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Merida is a small town near the border to Portugal, which is how we found it in March, 2001. Its neighbor, Badajoz, is on the border and we were planning to stop there and take the train to Lisbon. However, we couldn’t get the hotel reservations we wanted in Badajoz, so went to Merida instead. It was a much better choice. Once in Merida, we found it to be a treasure trove of Roman ruins. In fact, the most ruins in any one place in Spain. At right is Mom & Gene walking through the main entrance to the amphitheater.
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Above is one of the many passageways built with an impressive header system - especially impressive considering there was another 12 feet of rock wall piled on top of the walkway!
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According to our tour book, Merida was the site of the largest Roman city on the Iberian Peninsula as well as its political and cultural hub. As a result, the extensive ruins here include a hippodrome, aqueducts, roman theater, amphitheater, bridges, and several houses. Near the theater is where you buy the ticket and get the booklet that explains about all the ruins and a map of where they are.
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We started at the amphitheater which opened in 8 BC for gladiatorial contests and fights between animals or between animals and men. Its original shape is clearly visible and some of the original structure still remains. Some restoration has been done to show how the seating was designed though most is left as it was found. The dug out area in the center is imagined to have been boarded over and the lower part used for the wild animal cages and stage material. The long passageway near the center of the picture provided the gladiators entrance to the arena.
Right next to the amphitheater is the theater built around 15 BC to seat 6000 spectators. The stage facade full of marble columns and statues was certainly impressive. A huge marble-clad wall closes off the back of the stage. The theater was built for political purposes - effective propaganda for the Roman way of life.
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Down the road (walking distance) are the remains of what is believed to be 2 houses and some adjoining baths. Only about a foot of the walls still remains, but it is sufficient to provide a clear layout of the houses. The amazing part was the amount of mosaic tile floors still remaining. Some rooms (left) are fairly well preserved as well as long hallways (right).
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Further away (long walk or a drive) are the remains of the hippodrome (currently closed) and remains of an aqueduct. Further in town are the ruins of another aqueduct (left) that happens to be a favorite site of nesting storks ( close-up below).
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There are numerous other remains dotted through town, so it is worth a walk through town to see what you can. Many of the newer buildings in town have been built over old roads and minor ruins. Luckily the buildings are constructed on pillars above the artifacts, leaving them in place for public viewing.
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