View source for Mérida, Spain

{{Expand Spanish|topic=geo|Mérida (España)|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Mérida
| settlement_type         = [[Municipalities of Spain|Municipality]]
| official_name           = <!-- if different from name -->
| native_name             = <!-- if different from name -->
|image_skyline   = {{Multiple image
  | perrow = 1/2/1/2/1
  | border = infobox
  | total_width = 280 
  | caption_align = center
  | image1 = Merida Roman Theatre1 edited.jpg
  | caption1 = [[Roman Theatre (Mérida)|Roman Theatre]]
  | image2 = Temple of Diana in Mérida.jpg
  | caption2 = Temple of Diana
  | image3 = Merida Co-cathedral 2023 - south façade panorama.jpg
  | caption3 = [[Co-Cathedral of Mérida, Spain|Co-Cathedral]]
  | image4 = Acueducto - panoramio (1) edited.jpg
  | caption4 = [[Acueducto de los Milagros|Aqueduct of the Miracles]]
  | image5 = Merida - 054 (30617208431).jpg
  | caption5 = Basílica de Santa Eulalia
  | image6 = Roman Bridge of Mérida 2023.jpg
  | caption6 = [[Puente Romano, Mérida|Roman Bridge]]
  | image7 = Puente en Mérida edited.jpg 
  | caption7 = [[Lusitania Bridge]]
}}
| imagesize               = 
| image_flag              = Bandera de Mérida.svg
| image_shield            = Escudo de Mérida.svg
| nickname                =
| motto                   =
| image_map          = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=285|frame-height=180|frame-align=center|frame-coordinates={{Coord|39.5|N|3.7|W}}|zoom=4|type=point|title=Mérida|marker=city|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|text=Interactive map of Mérida.}}
|map_caption              = Location of Mérida
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{ESP}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[Autonomous community]]
| subdivision_name1       = {{flag|Extremadura}}
| subdivision_type2       = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[File:Bandera y Escudo de la Provincia de Badajoz, España.jpg|22x20px|border]]&nbsp;[[Province of Badajoz|Badajoz]]
| seat                    =
| coordinates             = {{coord|38|54|N|6|20|W|region:ES_type:city|display=it}}
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| elevation_m             = 217
| elevation_min_m         =
| elevation_max_m         =
| area_footnotes          =
| area_total_km2          = 865.6
| established_title       = Founded
| established_date        = 25 BC
| population_as_of       = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes   = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
| population_total       = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_demonym      = Emeritenses
| population_note         =
| population_density_km2  = auto
| blank_name_sec1         = [[Languages of Spain|Official language(s)]]
| blank_info_sec1         =
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[List of postal codes in Spain|Postal code]]
| postal_code             = 06800
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|Dialing code]]
| area_code               =
| leader_title            = Mayor
| leader_name             = [[Antonio Rodríguez Osuna]] (2015)
| leader_party            = [[PSOE]]
| blank_name_sec2          = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2          = [[Mediterranean_climate#Hot-summer_Mediterranean_climate|Csa]] 
| website                 = {{official website|http://www.merida.es}}
| module      =
}}
'''Mérida''' ({{IPA|es|ˈmeɾiða|lang|Pronunciation of Mérida in Spanish.ogg}}) is a city and [[Municipalities of Spain|municipality]] of [[Spain]], part of the [[Province of Badajoz]], and capital of the [[autonomous community]] of [[Extremadura]]. Located in the western-central part of the [[Iberian Peninsula]] at 217 metres above sea level, the city is crossed by the [[Guadiana]] and Albarregas rivers. The population was 60,119 in 2017.

The primitive settlement was founded by the Roman Empire as [[Augusta Emerita]] in the 1st century BCE to allocate discharged soldiers, eventually prospering as one of the largest cities of [[Hispania]] and the capital of the province of [[Lusitania]]. Its ecclesiastical metropolitan seat was taken away by the [[Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela]] in 1119. Conquered by the [[Kingdom of León]] in 1230, shortly before the latter's final integration into the [[Crown of Castile]], it was handed over to the [[Order of Santiago]]. On numerous occasions over the course of the middle ages and the Modern Period, it suffered from the effects of warfare due to its location close to the border with Portugal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.muyinteresante.com/historia/63947.html|website=[[Muy Interesante]]|title=¿Qué supuso para Mérida su posición estratégica para la guerra?|date=1 March 2024|first=Miguel|last=Félix Gómez}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
The place name of ''Mérida'' derives from the [[Latin]] ''Emerita'', with a meaning of ''retired'' or ''veteran''. It is part of the name that the city received after its foundation by the emperor [[Augustus]] in [[25 BC]], ''[[Augusta Emerita]]'', [[colony]] in which veteran soldiers or emeritus settled.

== History ==

=== Prehistory ===
Mérida has been populated since prehistoric times, as demonstrated by a prestigious [[hoard]] of gold jewellery excavated from a girl's grave in 1870. Consisting of two [[penannular bracelet]]s, an armlet, and a chain of six spiral wire rings, the hoard is now preserved at the [[British Museum]].<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx?place=35933&plaA=35933-3-1 British Museum Collection]</ref>

=== Antiquity ===
The town was founded in 25 BC under the name ''[[Emerita Augusta]]'' (meaning "veterans of Augustus"), by order of [[Emperor Augustus]], to settle discharged soldiers of the [[Legio V Alaudae|V Alaudae]] and [[Legio X Gemina|X Gemina]]. Established to guard a strategic pass and the [[Guadiana]] river bridge, it quickly became one of the most important cities in Roman [[Hispania]]. It was the capital of the [[Lusitania]] [[Roman province|province]] and later, in the 4th century, served as the capital of the [[Diocese of Hispania]].

