World Heritage Photos

Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida: The city of Mérida was founded as Augusta Emerita in 25 BC. Augusta Emerita was the Roman name for Mérida. Augusta Emerita served as the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania. This city was a major centre with a vast network of roads branching out across the Hispanic territory. Several important roads met in Mérida, including the famous Silver Route (Via de la Plata) and the roads to Lisbon, Córdoba and Toledo.

The Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida features many monuments from Roman times, including a theatre, an amphitheatre, temples, aqueducts and a stone bridge over the River Guadiana. The Roman theatre of Mérida was built between 16 and 15 BC. This historic building is the most complete and best-preserved of its kind in Europe. The amphitheatre of Mérida was officially opened in 8 BC; it is located close to the impressive Roman theatre of Mérida. The imposing Los Milagros Aqueduct was built during the 1st century AD; it was one of three aqueducts built in Mérida. The other aqueducts of Augusta Emerita were the San Lázaro Aqueduct and the Aqua Augusta.

The Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida is located in the sparsely populated Extremadura region of west-central Spain. It is one of the largest and most notable archaeological excavation sites in the country. Mérida is set roughly 75 km south of the World Heritage Old Town of Cáceres. This outstanding ensemble was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

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   Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida: The Los Milagros Aqueduct was built in the 1st century AD over the River Albarregas. This masterpiece of Roman engineering supplied water to Mérida. The aqueduct has a maximum height of 25 metres. The colossal arches were constructed of granite combined with brick. The aqueduct has been a favorite nesting site for white storks for decades . Augusta Emerita, present-day Mérida, was supplied with fresh drinking water by three aqueducts: Los Milagros Aqueduct (Aqueduct of Miracles), San Lázaro, and Aqua Augusta.

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   Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida: The Roman theatre of Mérida was built between 16 and 15 BC, commissioned by Marcus Agrippa, the son-in-law of Emperor Augustus. The semi-circular walls and the double-tiered columns of the stage wall are still intact. Between the latter stand statues of Roman gods and the imperial family. This ancient theatre is the most complete and well-preserved Roman theatre in Europe. The theatre is situated close to the amphitheatre of Mérida. Since 1933, the Festival of Classical Theatre has been held annually in this theatre. The Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida gained status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

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   Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida: The Roman amphitheatre of Mérida was officially inaugurated in 8 BC, during the reign of Emperor Augustus. It was used for gladiator fights and animal hunts and could seat at least 15,000 spectators. The structure had three tiers of seating of which the lowest is still the most clearly visible. The amphitheatre is situated close to the Roman theatre of Mérida. This city was founded in 25 BC as Augusta Emerita, the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania. Mérida has a number of impressive monuments from the Roman period, such as temples, a theatre, a stone bridge over the River Guadiana, aqueducts, and this amphitheatre.

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   Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida: In the 8th century, the Umayyad dynasty conquered Mérida during the Muslim expansion of Hispania. The Alcazaba was built as a military fortress in 835 AD to dominate the city. This impressive Muslim fortification was built on the remains of the Roman Puerta del Puente (Gate of the Bridge) and was part of the city walls. The Alcazaba was the first Arab citadel on the Iberian Peninsula. Inside this strategic fortress is an underground Moorish reservoir (aljibe) for storing drinking water. After the Christian Reconquest of Spain, the fortress was given to the Order of Santiago; they used it as a convent.

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   Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida: Augusta Emerita, modern-day Mérida, was one of the most important cities on the Iberian Peninsula. The Roman bridge over the River Guadiana, with the impressive walled Alcazaba to the right, was the main entrance to the city. The bridge is about 792 metres long and 12 metres high above water level. The arched stone bridge was a major crossing; the Roman roads traversing the Iberian Peninsula all met in Augusta Emerita, including the famous Silver Route (Via de la Plata). During the Moorish period, the Alcazaba was built right next to the bridge to control the strategic access to the city.

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   The Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida is one of the largest archaeological sites in Spain. The Temple of Diana was erected by the Romans at the end of the first century BC. The tympanum of the temple is supported by six Corinthian granite columns. It stands on a three-metre-high base and was originally set in a sacred garden enclosed by a wall. Despite its name, this temple was not dedicated to Diana, the goddess of the hunt, but to the Roman imperial cult. It is one of the oldest Roman buildings and the only example of Roman religious architecture in Mérida that has been preserved in relatively good condition.

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   Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida: This is the colonnade of the Pórtico del Foro, the entrance gate to the Roman Forum. This part of the gate is noted for its symbolic imagery. The decorative wall section features carved heads of Medusa, depicted with her characteristic hair of snakes, and Jupiter Ammon, a symbol of imperial power. Featured between these two heads is a relief of a caryatid, whos head has been lost over the centuries; this female figure originally carried a basket on her head. The impressive entrance gate was originally constructed using precious Carrara marble from Italy.

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   Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida: The San Lázaro Aqueduct served as one of the main water supplies to the Roman town Augusta Emerita. The aqueduct was rebuilt during the 16th century. The original Roman structure was built during the 1st century AD; only three main pillars remain today. It is also known as Rabo de Buey (Oxtail) and was one of the longest of the aqueducts in the Roman town of Augusta Emerita, present-day Mérida. The longest aqueduct of Mérida was Aqua Augusta or Cornalvo Aqueduct, transporting water over a length of about 15 kilometres.