MERIDA: WHERE ROME LIVES AND PREHISTORY LEAVES ITS TRACE

Welcome to Mérida, a city with two souls and thousands of years of history. One is the modern Mérida; the other, the ancient Mérida. Augusta EmeritaThe Roman capital of Lusitania and cradle of the largest Roman archaeological site in Spain. But there is more: very close by, the rock comes to life and colour with cave paintings that tell us about the first artists of mankind.

CROSSROADS: MERIDA

Rome: A Whole City as Monument

Few cities offer such a complete journey into the classical past as Mérida.

Roman TheatreMonumental stage that is brought back to life every summer with the International Classical Theatre Festival.
AmphitheatreFor gladiators, wild beasts and dedicated audiences.
Temple of Diana. In Roman times this temple stood out within a large square known as the "Forum of the Colony". Surrounded by important public buildings, it was the urban centre and the main meeting place for the citizens of the city. Augusta Emerita
Trajan's Arch. It was the monumental gateway to the sacred space (Temenos) surrounding a gigantic temple of imperial worship.
Roman CircusThe circus is one of the best preserved circuses of the Empire and also one of the most grandiose.
Aqueduct of the MiraclesIt was built almost 20 centuries ago to bring the waters of the Prosperpina reservoir to this city.
Bridge over the Guadiana: It is the longest surviving Roman bridge and a perfect example of the skill of the empire's engineers.
National Museum of Roman ArtAn architectural jewel designed by Rafael Moneo in 1986. It recreates the great buildings of the late Roman period, such as the Baths of Diocletian in Rome or the mausoleum of Gordian in Thessaloniki.

Living Prehistory: Stone Art

The rock art routes around Mérida reveal the most remote side of Extremadura: And, of course, you can enter the territory of rock art, one of the least known heritages... and most exciting. On the outskirts of Mérida, in the shelters of La Calderita (La Zarza), or a little further afield in Magacela or Cabeza de Buey, you can discover the magic and the enigma of the first art of humanity in landscapes that still thrill and transport us to remote times.

Ancient refugesThe landscape holds shelters shelters decorated thousands of years ago.
Paintings and engravingsThe depiction of hands, animals and symbols in ochre, black and white (an unusual colour in European prehistoric art).
A journey without wordsThese traces, created more than 6,000 years ago, connect us with those who lived and dreamed here before any city existed.

RELATED ROUTES:

Prehistoric Cave Art in Extremadura

Vía de la Plata Route

EXPERIENCES

What makes Merida unique?

Because here Rome is not a memory: it is a living stage. And because very close by, in the bowels of the stone, the gaze of the most ancient human being still throbs.. Ready to walk among empires and eternal paintings?

With regard to rock art, mention could be made of better known paintings in the area around Mérida (La Calderita, La Zarza) or others belonging to the province of Badajoz (Rock Paintings of Peña del águila, Magacela, or Rock Paintings of Cerro de Estanislao in Cabeza del Buey) in addition to those already mentioned:

Ancient refugesIn places like Puerto Roque, San Blas or La Serena, the landscape holds shelters decorated thousands of years ago.
Paintings and engravingsThe depiction of hands, animals and symbols in ochre, black and white (an unusual colour in European prehistoric art).
A journey without wordsThese traces, created more than 6,000 years ago, connect us with those who lived and dreamed here before any city existed.