Merida, Spain

The city of Merida is located in the region of Extremadura and is the third largest city in the autonomous region. The city was founded by the Romans in 25 BC to guard the bridge over the Guadiana River. It later became the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania and one of the most important cities in the empire. As the Roman Empire declined and lost its territories, the olive groves and vineyards they planted in the vicinity of Merida began to wither, and the land gradually returned to its former state of pasture.
In Merida you can see the best preserved Roman monuments on the Iberian Peninsula with a well-preserved theater, a triumphal arch from the time of Trajan, an amphitheater, circus, aqueduct and more. Therefore, Merida is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is where the National Museum of Roman Art is located.
The Merida Theater in Rome is one of the best surviving, gathering 6,000 people each year for the one-month drama festival. Teatro Romano is one of Merida's most impressive landmarks. The neighboring Casa del Anfiteatro is the other pearl in the crown of Merida. The amphitheater is a still unexplored remains from the III-IV century.
An exceptional cultural heritage for Merida is the Museo Nacional de Arte Romano - National Museum of Roman Art. The brilliant architecture is the work of Raphael Moneo. The museum collects collections of superb sculptures, architectural mosaics and details. Down from the museum are the ruins of the Forum and the magnificent temple of Diana, built not in honor of the goddess of hunting, but dedicated to the cult of the emperor.
Merida is one of those cities where everything is built and arranged to tell a story. His tour does not tire, on the contrary - inspires.