Mérida Capital City

On the edge of history, Mérida is the administrative capital of the autonomous region of Extremadura and has been declared as part of the Heritage of Man by UNESCO.

You don’t have to look far to see why. The centre of the city has one of the most complete collections of roman buildings to be found anywhere in Europe.

Here you can contemplate a spectacular roman bridge spanning some 792 metres across the River Guadiana.

Although, due to the ravages of time and the ingenuity of man, the bridge has had to be restored and repaired on numerous occasions, it is still one of the most complete examples of roman engineering in the Iberian Peninsula.

Mérida was established as a roman colony, principally as a reward for the soldiers who fought in the campaign of subjugation of the northern part of Spain, in 25 B.C. by the Emperor Augustus.

The city, then known as Augustus Emerita, expanded rapidly due to its strategic and economic importance within the structure of empire. Capital of Rome’s westernmost province, Lusitania, its importance is emphasised by the presence of all the trappings that accompanied a privileged roman existence.

Entering the city across the modern suspension bridge over the Guadiana, the central attraction of Mérida without doubt is the roman theatre and amphitheatre.

According to tablets discovered during the excavation process, the monuments were built and inaugurated at around the same time, at the beginning of the second century A.D.

The theatre, described as the ‘Prince of Monuments’ by Menéndez Pidal, the architect who directed its reconstruction from 1964, has been home, since 1933, to the annual theatre festival of Mérida.

Actors tread the boards today as they would have done centuries before, their voices echoing through 2000 years of time.

The neighbouring amphitheatre was the scene of many deadly battles; man against man and man against beast and, together with the roman circus, located on the outskirts of the city, the population’s recreational requirements were amply satisfied.

In terms of engineering, Mérida boasts one of the most complete water supply and drainage systems to have survived the many cycles of invasion that have swept across the peninsula.

The city was supplied with water by three major aqueducts, many hundreds of metres of which still stand. These were connected to reservoirs, such as that of Proserpina, the walls of which, although remodelled on several occasions, still function as originally designed.

The Temple of Diana, located in the centre of the city, is one of the oldest roman buildings in Mérida. Built at around the beginning of the first century A.D., the temple contains detailed sculptures of the roman imperial family. The structure was used as the basis for the palace of the Conde de los Corbes in the 16th century, an event that probably resulted in its conservation.

The fall of the Roman Empire marked the decline of Mérida as a capital of influence. Although the Arabs were here for several centuries little, apart from the magnificent Alcazaba, or defensive castle, remains of their stewardship. Built in 835 A.D., the castle is one of the earliest Moorish structures to have been built in the Iberian Peninsula.

Something for the taste buds:

A varied menu awaits in Mérida. Amongst the most delicious are fish dishes that are accompanied by imaginative sauces using cheeses and locally produced meat. There is a huge variety of vegetables that are cultured in the floodplains, or la Vega, of the Guadiana.

Fiestas:

Toro Júbilo. Around 13th November, el Toro Júbilo is an ancient ceremony whereby a young bull has a burning head-dress attached to its horns. For reasons that have been lost in time, its desperate flight through the streets appears to be considered of import.

Festival of Theatre. 1 July to 29 August. An avalanche of music, dance and theatre conducted in the roman theatre. This spectacular setting hosts a huge variety of creative imagery that leaves the spectator breathless. The festival is accompanied by many events throughout the city.

More information: http://www.merida.es/