| If you like Roman ruins, you must come to Merida, the Tenth city
of the Roman Empire. It's the old parts you are after - the modern
day city can be a little grungy, with the trip from the bus station to
the center of town particularly grueling (opt for the train station as
your portal to the city) - but there is much to reward the intrepid
roman ruin seeker.
Don't miss a trip to the Museo Nacional de Arte Romano, a light and
airy three story exhibition space built by one of Spain's finest
architects, Rafael Mano. There are number of beautiful mosaics there
as well.
The Teatro Romano, constructed around 15 B.C. is in excellent
condition and grand, originally built to honor the Roman gerneral,
Agrippa.
Next door at the Anfitatro, imagine what it was like to watch
gladiators fighting or wild animals take on humans with 15,000 of your
Meridian friends and neighbors.
The annual
Festival de
Merida
is a world class ticket to a step back in time and
watch classic Greek plays or Shakespeare's Roman tragedies here in the
warm summer months.
Be sure and see the sixty arch long Puente Romano and live digging
for treasures left behind by Visigoths and Moors at the Morerias
Archeological Site. |
