Roman Theatre of Merida

UNESCO World Heritage Site (Archaeological Ensemble Of Merida, Inscribed 1993), A Roman Theatre Of About 16 BC Seating Some 6,000, In The Colony Of Emerita Augusta Founded 25 BC As Capital Of Lusitania · Merida, Extremadura

The best-preserved Roman theatre in Spain and still in use, which is the part that matters. Merida was founded in 25 BC as Emerita Augusta, a settlement for veterans of the Cantabrian wars, and it became the capital of Lusitania and one of the largest cities in Roman Hispania. The theatre was built almost immediately, seats around six thousand, and its stage wall survives to two storeys with the columns and statues largely in place, which is rare anywhere. Next to it the amphitheatre survives too, and the town holds an aqueduct, a temple, a circus and a Roman bridge still carrying pedestrians across the Guadiana after two thousand years. Since 1933 the theatre has hosted a classical drama festival every summer, so the building does the job it was built for. Extremadura is the least visited part of mainland Spain and this is the reason to correct that, and the theatre is only the loudest argument: the town also keeps an amphitheatre, a circus, an aqueduct and a bridge still carrying people across the river.

Plaza Margarita Xirgu, Merida, Extremadura, 06800, Spain

NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The structure: the theatre and amphitheatre share a site and a ticket, opening mid-morning with SEPARATE SUMMER AND WINTER SCHEDULES and last admission before closing. SECTIONS CLOSE FOR FESTIVAL STAGING AND REHEARSALS in summer, sometimes at short notice, which is the commonest disruption. The Roman bridge, the aqueduct and the Temple of Diana are public and always open. The Roman art museum keeps its own hours and closes Mondays.

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