Augusta Emerita: Difference between revisions

The Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida is one of the largest and most extensive archaeological sites in Spain. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.

Roman Theatre

Main article: Roman theatre of Mérida

The theater is a construction promoted by the consul Marco Vipsanio Agripa. According date written on the actual construction stage occurred in the years 15 to 16 B.C.

The theater has undergone several renovations, most importantly, at the end of the century or early second century, possibly during the reign of Emperor Trajan, when he got up front or in front of the current scene and the other in time of Constantine between 330 and 340, with new-decorative architectural elements and built a walkway around the monument. After the abandonment led by Christianity because of the immorality of the theater, it is abandoned and covered with earth, leaving visible only the upper tiers of seats (summa cavea). The popular imagination called "The Seven Chairs", where tradition says she sat in several Moorish kings to decide the fate of the city.

Roman Amphitheatre

Main article: Amphitheatre of Mérida

Construction of popular taste over the theater, was opened at 8th B.C. century. This building was intended for gladiatorial combats between beasts and men and beasts.

The building consists of a central elliptical arena surrounded by a grandstand for 15,000 spectators able to split, as in the theater into three zones. Of these three areas remains only now the bottom as the two above were used, after its fall into disuse, as a quarry for the adjacent buildings.

Roman Circus

Main article: Roman Circus of Mérida

With its 400 m long and 100 m wide was the largest of the buildings and sights in the city, along with the amphitheater, was the one who enjoyed the favors of a given audience thrills that educated work theater. Due to its size was outside the walls, beside the road that joined Emeritus in Corduba (Córdoba) and Toletum (Toledo). This monument is completely visited.

It had a capacity of around 30,000 spectators divided into a grandstand with the classic division into cáveas marked by the different social backgrounds of its occupants.

The date of its construction dates from the early I. Possibly during the time of Tiberius. The enclosure has a central arena where the competitions were made. In the midst of it is called spina central fence with a length of 223 m and a width of 8.5 m and decorated with monoliths and other reasons.

One of the favorite events were the races of bigas (two horses) and quadrigas (four horses). The drivers of the cars called charioteers were very popular characters and many of them immortalized in paintings and mosaics.

Today the Roman Circus of Merida has a newly built visitor center, which allows a better understanding of the structure of the monument before entering.

Roman bridge over the Guadiana

Can be considered, somehow, as the source of the city and in any event, which marks its route to be extended from one of the main arteries of the colony, the Decumanus Maximus.

The situation of the bridge is carefully selected at a ford of the river Guadiana offered as a support a central island that divides it into two channels. The original structure did not provide the continuity of the present, as it was composed by two sections of arches joined in the island, where a large Starling. This was replaced by several arcs in the seventeenth century, after a flood dated in 1603 damaged part of the structure. In Roman times in length was extended several times, adding at least five consecutive sections of arches so that the road is not cut during the periodic flooding of the Guadiana. That has made this work reaches the 792 m long, one of the largest remaining at that time.

Aqueduct of Los Milagros

Main article: Acueducto de los Milagros

Part of the leadership that brought water to Merida from the Proserpina Dam located 5 km from the city. Data from the early 1st B.C. century.

The arcade is now fairly well preserved, especially the section that spans the river valley Albarregas.

He is known by this name, because it seems a miracle that he was still standing.

Aqueduct of Rabo de Buey-San Lázaro

Bring water from streams and underground springs located north of the city, driving very well preserved but the archery ground built to save the valley Albarregas are only three pillars and their arches next to the monument of the Roman circus and another aqueduct 16th century, in which material was used to build Roman aqueduct.

Temple of Diana

Municipal building belonging to the city forum. It is one of the few religious character is preserved in a satisfactory state. Despite its name, wrongly assigned in its discovery, the building was dedicated to the imperial cult. Built in the late 1st B.C. century or early in the Augustan era.

Rectangular, and surrounded by columns, is facing the front forum. This front was formed by a set of six columns ending in a gable. A current conservation of the building having been built contributed to the Palace of the Count of Corbos, Renaissance and whose remains can still be seen in the hall inside the temple. In its construction materials were used mainly granitic.

Arch of Trajan

Entrance arch, possibly the provincial forum. Was located in the Cardo Maximus, one of the main streets of the city and reported it to the municipal forum. In his time was covered with marble.

Made of granite and marble wrapped in origin, it measures 13.97 meters high, 5.70 m wide and 8.67 m for arc flash. It is believed to have a triumphal character, although it could also serve as a prelude to the Provincial Forum. Immersed in the maze and masked by modern construction nearby houses, this arch stands majestic and admired by travelers and historians of all time. His name is arbitrary, as the commemorative inscription was lost centuries ago.

House of the Mitreo

Found fortuitously in the early 1960's, is located on the southern slope of Mount St. Albin. Its proximity to the area where it is the location of Meridan Mitreo led to their current name. The whole house was built in concrete blocks reinforced corners. Highlights the peristyle house with interior garden and a room of the famous western sector Cosmogonic Mosaic, allegorical of the elements of nature (rivers, winds, etc) chaired by the figure of Aion. The complex has been roofed and fitted out to visit recently.

Los Columbarios

With this name we have two buildings funeral, held in the open, outside the walls of the Roman city. Both are the best example of funerary constructions Emeritus. The materials used for manufacturing are the masonry and granite masonry. In the two sections are preserved identification epigraphies of the owner families (the Vaconios and Julios) as it has been known the origin and condition of them.

Alcazaba

Main article: Alcazaba of Mérida

Next to the Roman bridge of the Guadiana River. Built by Abderraman II in 835 d. C. as a stronghold to control the city, which since 805 had rebelled against the rule continuously Emirate. First Arab citadel of the Iberian Peninsula.

