Mérida

Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with mild, sunny weather. Summers are very hot and dry, with temperatures often above 35°C. Winters are mild, with some rain.

The International Festival of Classical Theatre runs from July to August in the Roman Theatre, with evening performances. The summer evenings are cooler, so it is a good time to visit the sites after dark.

• Teatro Romano is a Roman theatre from around 15 BC with a restored stage, still used for performances.
• Anfiteatro Romano is a Roman amphitheatre next to the theatre, where gladiator fights were held.
• Circo Romano is a Roman chariot-racing circus, one of the best preserved in the Roman world.
• Museo Nacional de Arte Romano is a museum of Roman art in a brick building designed by the architect Rafael Moneo.
• Puente Romano is a Roman bridge more than 700 meters long, one of the longest to survive.
• Acueducto de los Milagros is a Roman aqueduct with brick and granite arches.
• Alcazaba de Mérida is a Moorish fortress from the 9th century, built with Roman materials.
• The Temple of Diana is a Roman temple in the old town, with columns that rise above a later palace.
• The Trajan Arch is a Roman arch at the edge of the old forum.
• Foro Romano and Conjunto Arqueológico de Mérida cover the wider Roman city.
• Concatedral de Santa María la Mayor is the co-cathedral of Mérida.

• Watch a performance in the Roman Theatre during the summer festival.
• Walk across the Roman Bridge at sunset.
• Buy a combined ticket for several of the sites to save money.

• Badajoz (about 60 km, 45 minutes): a border city with a Moorish fortress.
• Cáceres (about 70 km, 50 minutes by car): a medieval walled town.
• Almendralejo (about 25 km): a wine town in Extremadura.
• Lácara Dolmen (about 15 km): a prehistoric burial chamber.
• Seville (about 200 km, 2 hours by car): the Andalusian capital.

Other places nearby:

• Extremadura: Cáceres and Badajoz.
• Andalusia: Seville.

• By air: Badajoz airport (BJZ) has very few flights. Seville and Lisbon airports are the main alternatives.
• By train: Trains run to Badajoz, Cáceres and Madrid, though the services are slow and infrequent. Book on Renfe.
• By bus: Coaches serve Madrid, Seville, Cáceres and Badajoz.

• On foot: The Roman sites are close together and mostly flat. The theatre, amphitheatre and museum are within a few minutes of one another.
• Cycling: The city is flat, and a bike is a good way to reach the aqueduct and the circus.

• Is a car worth it?: Helpful for day trips, but not for the city.
• Parking: Use a car park near the center.
• Restrictions: Parts of the old town are pedestrian only.

Mérida's food is typical of Extremadura. Jamón ibérico, migas (fried breadcrumbs with chorizo), torta del Casar cheese and roast lamb are common. Local wines come from the Tierra de Barros area.

Many bars serve generous tapas with each drink.

Mérida is a safe city. Summer heat is extreme, so visit the open-air sites in the morning or evening, drink water and wear sun protection. The ruins have uneven ground, so wear sturdy shoes.

The Romans founded Emerita Augusta in 25 BC as a home for retired soldiers, and it became the capital of the province of Lusitania. The theatre was built around 15 BC, and the amphitheatre in 8 BC.

The city declined after the fall of Rome, but it remained a major Visigothic town. The Moors built the Alcazaba in 835. Mérida was named capital of the Extremadura region in 1983, and the archaeological ensemble was listed by UNESCO in 1993.

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