My favourite momument

The Roman Theatre of Mérida

The town of Mérida contains one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, of which the Roman theatre forms part.

Surely many of you have seen the movie "Gladiator" and you might don't know it, but you will be surprised to know that Maximus Decimus Meridius, also known as The Spaniard, is closely related to this monument and its city.
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image of the Gladiator movie where he stands looking up at his wheat lands

Mérida in Gladiator

"The Ridley Scott film, which won five Oscars in the year 2000, stars General Maximus who confesses to being Hispanic, from Emerita. This happens in the Spanish version, because in the original, the character played by Russell Crowe turns out to be from Trujillo (another town in Extremadura). The Emerita origin of General Maximus Decius Meridius would seem much more accurate, as in the scenes of his rural villa, with the ears of wheat swaying in the breeze, that reference aligns more with the cereal-growing vocation of our countryside than with the rocky terrain of Trujillo." -says the former Mayor of Mérida

The role of Mérida's Theather in the art

Over the years 15 and 16 BC Marcus Agrippa promoted the construction of a theatre in the town of Emerita Augusta,the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania, now Mérida (Spain). A space that originally had a capacity for 6,000 spectators, and where the Romans enjoyed staged games. Towards the end of the 1st century AD and the beginning of the second century AD, the theatre was refurbished several times, and the current facade or stage front was built along with the road around the monument. The building is consist of a semicircular grandstand made of Roman concrete and clad in granite. The stage for the performances is at the front, paved in marble, as well as three doors and several statues. The theatre and the amphitheatre are part of the archaeological site of Mérida, one of the most important and largest in Spain, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. Every summer the theatre is the venue for the performances of the Mérida Classical Theatre Festival. An event that brings all the splendour and its original function back to this Roman building which can now seat 3,000 people.

stage of the roman Theather of Merida

Gallery

In this slideshow, you can observe various angles of the Roman Theater, showcasing its distinctive features. Additionally, you'll get a glimpse of the theater during a live performance, providing a contemporary perspective on its enduring allure.

Other monuments of interest

Diana's temple, another beautiful monument of Merida

Roman Temple to Diana

The so-called Temple of Diana is a Roman temple built in the 1st century AD in the same city. It was constructed in the municipal forum of the Roman city, following the typical configuration of temples in classical antiquity, and is the only Roman religious building that has survived in Mérida in a reasonably well-preserved state. In reality, it was dedicated to the imperial cult, not the goddess Diana, and it must have been one of the main temples in the city, judging by its dedication and the prominent place it occupied in the urban space.

The National Museum of Roman Art

An archaeology museum in Mérida was created for the first time through a royal order issued on 26 March 1838. On the occasion of the two thousandth anniversary of the city's foundation, the museum was refounded as the National Museum of Roman Art in 1975. The current building is a work by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo. Building works started in 1981. The new premises were unveiled on 19 September 1986. The collections of the museum focus almost exclusively on objects found in the Emerita archaeological site. The only exceptions to this are certain pieces purchased at public auctions, especially coins.

Museum of Merida
Aqueduct of Miracles in Merida

Aqueduct of the Miracles

The Acueducto de los Milagros (original name in Spanish) is a Roman aqueduct in Mérida. It was built during the first century AD to supply water from the Proserpina Dam to the ancient Roman colony of Emerita Augusta. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the aqueduct fell into decay and today it is in ruins with only a relatively small section of the aqueduct bridge standing. The aqueduct was one of three built at Mérida, the other two being the 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) long Aqua Augusta, fed by underground channels.

Location