It is a complex construct, consisting of a large area of 130 square meters on a side capable of accommodating a large number of troops. Inside are a wonderful aljibe, where building is unique, consisting of an endless water tank (filtered from the Guadiana) that was accessed with a double row from the ground floor of a tower. At one end was built a convent for the Order of Santiago and is now the seat of the presidency of the Junta de Extremadura. Next to the Roman bridge is attached another smaller room, called alcazarejo, which controlled the river crossing the city.

Basilica of Santa Eulalia

Main article: Basilica of Santa Eulalia (Mérida)

Concatedral of Santa María La Mayor

Main article: Cathedral of Mérida

Other sights and attractions

• House of the amphitheater. So named because it stands next to the amphitheater. Should be stressed that it actually found is a set of two houses: the "House of the Water Tower", and on the other hand, the actual "House of the amphitheater."

• Archaeological site of Morerías. Remains of a Roman neighborhood of an Arab neighborhood. Above him stands the Morerías avant-garde building, headquarters of several departments of the Junta de Extremadura.

• Roman bridge over the river Albarregas. Its construction was made in the reign of Augustus, in order to save the river Albarregas before emptying into the river Guadiana to barely a few hundred yards downstream. From here started the Via de la Plata to Astorga. Is 145 meters long.

• Gate of the Forum. Erected in the first century It was restored in the last century based on some of the findings in place, many of which are preserved in the National Museum of Roman Art. The monument consists of an arcaded building with a wall which is home to diverse niches for statues found here. It is located near the Temple of Diana in one of two forums held Mérida: one local and one provincial located in the Cardus Maximus.

• Roman Baths of San Lázaro. These springs located in the San Lazaro Linear Park, the citizens enjoyed high rank who came to the events in the Roman Circus.

• Roman Baths and snow pit of the C/ Reyes Huertas. Used by the Romans as well snow and cold water baths, is unique in the Roman Empire. It was also used for storage of perishable goods.

• Crypt of Santa Eulalia, Santa Eulalia archaeological site. In the basement of the Basilica of Santa Eulalia is a very interesting site that describes the various vicissitudes he suffered this church from its construction to present day.

• Obelisk of Santa Eulalia. Built in the seventeenth century in honor of the martyr patroness of Merida, being used in various building materials among them Roman pieces, including three cylindrical and a capital interest. Crowning the whole is the image of the martyr, a reworked judicial robes.

• Xenodoquio. Only remnant of Visigothic architecture preserved in Spain that has no liturgical character. It was built by Bishop Mason in the second half of the 6th century. Near the Basilica of Santa Eulalia de Mérida, served as a hospital and shelter of the pilgrims who came to venerate the remains of the child martyr, also used as a hospital for the poor of the city.

• Convento de San Andrés. Founded in 1571 by the Dominican Order of Santo Domingo. The main facade of the temple was exhibited patterns of action and framework of the city. There remain only the church and the main facade whose cover you can see an image of Santo Domingo. Recent excavations at the site of the monastery have uncovered interesting archeological data that provide insights into the historical evolution of this part of Old Town. The centuries 3rd 4th features a mosaic that decorated a Roman house located within the city walls. Visigothic has discovered one of the oldest churches in the city of San Andrés. During the Islamic period the site was occupied by a cemetery and the 12th century are remains of a new wall that would enclose the Islamic city. With the arrival of the Christians, 13th century, restored the former Visigothic church, bringing with her a cemetery. Already in the 16th century the monastery was founded today.

• Castellum aquae. Situated on top of Calvario Street, was the end of the Aqueduct of Los Milagros and the principle of water distribution throughout the city.

• Dolmen Lácara. National Monument since 1931. Situated on the outskirts of the city, has a circular chamber of 5.10 meters in diameter, a corridor 20 meters long, and a mound of stones and earth covering the construction, with a height of 3.50 meters elliptical shape that reaches 35 meters at its axis.

• Cornalvo and Proserpina Reservoirs. Near Mérida find those who might be the oldest reservoirs in Spain: Swamp Nature Park Cornalvo and Proserpina Reservoir (around he has built a residential suburb of Merida and place of leisure in summer) that have traditionally been considered of Roman origin, although some scholars now argue its medieval origins.

Protected sites

Code	Name	Place
664-001	Aqueduct of los Milagros	Mérida
664-002	Aqueduct of San Lázaro	Mérida
664-003	Sewer	Mérida
664-004	Alcazaba	Mérida
664-005	Anphitheatre	Mérida
664-006	Arch of Trajan	Mérida
664-007	Xenodoquio	Mérida
664-008	Basílica Casa Herrera	Mérida
664-009	Basilica of Santa Eulalia	Mérida
664-010	House Amphitheatre	Mérida
664-011	House Mitreo	Mérida
664-012	Circus	Mérida
664-013	Visigothic Art Collection	Mérida
664-014	Columbarios	Mérida
664-015	Dique del Guadiana	Mérida
664-016	Cornalvo Reservoir	Mérida
664-017	Proserpina Reservoir	Mérida
664-018	Forum	Mérida
664-019	City walls	Mérida
664-020	National Museum of Roman Art	Mérida
664-021	Obelisk of Santa Eulalia	Mérida
664-022	Bridge of Albarregas river	Mérida
664-023	Bridge of Guadiana river	Mérida
664-024	Theatre	Mérida
664-025	Temple of Diana	Mérida
664-026	Temple of the Concordia	Mérida
664-027	Temple of Mars	Mérida
664-028	Baths c/ Diego M.ª Creuet	Mérida
664-029	Roman Baths of Alange	Alange

Source:UNESCO