Merida, Spain

Cultural Holiday Destination
Pictures of: Merida, Spain
Location map
Airports
Hotels and other Accommodation
What to visit
World Nomads
The Travel Insurance with the largest coverage

Merida
Merida, capital of Extremadura, was once the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania and is notable for having the most impressive and extensive Roman ruins in all of Spain.
Tourism
The city of Merida - once Augusta Emerita, capital of the Roman province of Lusitania - has more Roman ruins than anywhere else in Spain. It has sometimes been called an open air museum.

There are traces of Rome scattered throughout the city that can be seen by more casual passersby. The Roman bridge across the river, for example; the aqueducts; the Roman circus, or race track, which now looks like an empty soccer field; and sections of the Roman road that can be glimpsed from today's sidewalks.

However, it's the big ones that really stun the visitor here, with the amphitheater and theater still in good condition. Both were planned at similar times (in the first century BC), with the amphitheater built a little later.

The Roman Theater began to be excavated in 1910 and, after restoration, is used every summer for the Classical Theater Festival. The two story columns above the stage, the stage itself and many of the theater buildings remain in great shape.

The elliptical amphitheater was used for gladiatorial combat, animal-to-animal and human fighting, and circus performances - entertainment that was extremely popular with the public. About 14,000 people could be accommodated, with everyone seated according to their rating, most importantly in private boxes next to the stage.

Outside the center slightly, along a busy main road and next to the bullring built in 1915, is the Mithreo House. This is the ruin of a noble family home based on three courtyards. The ruin contains a room where some painted walls are still standing, and others with well-maintained mosaic floors (including one from Eros). The most impressive mosaic is the Cosmological Mosaic, where elements - such as sea and air - are arranged on a blue background.

This is not all there is to see in Merida, and there is much more to eat, with much of Merida still being excavated.
Gastronomy
It shares many dishes with the rest of the region, such as the lamb boiler (lamb stew, onion, garlic and peppers) and Iberian pork products, especially sausages and ham. Other typical dishes include gazpacho (a cold soup made with tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, garlic, etc.), ajoblanco (another can soup, similar to but white gazpacho, made with garlic, almonds and bread), rabbit and partridge.

Any of the bars and restaurants in Mérida serves these and many other delicacies, some of them appetizers such as pork ears, wild asparagus and cheese.
Weather
Merida has a continental Mediterranean climate with Atlantic influence. It is characterized by its high summer temperatures, with maximums sometimes exceeding 40º, and minimums rarely reaching 0º.
Other tourist destinations in:
Spain
Spain
Palma de Mallorca
Island of Formentera, Ibiza
Fuerteventura
Galicia, Spain
Island of Ibiza
Canary Islands
Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Alcudia, Majorca
Alhama de Aragón Thermal Lake
Alhama de Granada Thermal Bath
Alicante, Spain
Almeria, Andalusia
Almuñecar, Andalucia
Hot springs of the Arnedillo pools
Barcelona
Benalmadena, Andalucia
Benicarló
Benidorm, Costa Blanca
Bilbao
Burgos, Spain
Cadiz, Andalusia
Cala San Vicente, Ibiza
Calahonda, Andalusia
Spa Thermal of Acuña, Caldas de Reis
Can Picafort, Majorca
Carballo Thermal Bath, Galicia
Chipiona, Andalusia
Cordoba, Spain
Cuenca, Spain
Cuntis Thermal Spa
El Arenal, Majorca
Puerto de Santa María
Finisterre, Galicia
Gijón, Asturias
Granada, Andalucia
Isla Canela, Andalucia
Isla Cristina, Andalusia
Islantilla, Andalusia
Jerez de la Frontera
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Madrid
Magaluf, Majorca
Malaga, Andalusia
Marbella, Andalucia
Mondariz Spa, Galicia
Chavasqueira Hot Springs, Orense
Pools of Muiño da Veiga
Peñiscola
Pollensa, Majorca
Pontevedra, Spain
Port de Pollenca, Majorca
Port of San Miguel, Ibiza
Portinatx, Ibiza
La Fontcalda Hot Springs, Tarragona
Puerto Banus, Andalusia
Port of Soller, Majorca
Punta del Moral, Andalusia
Prexigueiro Thermal Spa, Galicia
Sa Calobra, Majorca
Salou, Catalonia
Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza
Sant Joan of Labritja, Ibiza
Sant Josep from Sa Talaia, Ibiza
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Santa Eularia des Riu, Ibiza
Santa Pola, Costa Blanca
Santa Ponsa, Majorca
Santiago de Compostela
Seville, Andalusia
Sierra Nevada, Spain
Tarragona, Catalonia
Toledo, Spain
Torremolinos
Baths of Tredòs, Lleida
Valladolid
Vigo, Galicia
Zahara de la Sierra, Andalusia

Other world tourist destinations

Boavista Island - Cape Verde
Cape Verde
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Romania
Romania
Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands

City destinations and weekend getaways

Vienna, Austria
Austria
Matanzas, Cuba
Cuba
Panamá City
Panama
Frankfurt
Germany

Why to book with BOOK HOTEL ALGARVE
The best prices
Our partnerships with the world´s largest operators offer research on the best market prices.
More options
At Rotas Turisticos you can book the hotel, buy the air ticket, book the transfer from the airport to the hotel and vice versa, book the local excursions, rent the car, take travel insurance and consult the places to visit and where to go.
Holiday Tips & Destinations
Hundreds of holiday destinations with all the options that allow you to easily choose the destination that best suits your dream vacation.
BOOK HOTEL ALGARVE


Follow us on social networks
  

 
Rotas Turisticas
Grupo Público · 8.410 membros
Aderir ao grupo
Podem publicar fotos das vossas viagens, férias, locais que estiveram ou gostariam de estar. Podem divulgar negócios ou actividades...