Mérida, Spain

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**Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida**¹
**UNESCO World Heritage Site**

State Party	Spain
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii, iv
Identification	#664
Region²	Europe and North America
Inscription History
Formal Inscription:	1993 17th WH Committee Session
WH link:	http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/664
1 Name as officially inscribed on the WH List 2 As classified officially by UNESCO

Mérida is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. It is situated in the province of Badajoz and has a population of 53,089 (2005).

1 History
2 Sights
3 Miscellaneous
4 External links

[edit] History

It was founded in the year 25 BC, with the name of Emerita Augusta (the name Mérida is an evolution of this) by order of Emperor Augustus, to protect a pass and a bridge over the Guadiana river. Two veteran legions were the former settlers: V Alaudae and X Gémina. The city became the capital of Lusitania province, and one of the most important cities in the Roman empire. Mérida preserves more important ancient Roman monuments than any other city in Spain (including a triumphal arch of the age of Trajan); because of this, the "Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida" is a World Heritage site.

[edit] Sights

Among the remaining Roman monuments are the Puente Romano, a bridge over the Guadiana river that is still used by pedestrians; an important fortification to defend the bridge, lately used by the Moors, called Alcazaba; the Temple of Diana; the remains of the Forum, including the Arch of Trajan; the remains of the Circus Maximus; the Acueducto de los Milagros (aqueduct); a villa called the Mitreo; the Embalse de Proserpina and Cornalvo reservoirs; the Circus, the Amphitheatre and the Roman Theatre where a summer festival of Classical theatre is presented, usually with versions of Greco-Roman classics or modern plays located in ancient times. One can also visit the Morerías archaeological site and many others all around the city, and watch digging in progress, as well as the Museo Nacional de Arte Romano.

Demographic evolution of Mérida, Spain between 1991 and 2005
1991	1996	2001	2004	2005
49,284	51,830	50,271	52,200	53,089

[edit] Miscellaneous

The cities of Mérida in Venezuela, capital of Mérida State, and Mérida in Yucatán, Mexico, were named after Mérida in Spain. A square in Mérida called the Glorieta de las Méridas del Mundo (Circle of the Méridas of the World) contains an obelisk commemorating the three sister cities.