We have now moved on to a campsite near Merida called, funnily enough, Camping Merida.
Sat nav. ref. N 38.93558 W 6.30426. The camping is about 2 miles from Merida old centre which has good parking for scooters, close to the Tourist Information Office.
Roman Merida was an important administrative centre for Emerita Augusta province (one of three provinces in Roman Hispania), and many grand buildings and public areas from this time still survive.
The old town is quite a small area and is easy to cover on foot. Our first stop was at the Basillica Santa Eulalia, which is a thirteenth century chapel dedicated to the Saint of that name who was martyred at this site in Roman times. The excavations which took place within the crypt here in 1991 uncovered several layers of history dating back to Roman times.
Underneath the church you can see early Christian sarcophagi and the remains of a Roman Peristyle with the bases of the columns still visible.
There is also a mausoleum which has walls painted with murals depicting Saint Marin.
All this is seen from a raised board walk, facilitated by raising the chapel floor and suspending it about 2 meters above the original level.. Quite an engineering feat.. It now shows the base of the main supporting columns etc underground. This in itself is worth a visit and the rest is also very interesting.
Underneath the church you can see early Christian sarcophagi and the remains of a Roman Peristyle with the bases of the columns still visible.
There is also a mausoleum which has walls painted with murals depicting Saint Marin.
All this is seen from a raised board walk, facilitated by raising the chapel floor and suspending it about 2 meters above the original level.. Quite an engineering feat.. It now shows the base of the main supporting columns etc underground. This in itself is worth a visit and the rest is also very interesting.
Next due to the rain coming through, we visited the recently reopened National Museum of Roman Art. This Huge building houses artefacts found from the sites within the town. It is very well laid out in an uncluttered manner and where possible artefacts from a particular excavation, are kept together.
One of the most dramatic visuals are the Roman plaques from the Forum, these have been positioned high on the wall to convey the façade of the forum as it would have been.
There is large collection of statues from the theatre.
Also many of the beautiful floor mosaics have been mounted on the walls showing their complex design to their very best.
In one area the exhibit was a Roman house with its mosaic flooring and mural walls.
One of the most prized exhibits is the sculptured head of Emperor Augustus.
One of the most dramatic visuals are the Roman plaques from the Forum, these have been positioned high on the wall to convey the façade of the forum as it would have been.
There is large collection of statues from the theatre.
Also many of the beautiful floor mosaics have been mounted on the walls showing their complex design to their very best.
In one area the exhibit was a Roman house with its mosaic flooring and mural walls.
One of the most prized exhibits is the sculptured head of Emperor Augustus.
The whole museum, set out on three levels, is well lit and the artefacts well signed in both Spanish and English.
In the basement, which itself is a Roman excavation site, are the remains of houses, roadways and water conduits.
In the basement, which itself is a Roman excavation site, are the remains of houses, roadways and water conduits.
From here we went on to visit the actual sites. First of all the Roman Amphitheatre. Its inauguration dates back to 8 BC and has a capacity for 14,000 people.
Next door is the Roman Theatre built by order of Marco Agrippa between 16 and 15 BC. It holds about 6,000 people and is still used for events to this day.
We went from here into the gardens that would have been the entrance to the Theatre.
Next was the House of Mithreo where many artefacts were found. Under the protective cover you can still see many of the mosaics, (one of which, the cosmological shows how detailed these works were )
and patios and murals in there original position.
After visiting the Columbarium, a funereal area connected to this site we walked towards the river Guadiana and passed the Citadel walls,
and then walked into the Alcazaba, the old Arab fortress.
From here we had a good view of the Roman bridge
. Some of the Roman walls were knocked down and the stone reused to build the Barracks.
One of the Roman cisterns had been adapted for their use.
and patios and murals in there original position.
After visiting the Columbarium, a funereal area connected to this site we walked towards the river Guadiana and passed the Citadel walls,
and then walked into the Alcazaba, the old Arab fortress.
From here we had a good view of the Roman bridge
. Some of the Roman walls were knocked down and the stone reused to build the Barracks.
One of the Roman cisterns had been adapted for their use.
Rob was feeling extremely weary now so we walked back to the scooter via Trajano's arch and the Temple of Diana which had also been used as a Palace in the 16th century.
Back to the scooter and on our home we stopped to see Aqueduct de Los Milagros
and then on to the Aqueduct de San Lazaro which stands at the one of the entrances to the Old city
and next to the Roman Circus where chariot races and the like would have been held.
and then on to the Aqueduct de San Lazaro which stands at the one of the entrances to the Old city
and next to the Roman Circus where chariot races and the like would have been held.
A tiring but very enjoyable day, a well deserved Gin and tonic is waiting.
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