad profile photo

  None really other than it is a little provincial 


In a nutshell

cbeaujean profile photo

  important roman site (unesco) 

 

Explore Mérida

Things to Do  

Los Milagros Aqueduct

Los Milagros Aqueduct, Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  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.... 

Museo de Arte Romano

Museo de Arte Romano, Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  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... 

OF COURSE... VISIT THE THEATRE

OF COURSE... VISIT THE THEATRE, Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  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... 

the magnificent Puente Romano

the magnificent Puente Romano, Mérida

 angiebabe Says:  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... 

Alcazaba

Alcazaba, Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  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... 

Roman Bridge/Puente Romano

Roman Bridge/Puente Romano, Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  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... 

Across the river: Modern Architecture (II)

Across the river: Modern Architecture (II), Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  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... 

Hotels  

Merida Palace Hotel

 3 Reviews and 66 Opinions  i checked this hotel out using another website-tripadvisordotcom-which i have found fairly reliable... 

Velada Merida

 77 Opinions

Restaurants  

casa nano: nothing special but..

casa nano: nothing special but.., Mérida

 freyas_dad Says:  i visited caso nano on a couple of occasions for lunch, and once for dinner in the evening.the menus del dia were priced at 12 euros and 23 euros, and to be honest you are just as well going for the cheaper one as i really couldnt tell any difference in quality nor, really,... 

Casa Benito: Really local food

Casa Benito: Really local food, Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  Next to food market in Merida downtown, Casa Benito is a must if you want to try really tasty "tapas" in a old bar. Perhaps at first you will feel a little abashed with bull-fighting decoration, but it has the virtue of being a kind of historical: 1930's posters and another... 

Nightlife  

Plaza Espana: A Drink in the Evening

Plaza Espana: A Drink in the Evening, Mérida

 alucas Says:  Plaza Espana has four bars - one in each corner, and in the evenings the square fills with families out for a drink and a chat with their friends and family. The children all play in the middle - no teenagers though, they're off elsewhere with their mates.This view of the... 

Transportation  

From Madrid to Merida: by plane?

From Madrid to Merida: by plane?, Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  Actually, there is an airport in Talavera la Real, Badajoz, about 45 kms. far from Merida. It has some daily flights to Madrid, but I don't think it is very useful to visit Merida. In the end, if you add up how long it takes you to go from Madrid downtown to Barajas Airport,... 

By Car: How Far/How Long...?

By Car: How Far/How Long...?, Mérida

 Redang Says:  Mérida is very close to Cáceres and, if you are there, it's an excellent day trip.Some road distances from Mérida to:- Cáceres: 76 kms.- Madrid: 353 kms.- Zürich (Switzerland: 2.007 kms.- Krakow (Poland: 3.071 kmsThe web will give you information about some other road... 

signposting around merida - trying to leave!

signposting around merida - trying to leave!, Mérida

 angiebabe Says:  Driving into merida from the south was all well sign posted and easy to drive into the centre and up to the main attractions where i had to aim for first to get before they closed - ran around and saw what i wanted to see - BUT when i came to leave and headed on back over... 

parking in merida

parking in merida, Mérida

 angiebabe Says:  the main streets are one way systems or closed for pedestrians - take the road that runs right up through the middle from the alcabaza towards the ampitheatre and teatro and if you are lucky like me you might get one of the few parking spaces right outside the ampitheatre... 

Bus Terminal

Bus Terminal, Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  From Merida centre, if you pass across Puente Lusitania, you find the Bus Terminal, opposite to the Public Library (Biblioteca del Estado). If you arrive in Merida by bus, the most convenient way to reach your hotel is to take a taxi. At daytime, there are always taxis in... 

Local Customs  

Easter procession: by night in Roman Theatre

Easter procession: by night in Roman Theatre, Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  There is a strong tradition of Easter celebrations in Merida: it is said that processions have existed since 1400 years ago. There are many processions through the whole week, but one of them is really special. On the late night (it leaves at 1,00 am) of Holy Wednesday, this... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

finding signposts to get out!

finding signposts to get out!, Mérida

 angiebabe Says:  study your map when you come to want to drive out of town - signposting in to the place is excellent but getting out is almost nonexistent it seems!so check your own map for directions to leave.for madrid leave via the road that heads north from the ampitheatre and theres a... 

Tourist Traps  

Don't trust in street advertising

Don't trust in street advertising, Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  When you walk around Merida, especially near Museo de Arte Romano area or Santa Eulalia street, you will surely find men and women that will give you pieces of paper advertising restaurants with a fixed menu. The advertised restaurants are not a good ones, although they will... 

Favorites  

General Info

General Info, Mérida

 Redang Says:  Tourism OfficePaseo José Alvarez Sáenz de Buruaga, s/n- Tel.: (+34) 924 00 97 30- Fax: (+34) 924 00 97 31- Internet: www.turismoextremadura.com/localidades/index.php?id=536 (Spanish and English)- E mail: otmerida@eco.juntaex.esThere is another Tourism Office (the pic) on... 

Strange invasive plant

Strange invasive plant, Mérida

 hojasdehierba Says:  Since a few months ago, it has appeared a strange plant in Guadiana river. Its name is camalote and It is said to come from Amazonia, but nobody knows why it is here now. The problem is that is growing really fast, almost invading some parts of the river. Just give a look at... 

The Place

Plan a Mérida vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Mérida locals

Experience Mérida
  •   92 Tips and Reviews
  •  200 Photos
  •  2 Videos
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The People

1 Member Lives Here
 
Advice from the Locals
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 ROME? NO, MERIDA - I am presently working at Merida, so my last visit was... today. This is a little town (50.000 hab.), but, in some aspects, it's great. A couple of thousand years ago, Merida was the sixth city of the... 

1 member live in Mérida

 

Questions and Answers

Pedro_Laia profile photo

Q:  Hi VT members! In the first weekend of Marh i'm planning to visit Merida with some friends. we are a group of 10. Can anyone give... 

elpariente profile photo

A: Check in : http://www.brujulea.net/servlet/search?as=lo&m=790&t=3 http://www.cortijolagabrielina.com/ Some are in Badajoz and another in the surroundings I... 

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Top Mérida Writers

1

ROME? NO, MERIDA

hojasdehierba profile photo

 I am presently working at Merida, so my last visit was... today. This is a little town (50.000 hab.), but, in some aspects, it's great. A couple of thousand years ago, Merida was the sixth city of the... 

2

Merida - Roman Capital of Lusitania

alucas profile photo

 This was our chance discovery - a convenient spot on the map. We found an attractive, lively, town with an important Roman past which is now a World Heritage Site, no less. Founded in 23BC as... 

3

Mérida

El_Sueco profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Mérida. I'd love to share with you the 12 tips I've written, the 32 photos uploaded, and 4 travelogues I've created. 

4

more roman ruins to run rabid after!!

angiebabe profile photo

 I mean i acknowledge the Romans could be pretty nasty and get up to all sorts but i am pretty mad about history and all these historical sites from hundreds and thousands of years ago and guess have... 

5

"Augusta Emerita"

Witinha profile photo

 Mérida was established in the year 25 a.C. "Augusta Emerita" (latin) was transformed into the cultural and economic capital of the most ocidental Rome's province: the Lusitânia. Mérida lost its... 

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