★ UNESCO
World Heritage
World Heritage
📷 Fernando · Wikimedia Commons
Where in the world
Spain
Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida
Roman · Spain
Field notes
- civilizations
- Roman
- types
- City · Theatre · Amphitheatre · Circus / hippodrome · Aqueduct · Bridge
- built
- 25 BCE — 100 CE
- occupied
- 25 BCE — 713 CE
- country
- Spain
The site
The Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida preserves Augusta Emerita, a Roman colonia founded in 25 BCE to settle veteran legionaries after the Cantabrian Wars. Capital of the province of Lusitania, it grew into one of the largest cities of Hispania, fed by three aqueducts and laid out with theatre, amphitheatre, circus and bridge. Today it stands as one of Spain's most extensive Roman sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
