Guide to Merida

M É R I D A ARCHAEOLOGICAL ENSEMBLE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

A “SCHOOL- MADE” CITY GUIDE FOR THE COMENIUS PROJECT

'STUDENTS AND PARENTS IN PARTNERSHIP' 2010-2012

IES 'LOS MORISCOS'

GUIDE INDEX − Some information about Mérida − History of Mérida − Main sights − Roman Theatre − National Museum of Roman Art − Temple of Goddess Diana − Triumphal Arch of Trajan − Roman Bridge over the Guadiana River − Aqueduct of the Miracles – Acueducto de los Milagros − Activities

SOME INFORMATION ABOUT MÉRIDA - Mérida is the capital of the Extremadura Region - 57,000 people live here - The Guadiana River -one of the longest rivers in Spain- goes through the city - The currency is the Euro (€), not the sesterce anymore - Most of the people don't use helmets or shields while walking - If you are lucky you can meet the Emperor walking down the via ('street' for foreigners), then, please rise your right hand and shout: Hail Caesar

HISTORY OF MÉRIDA Mérida was founded in the year 25 BC, being named Emerita Augusta (meaning the bachelors -discharged soldiers-) by the army of Emperor Augustus, who founded the city. Augustus wanted to protect the pass and the bridge over the Guadiana river. The city became the capital of Lusitania province, and one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire. Mérida preserves the most important ancient Roman monuments than any other city in Spain.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, during the Visigothic period, the city manteined its splendor, and became the capital of Hispania.

In 713 it was conquered by the Muslim army, and became the capital of the cora of Mérida. The Arabs re-used most of the old Roman buildings, and even expanded them.

The city returned under Christians hands in 1230, when it was conquered by Alfonso IX of León.

In the 19th century, during the Napoleonic invasion, numerous monuments of Mérida were destroyed or damaged.

PERIOD

25 BC – 5th century

5th century – 713 AC

713 AC – 1230 AC

1230 AC nowadays

Rome

Christians

Muslims

Christians

CULTURE

MAIN SIGHTS THE ROMAN THEATRE The Roman Theatre of MĂŠrida is a construction promoted by the consul Vipsanius Agrippa, in the years 16 and 15 BC. The Theatre was abandoned by Christianity, because they thought it was immoral, so the building was buried. The upper rows of seats were left visible, and popular imagination called it 'The Seven Chairs', where the tradition says several Moorish Kings sat there to decide the fate of the city.

In the year 1910 an archaeological team started to excavate and discovered that there was a huge roman theatre in the city.

Since 1933, the Roman Theatre houses the Festival of Classical Theatre of MĂŠrida.

Can you smell it? The magic of classical theatre is in the air...

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ROMAN ART This is the second place we are going to visit.

This museum, designed by the architect Rafael Moneo, houses a lot of roman art pieces, such as mosaics, paintings, sculptures or coins.

There is an old crypta in the museum basement, where you can find several remains from the daily life of the first inhabitants of the city.

On the ground floor you will see a lot of sculptures, paintings, gravestones, even the reconstruction of a real roman house.

The first floor is dedicated to pottery, pieces of glass, coins and medals.

Finally, the second floor houses tools, busts, mosaics and remains of the Christian MĂŠrida.

Using the Roman pottery to drink Coca Cola isn't forbidden, but Museum Guards think it is not good manners.

FLOOR

ITEMS

Basement

Crypta

Sculptures, paintings, Ground Floor gravestones, Roman house

1st Floor

nd

2 Floor

Pottery, glass, coins, medals

Tools, busts, mosaics, Christian MĂŠrida

PICTURES

TEMPLE OF DIANA This building was inside the forum of the city. Firstly it was thought to be a temple dedicated to Goddess Diana, but now researchs show it was dedicated to the Divine Emperor.

It was built between 1st century BC and 1st century AC, while Emperor Augustus ruled the Empire. It's 40 meters long and 22 meters wide.

The temple has 18 columns... no wait, 22 columns... Ok, you know what? I don't really know how many columns the temple has. Why don't you count them?

If you have some spare time, kneel down and pray to Diana, Goddess of the Hunting. People around you may think you are mad, but we will see who the mad one is next time we go hunting...

TRIUMPHAL ARCH OF EMPEROR TRAJAN This construction was the original access to the city forum. It is thought to have been built to commemorate some military victory, during the 1st century AD. The arch is 14 metres high and 6 metres wide. So please, if you are going through the arch, do not jump, otherwise you will hit the ceiling with your head, and will have to pay a fine.

Wearing a helmet under the arch is also forbidden for the same reason.

ROMAN BRIDGE OVER THE GUADIANA RIVER This is not the only Roman bridge in MĂŠrida, but it's the most astonishing one.

That's probably because it is the longest of all existing Roman bridges in the world.

It is supported by 60 archs, and it is 792 meters long.

Until 1993, cars were allowed to cross it. Nowadays, it is only used by pedestrians.

The original Roman idea about the bridge was to use it as a place to do parachuting. But then, after the first jumps, they realized it wasn't high enough, so they decided to quit...

AQUEDUCT OF THE MIRACLES The Acueducto de los Milagros is a ruined Roman aqueduct. Only a part of it still stands, consisting of 38 pillars standing 25 metres high and 830 metres long.

The structure originally brought water to the city from a near lake 5 km away from Emerita Augusta (MĂŠrida).

It is thought to have been constructed during the 1st century AD. The aqueduct was called 'of the Miracles' because the structure was overwhelming. Even ruined, it is indeed.

There is a small Roman brigde close to the aqueduct, crossing the Albarregas river.

After the jumping attempts from the Roman Bridge, Romans decided it was much more interesting to do parachuting from the aqueduct, because it was higher.

The problem was that they hadn't invented the parachute yet, and helmets weren't enough protection, so after several jumps, they also decided to quit.

ACTIVITIES 1. Check which ones of the following items have you seen during the visit.

Roman Theatre Mosaics Paintings Pottery Coins Medals Glasses An old Roman house Temple of Diana Triumphal Arch of Trajan Roman Bridge Aqueduct of the Miracles

2. Answer the following questions.

How many people live in Mérida nowadays?

What's the name of the river which goes through the city?

How do you say 'street' in Latin?

In what year was Mérida founded?

How many statues can you count inside the Roman theatre?

What is the name of the architect who designed the National Museum of Roman Art?

How many columns does the Temple of Diana have?

How many pillars does the Aqueduct of the Miracles have?

And if you want to see more pictures of Mérida: http://www.panoleku.com/extrem/merida/index.html