Mérida, Spain

Tours

The tour will start at the indicated time at the Roman House of the Amphitheatre (José Ramón Mélida Street) Our journey will transport us to the most purely Roman Merida. The meeting point is the House of the Amphitheatre, where the client will purchase the tickets for the archaeological site of Merida. We will then start our visit from the comfort of a Roman home, one of the best preserved Roman villas in Spain, waking up in lush bedrooms and walking through colorful mosaics where fastuous banquets were once held. Inside we will be able to observe all kinds of details about domestic life in Ancient Rome: food, toys, gardens and pets. Next, making good use of the fresh hours of the morning, we shall see the largest and best preverved Roman circus in Europe, where the seats and pathways are still ready for thrilling chariot races. Coming back to the centre of the city, we will move through peaceful parks towards the Roman baths, where we can see first-hand how the numerous pools were heated or cooled through furnaces and the incredible snow well. Nearby, in the Temple of Diana, we will be able to participate in the religious sphere of worship of the gods and the emperor. On the way, we will stroll through the remains of the Roman Forum, which, as in ancient times, offers shops selling handmade terracotta and mosaic crafts, typical of Mérida. As we enter the amphitheatre, we will experience the famous gladiatorial combats, fights with wild beasts and even boat battles in a unique setting. Finally, we find the magnificent Roman Theatre of Mérida, the largest and best preserved in Spain, where every summer the spirit of classical theatre lives on a festival with renowned actors. On leaving, visitors will be guided down an area with numerous restaurant and bar establishments at lunchtime. Assistance and advice on the best places to take photos will be provided throughout the tour. Thanks to the entrance ticket purchased at the beginning of the tour, the client will be able to visit the rest of the archaeological site of Merida that are not part of the Roman Tour, including the Muslim citadel and the Muslim quarter, as well as the Basilica of Saint Eulalia.

For the Empire, keeping Roman citizens happy was essential, which is why they gave a lot of importance to show buildings. In the case of Augusta Emerita, the capital of Lusitania, there was no exception. To demonstrate it, our tour begins in the Margarita Xirgu square, where the theater and amphitheater are located. The visit will begin by accessing the Roman Theater and Amphitheater (inside) . In the first place, we will enter through the "vomitorium" to access the cavea/stand to find out how the spectators were distributed according to their social rank. Another of the outstanding parts in this building is the "orchestra", where the choir was placed, in addition to the stage, the place where the performances took place. Behind the stage, the majestic scenic front rises, the most recognizable symbol of the city of Mérida. We cannot forget the International Classical Theater Festival that is currently taking place in this building, telling how it came about and to whom it is due. Next to the theater, we will also visit the remains of the Roman amphitheatre, which, although it does not resemble the Colosseum in Rome in size, has nothing to envy it, since the well-known gladiator fights also took place here. We will access the amphitheater arena to get an idea of how those gladiator fights, so important and acclaimed by the citizens of the colony, took place. The fight between these gladiators gained more popularity when wild beasts were added to them.

The tour begins at the roundabout of the Méridas del Mundo, continues at the door of the Arab Alcazaba and descends towards the Guadiana river, to then visit the outskirts of the archaeological zone of Morerías, the Assembly of Extremadura (former San Juan de Dios hospital ), some ancient convents and mysterious temples to end in the magical convent of Jesús Nazareno. On this route you will meet the feared worewolves, you will learn to defend yourself from hidden forces just as the ancient Romans did, you will discover enigmatic ancient tombs, you will contemplate spectral ghostly figures and you will hear, first-hand and from within its walls, the supernatural experiences occurred in an old convent... Do not miss the opportunity to discover the hidden face of Mérida. Because when the night falls, the myths wake up.

We will meet in the Margarita Xirgu square, the meeting point for this tour. We will begin by accessing the venue of the Roman Theater and Amphitheater (inside) , knowing the importance that the entertainment buildings had for Roman society. We continue the tour, always accompanied by our official local guide, who will reveal the mystery of the "headless" statues of the Portico of the Forum , and we will marvel at the spectacular Temple of Diana . Later we will visit the Santiaguista Convent , the current headquarters of the Presidency of the Junta de Extremadura. Bordering the Arab Alcazaba , we reached the Guadiana river, where we finished the tour admiring the exteriors of the Alcazaba, the Capitoline Wolf , the Roman Wall and the Roman Bridge , the longest in the Iberian Peninsula.

Our first stop will be the Puerta de la Villa, where we will take the opportunity to present this city historically at the point where one of its four monumental gates was and thus be able to contextualize what we are going to discover during this complete route. We will begin by moving towards the Plaza de España, where the Co-Cathedral of Santa María la Mayor is located . This temple will allow us to approach the period in which Mérida was reconquered by the troops of Alfonso IX in 1230. From there we will go to the archaeological complex of Morerías (Entrance included) where we will find the longest section of wall preserved today and where the manifestation of the passage of different civilizations is latent, providing important information about the urban change at that point in the city. We will continue along the banks of the Guadiana until we reach the Arab Alcazaba (Entrance included) admiring along the way the wonderful two-thousand-year-old Roman Bridge , the longest in the Iberian Peninsula. From inside the Alcazaba we will be able to see the remains of the walls in addition to the Arab wall itself , we will also descend to the cistern , one of the best preserved in the Iberian Peninsula. Currently we can observe the excavation work, which is carried out in this enclosure, bringing to light an important sample of a Roman villa. Once again we will return to the center of the city to contemplate the vestiges of the Roman forum: the Temple of Diana and the Portico of the Forum, powerful samples of the splendor of Augusta Emerita. Next, we will enter the Casa del Amphitheater (admission included) , where we will observe some traces of the wall and mosaics with different themes . You will also have the opportunity to see what was a Roman necropolis . Look out for the peculiar mausoleums! The visit will end in the complex formed by the Roman Theater and Amphitheater (admission included) , monumental symbols of the capital of Extremadura. We will learn what those gladiator fights were like in the amphitheater, culminating in the theater admiring its majestic stage front.

