Art and culture 

Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida

Mérida's Roman past is still very obvious from the many monuments remaining, reflecting life in one of the Empire's provincial capitals.

  1. Explore
  2. Conjunto romano de Mérida y Termas de Alange

World Heritage Site


Location and Contact:

Plaza Margarita Xirgu, s/n (Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida)
06800 Mérida , Badajoz (Extremadura)
Opening times

April-September: 9am - 9pm.

October-March: 9am - 6:30pm.

Fee

Entrance to Archaeological Ensemble: normal €15, reduced €7.5, groups €8.

Entrance to each monument: normal €6, reduced €3, groups €4.

More info: tickets

  • Mérida's Roman past is still very obvious from the many monuments remaining, reflecting life in one of the Empire's provincial capitals.

    Faced with the exceptional remains of the Roman past of Merida, it is impossible to stop admiring the grandeur of this city's architectural heritage, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. The monuments that have survived show us what the public buildings of a Roman provincial capital were like. The Emperor Octavius Augustus founded the colony of Augusta Emerita in 25 BC, later becoming the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania. The city maintained its splendour during the Visigoth period, of which it also retains many traces, and during the Muslim period; these are some of the 29 parts of the city's Archaeological Ensemble.

    Visiting these monuments is easy, as most of them were within the walls of the Roman colony. You have to visit the theatre, the amphitheatre, the house of the amphitheatre, Santa Eulalia basilica and the Roman circus. And you must also visit Los Milagros aqueduct, the Temple of Diana, the Forum gateway, Trajan's Arch and Casa del Mitreo House, an example of a Roman home with its Cosmogonic Mosaic.

    There are a number of other sites that are outside the city's Roman walls, including the Cornalvo and Proserpina reservoirs, San Lázaro aqueduct, the bridge over the Guadiana river and the Alange baths.

    Although we do not know exactly when they were built, the famous public baths at Alange, 18 kilometres outside Mérida, are usually dated from the 3rd century AD. Two circular baths with domed roofs remain from the original Roman buildings. Historic information shows that the original baths also had a caldarium, or hot bath, steam baths and gardens.

  • Origin:
  • Iron and Copper Age
  • Prehistoric
  • Romanisation (AD)
  • 1st century
  • 2nd century
  • 3rd century
  • 4th century
  • 5th century
  • 6th century
  • 7th century
  • 8th century
  • 10th century
  • 11th century
  • 12th century
  • 13th century
  • 14th century
  • 19th century
  • 15th century
  • 16th century
  • 17th century
  • 18th century
  • 20th century
  • 21st century
  • Construction:
  • Aqueduct
  • Minaret
  • Amphitheatre
  • Arch
  • Basilica
  • Road
  • Manor or noble house
  • Cemetery
  • Circus
  • City / Settlement / Excavations
  • Cloister
  • Office building
  • Military building
  • Civil engineering
  • Mosque
  • Walls
  • Necropolis
  • Mansion
  • Portico
  • Bridge
  • Door
  • Walled enclosure
  • Tomb
  • Synagogue
  • Theatre
  • Temple
  • Thermal baths
  • Tumulus
  • Archaeological site
  • Art period:
  • Islamic
  • Neoclassic
  • Romanisation
  • Roman
  • Visigoth
  • Period in history:
  • Romanisation (a. C.)
  • Romanisation
  • 1st century
  • 2nd century
  • 3rd century
  • 4th century
  • 10th century
  • 6th century
  • 7th century
  • 8th century
  • 10th century
  • 11th century
  • 12th century
  • 13th century
  • 14th century
  • 19th century
  • 15th century
  • 16th century
  • 17th century
  • 18th century
  • 20th century
  • 21st century
  • Official name :
  • National heritage
  • Accessibility:

    • Disabled access
    • Admits guide dogs
    • Accessible car park
    • Assistance for people with reduced mobility
    • Guide for disabled people
    • Adapted educational materials
    • Access ramps
    • Accessible restaurant
    • Adapted route for disabled people
    • Adapted paths
    • Assisted bathroom service
    • Toilet with disabled access
    • Toilet for disabled people in common areas

    Services:

    • Application for Mobile Devices
    • Audioguide
    • Coffee shop
    • Facilities Babies
    • Facilities for Disabled
    • Conference Room
    • Shop
    • Guided Tours

Gallery:

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