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Merida Spain
The Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre
Province: Badajoz / Autonomous Region: Extremadura
Tourist Office: Paseo José Alvares Sáenz de Buruaga, s/n - 06800 Mérida
(Badajoz)
Tel. +34 924009730 Fax +34 924009731
Mérida is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain.
It has a population of 53,915 (2006).
It was founded in the year 25 BC, with the name of Emerita Augusta (the
name Mérida is an evolution of this) by order of Emperor Augustus, to
protect a pass and a bridge over the Guadiana river. Two veteran legions
were the former settlers: V Alaudae and X Gémina. The city became the
capital of Lusitania province, and one of the most important cities in
the Roman empire. Mérida preserves more important ancient Roman
monuments than any other city in Spain (including a triumphal arch of
the age of Trajan); because of this, the "Archaeological Ensemble of
Mérida" is a World Heritage site.
During the Visigothic period it maintained much of its splendour,
especially under the sixth-century domination of the bishops. Bishop
Paul brought the diocese great wealth, making it the wealthiest diocese
in Spain. Bishop Fidelis rebuilt the cathedral and under the bishop
Masona it became the site of the first recorded hospital in Spain.
Among the remaining Roman monuments are the Puente Romano, a bridge over
the Guadiana river that is still used by pedestrians; an important
fortification to defend the bridge, lately used by the Moors, called
Alcazaba; the Temple of Diana; the remains of the Forum, including the
Arch of Trajan; the remains of the Circus Maximus; the Acueducto de los
Milagros (aqueduct); a villa called the Mitreo; the Embalse de
Proserpina and Cornalvo reservoirs; the Circus, the Amphitheatre and the
Roman Theatre where a summer festival of Classical theatre is presented,
usually with versions of Greco-Roman classics or modern plays located in
ancient times. One can also visit the Morerías archaeological site and
many others all around the city, and watch digging in progress, as well
as the Museo Nacional de Arte Romano (by Rafael Moneo). There are
several buildings of contemporary age as Escuela de la Administración
Pública (Public Administration College), Consejerías y Asamblea de Junta
de Extremadura (councils and parlament of Extremadura), Agencía de la
Vivienda de Extremadura (Housing Agency of Extremadura), Biblioteca del
Estado (State Library) , Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones
(auditorium), Factoría de Ocio y Creación Joven (cultural and leisure
center for young), Complejo Cultural Hernán Cortés (cultural center),
Ciudad Deportiva (sport's city), Universidad de Mérida (Mérida
University), Confederación Hidrografica del Guadiana (Guadiana
Hydrografic Confederation from Rafael Moneo), Puente Lusitania (Lusitania
Bridge over Guadiana River from Santiago Calatrava), Palacio de Justicia
(Justice Hall)...
It is necessary to visit also the Santa Maria's Cathedral and the Santa
Eulalia's Basilic.
The theatre dates back to 16/15 B.C. Seating in the Roman Theatre was
determined by one's status in society. The "orchestra pit" was reserved
for only those of the highest class, senators and high officials. The
top rows (very deteriorated and in the photo below, appear to look like
a back wall) were for the slaves and the very poor.
While there were paid gladiators (ex-soldiers), most participants in the
arena were either condemned prisoners or servants.
A view of the second gladiators' entrance and the "fossa arenaria." The
"fossa arenaia" is the large cross shape depression in the center of the
arena. In Roman times, this area would have been covered with wooden
planking and stored the caged animals and equipment for staged
presentations. Under a renovation, this area received a waterproof
lining and then apparently was flooded with water for some events.
While death was the central theme of the amphitheatre, make no mistake
about it, it was also about theater (and making money). Wild animals
from Asia and Africa were imported to make spectacular entertainment.
Gladiators who fought animals were given the special name of "Venator."
By the late 400's A.D. the amphitheatre was no longer in use, and its
wall became the source for the raw material to construct other
buildings.
One time capital of Lusitania (combined kingdoms of Spain and Portugal),
at the crossroads of the Roman roads from Toledo, Salamanca, Seville and
Lisbon, Merida was founded in 25BC. It boasts some of the finest Roman
ruins in the whole of Spain and possibly the world. Merida is described
as being the tourist capital of Extremadura. It has also been described
as a 'mini version of Rome'. The longest Roman bridge in Spain is just
one monument worth seeing.
Getting to Merida
Trains: The RENFE station in Merida is located on Calle Cardero. There
are four trains to and from Cáceres (trip time: 1 hr.), five trains to
and from Madrid (4.5-6 hours), one to and from Seville (3 hr.), and
seven to and from Badajoz (1 hr.)
Bus: The bus station is located on Avenida de la Libertad near the train
station. There are fewer buses to Madrid, but connections to Seville
(6-8 buses per day) are much better.
Car: the N-V motorway passes through Merida from Madrid or Lisbon.
Sights to see in Merida
The Roman Theatre
This is the jewel of Merida's Roman heritage. It was built by Agrippa in
18 B.C. when 6000 people could be seated in the theatre. In June and
July plays are still staged here. Tickets are priced at 5€ (June 2003).
This includes a visit to the Theatre and Amphitheatre.
The Aqueducts
There is over 5 miles of aqueduct running though Merida, although there
isn't a section as complete as the one at Segovia. The Acueducto de los
Milagros on the northwest side of town is the most complete, and feeds
two nearby man made lakes.
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Extramadura
This immense Roman legacy is documented in the National Museum of
Roman Art, where the history of the city can be explored through a
priceless collection of artefacts found in Merida and its vicinity.
The Extremaduran capital has a cultural calendar filled with interesting
activities, including the International Classical Theatre Festival,
which takes place every summer and is one of the most significant of its
kind in Spain.