Experience the Mérida Roman Theatre and the city’s monumental sights at your own pace with a skip-the-line e-ticket and a fascinating self-guided audio tour on your smartphone. Receive your ticket by email, download the app and the audio tour on your phone, prior to your visit, and travel back in time to experience the glory of Mérida, the heart of Spain's Roman heritage. Put on your headphones and explore the Roman Theatre, the Amphitheatre, the House of the Amphitheatre, Saint Eulalia’s Crypt, the Temple of Diana, the Archaeological Site of Morerías, the Alcazaba, the Mithraeum House, the Funeral Area of the Columbarios, and the Roman Circus through the power of storytelling, and learn historical information and uncommon stories and anecdotes from the ancient times. The tour’s content is the result of in-depth research, squeezed into brief original stories that will make your visit both engaging and informative. The audio tour can be used repeatedly and anytime, before or after your visit. This is an unmissable opportunity to gain valuable insights into the confluence of civilizations in Mérida, where Roman grandeur, Visigoth resilience, and Moorish artistry intersect, and relate to your surroundings in an entirely original way.

Waltz in the city of Mérida with a self-guided audio tour on your phone designed by an accredited expert. Listen to fascinating stories based on an award-winning storytelling concept, and gain great insights into the most iconic landmarks of the city of Mérida. Start your tour from the impressive Puente Romano, stroll to the remarkable Alcazaba of Mérida, then find yourself amidst the vibrant Plaza de España and continue encountering Mérida's esteemed attractions. This is an unmissable opportunity to experience at your own pace the city of Mérida with a captivating audio tour on your phone.

On this spectral route you will travel back in time and meet lemurs and larvae, the ghosts that terrified the ancient Romans. You'll see that haunted houses inhabited by restless spirits were known before the age of movies, and you'll hear these ghostly stories as you wander past Roman tombs, illuminated temples, and ancient statues. You will discover how to summon the furious dead and how to defend yourself against them, you will be surprised by the ancient curses and you will know the gods of the underworld and the secret entrances to hell. Delve with us into the Beyond of our ancestors, immerse yourself in the funeral rites and supernatural beliefs of the ancient Romans and see that, after all, they were not so different from us. Not even when they were dead.

Évora its the only Portuguese city member of the Oldest European Cities Network. The historic center belongs to UNESCO World Heritage, with its incredible monuments, such as Temple of Diana, the Cathedral of Évora, one of the most important medieval cathedrals, with Gothic Style and the unforgettable and unique Chapel of Bones. For the wine-tasting we suggest Esporão, with a visit to the vineyards, learn how the wine is made and visit the underground cellar . We will end our tour in Monsaraz, a medieval village on the top of the hill overlooking to Guadiana River and the border with Spain. This museum village, is surrounded by a picturesque wall and made up of alleys lined with shining white houses. In 2017 it won the Monument Villages competition of the 7 wonders of Portugal! A place not to be missed!!

Visit the city’s emblematic complex of the Roman Theatre and the Roman Amphitheater, dating back to when Mérida was the majestic capital of Roman Lusitania. First, walk by the Roman Theatre. Before the full excavations of 1910, only its upper grandstand emerged on the ground. They were referred to as "The Seven Chairs" where several Moorish kings are believed to sit by the locals. Its semicircular walls are intact and the back wall of the stage has been beautifully restored. Only some steps away, you arrive at the adjacent Amphitheatre. Likewise, the colossal remains are striking surviving examples of the ancient Roman colony in Spain with well-preserved tiered auditoriums and a grand pit arena in between. Next, stop by the Roman Temple to Diana. One interesting fact is that the temple served as the foundation and the cover of a 16th-century Renaissance palace whose ruins can still be seen at the site, thanks to which it is in an exceptional state of preservation. As you continue, you get to see Alcazaba, a rare Arab monument in the ancient Roman city. The seemingly pristine 7th-century fortress, surrounded by an extended water moat and palm trees, is a lively reminder of the Moorish rule over the city. Stroll along the Roman Bridge over the Guadiana River, a romantic-looking ancient bridge. It is one of Spain's largest Roman bridges. The sixty-arches bridge is still in use for pedestrians. From there, you can sightsee the scenic landscapes of the Guadiana River and the nearby Lusitania Bridge, a famous contemporary work. Walk through the Trajan Arch, an ancient gateway located along one of the main thoroughfares in the past. Despite not being an especially significant sight today, the antique arch used to be the main portal between the city’s civic area and provincial area back in Roman times. The next step is the Basilica of Santa Eulalia, dedicated to the martyr Saint Eulalia, the city's patron saint. The present Romanesque church was built in the 13th century on the ruins of a basilica destroyed by the Moors. In 1990, an impressive cemetery underneath the church, which features important Roman and Visigoth remains, was discovered. The tour ends at the Los Milagros Aqueduct, a masterpiece of engineering that would have supplied water to present-day Mérida. More than eight hundred meters of the twenty-seven-meter-high hydraulic system, a relatively small stretch, still stands. What’s more, from there, you can admire another nice-looking Roman bridge over the Albarregas river nearby.