The history of Merida has close ties to the Roman expansion through the
Iberian Peninsula. Its foundation as a city took place in 25 B.C., under
the rule of Emperor Augustus, from whom the first name of the city,
Emérita Augusta, was taken.
There, discharged soldiers from the 5th and 10th Legions settled, after
being rewarded by Rome for their participation in the Cantabrian Wars
with lands on the fertile plains of the Guadiana River. At the same
time, this incipient city had great strategic value, since two different
Roman routes met there: the Silver Route (Vía de la Plata), which linked
Merida and Astorga and the Roman road that linked Toledo and Lisbon.
Mérida was the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania and it became
one of the most flourishing cities of the Empire. Likewise, it was an
important religious centre during the first years of the spread of
Christianity.
Under Visigothic rule, the city stayed on the centre stage as capital of
the kingdom, but this title was later assigned to Toledo. With the
arrival of the Arabs, Merida became a fortress, until the Christian King
Alfonso IX reconquered the city in the 13th century, when it then became
the base for the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword.
The Roman Legacy
The splendorous history of Merida can be observed in the monumental and
archaeological ensemble that it keeps, one of the best preserved in
Spain.
Thus, the Roman legacy is still present in almost every little corner of
town, the Roman Theatre being one of the most emblematic constructions.
Erected in the first century B.C., the theatre can seat 6,000 people.
The stage is dominated by two stacked rows of columns, ornamented with
sculptures of deities and imperial figures. Next to it is the
Amphitheatre, a stage where gladiators wrestled with beasts. This
building, contemporary with the previous one, preserves some of its
original elements, like the grandstands, the box and the gallery.
Both precincts come back to life each summer with the celebration of the
Merida Classical Theatre Festival, one of the most important of its kind
in Spain.
The Temple of Diana and the Arch of Trajan —one of the gates to the
city, rising to a height of 15 metres— are located in the city centre.
On the outskirts, there are ambitious Roman civil projects such as the
Roman Bridge, which crosses the Guadiana River. The bridge stands out
for its monumental size —800 metres long, with 60 arches— that made it
one of the biggest ones in the Empire at the time. It is also quite
worth it to mention the Aqueduct of Los Milagros which crossed the
Abarregas River and supplied the city with water from the Roman dam of
Proserpina, still preserved.
The National Museum of Roman Art, built by Spanish architect, wraps up
the journey through Merida's Roman period. Through the more than 36,000
artefacts —all of which were found in Merida and its vicinity— plus the
exposed panels, the precinct narrates the history of the city and its
Roman legacy and it shows how daily life was at a Roman colony.
Also, a few examples of architecture are left from the Muslim rule.
Across from the Guadiana River is the most significant of them all, the
Alcazaba (Citadel). The interior of the Arab fortress preserves a Roman
aljibe (underground reservoir) which was rebuilt and decorated with
Visigothic pilasters.
Attached to this precinct is the Conventual Santiaguista, built during
the time that the city was under the jurisdiction of the Knights of the
Order of Saint James of the Word. Nowadays, the building is the site of
the Extremaduran Government.
Gastronomy and the outskirts
The cuisine from Malaga shares many dishes with the rest of the region,
such as the lamb caldereta (a stew made with lamb, onions, garlic and
peppers) and Iberian pork products, specially sausages and ham. Other
typical dishes include gazpacho (a cold soup made with tomato, peppers,
cucumber, garlic, etc.), ajoblanco (another could soup, similar to
gazpacho but white, made with garlic, almonds and bread), rabbit and
partridge.
Any of the bars and restaurants in Merida serve these and many more
delicacies, some of them as appetisers, like pork ears, wild asparagus
and cheese. To go with the food, Badajoz offers excellent wines with the
label Designation of Origin - Ribera del Guadiana.
When it comes to spending the night, one of the best choices in Merida
is the Parador de Turismo, located at the heart of the historic quarter,
in an old eighteenth-century convent.
The Extremaduran capital is located on the Vía de la Plata (Silver
Route). This road, which was a pilgrimage route to Santiago de
Compostela during the Middle Ages, now takes us to interesting
Extremaduran towns such as Zafra, Mérida, Caceres (with a historic
quarter that was declared World Heritage) and Plasencia. Not far from
this road are the national parks of Monfragüe and Cornalvo, with Nature
Centres where one can obtain information about the best trails to follow
to explore the parks.
Other interesting towns are also found in the vicinity of Merida. To the
south is Alange, with a Roman bath and Almendralejo, the capital of the
fertile farming region of the Land of Barros. To the east is Medellín,
the birthplace of the Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés, where the remains
of an Arab castle are preserved Don Benito, where you can visit the
Ethnographic Museum, one of the most important ones in Extremadura and
Villanueva de la Serena, with remarkable buildings like the church of
Asunción and the Town Hall.
Museums
Museo Nacional de Arte Romano de Mérida (Mérida)
Monuments
Anfiteatro de Mérida (Mérida)
Teatro romano de Mérida (Mérida)
Templo de Diana (Mérida) (Mérida)
Arco de Trajano (Mérida) (Mérida)
La Alcazaba (Mérida) (Mérida)
Acueducto "de los Milagros"(Mérida) (Mérida)
Iglesia Arciprestal de Santa María (Mérida) (Mérida)
Nature areas
Parque Natural de Cornalvo
Golf
Club de Golf de Merida Don Tello (Mérida)
Local cuisine
The orchards of Guadiana grow excellent produce and the pasturel and
gives great Iberian meats, from Retinto and Merino-breed livestock. Also
of great quality is the wild produce, like asparagus, truffle and
thistle. The selection of sausages and cheeses is unsurpassable.
Excellent wines.
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