''Emerita Augusta'' was also a terminus of the [[Vía de la Plata]] (Silver Way), a key Roman route connecting the gold mines near [[Astorga, Spain|''Asturica Augusta'']] with the south of the Iberian Peninsula. Mérida preserves more major [[Roman monuments]] than any other city in [[Spain]], including a [[Roman Provincial Forum (Merida)|triumphal arch]] and the [[Roman Theatre (Mérida)|Roman theatre]].

Jewish historical tradition, as recorded in [[Abraham ibn Daud]]'s ''Sefer ha-Qabbala''  (a 12th-century source) holds that a group of noble Jewish exiles arrived in Mérida following the [[Siege of Jerusalem (70 AD)|destruction of Jerusalem]] in 70 AD. One of these exiles, Baruch, a silk craftsman, is described as the progenitor of the influential Albalia family of medieval [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Prats |first=Arturo |title=Merida |work=Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World Online |url=https://referenceworks.brill.com/display/entries/EJIO/COM-0015100.xml |access-date=2025-06-14 |publisher=Brill |language=en |doi=10.1163/1878-9781_ejiw_com_0015100|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

In 409, during the [[Timeline of Germanic kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula|invasion of Iberia]], the city became the capital of the short-lived [[Kingdom of the Alans]] under King [[Attaces]]. His death in 418 in battle against the [[Visigoths]] led to the city's absorption into the neighboring [[Vandal]] kingdom. In 469, it was taken by the Visigoths and remained an important city in the [[Visigothic Kingdom]].

=== Middle Ages ===
In 713, Mérida was conquered by the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] under [[Musa ibn Nusayr]] and became the capital of the [[Cora of Mérida]]. The [[Moors|Arabs]] reused and expanded many Roman buildings, notably the [[Alcazaba of Mérida|Alcazaba fortress]]. In the 9th century, the [[Mozarabs]] of Mérida frequently rebelled against the Caliphate, contributing to the city’s gradual decline. During the [[Fitna of al-Andalus]], Mérida became part of the [[Taifa of Badajoz]].

In the early 13th century, under [[Almohads|Almohad]] control, Mérida supported the rival leader [[Ibn Hud]]. In 1230, it was conquered by [[Alfonso IX of León]] and returned to Christian rule. The city then became the seat of the priory of San Marcos de León of the [[Order of Santiago]]. A period of recovery began in the 15th century following the unification of the crowns of [[Crown of Aragon|Aragon]] and [[Crown of Castile|Castile]], aided by [[Alonso de Cárdenas]], Grand Master of the Order.

=== Modern times ===
In 1720, Mérida became the capital of the [[Intendencia of Mérida]]. The city is also located along the [[Vía de la Plata]] route of the [[Camino de Santiago]], offering an alternative to the more widely known [[French Way]].

During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], many of Mérida’s historic monuments were damaged or destroyed. In the aftermath, the city developed as a railway hub and underwent significant industrialization.

On 10 August 1936, during the [[Spanish Civil War]], Mérida was captured by [[Nationalist Spain|Nationalist]] forces in the [[Battle of Mérida]].<ref>Beevor, Antony. (2006). ''The Battle for Spain. The Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939.'' Penguin Books. London. p. 120</ref>

In modern times, Mérida became the capital of the autonomous community of [[Extremadura]] in 1983. It also serves as the ecclesiastical seat of the [[Archdiocese of Mérida-Badajoz]]. The city's archaeological site was declared a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] in 1993.

The current mayor (since 2015) is [[Antonio Rodríguez Osuna]] of the [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]].

== Climate ==
Mérida has a [[Mediterranean climate]] with [[Atlantic]] influences ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Csa''; [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''Csak''), due to the proximity of the Portuguese coast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meteorología |first=Agencia Estatal de |title=Valores climatológicos normales - Agencia Estatal de Meteorología - AEMET. Gobierno de España |url=https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=www.aemet.es |language=es}}</ref> The winters are mild, with minimum temperature rarely below {{convert|0|°C|0|abbr=on}}, and summers are hot with maximum temperatures occasionally exceeding {{convert|40|°C|0|abbr=on}}.

Precipitation is normally between {{convert|300|and|400|mm|1|abbr=on}} annually. The months with most rainfall are November and December. Summers are dry, and in Mérida, as in the rest of southern Spain, cycles of [[drought]] are common, ranging in duration from 2 to 5 years.

In autumn the climate is more changeable than in the rest of the year. Storms occur with some frequency, but the weather is often dry.

Both humidity and winds are low. However, there is frequent fog, especially in the central months of [[autumn]] and [[winter]].{{Weather box
|location = Mérida<br>[[Location identifier#WMO station identifiers|WMO ID]]: 08331; Climate ID: 4410X; coordinates {{coordinates|38|54|57|N|06|23|08|W}}; elevation: {{cvt|228|m}}; (1991–2020), extremes (1989–present)<ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/4a2f221b
|title = Weather station data
|website = opendata.aemet.es
|publisher = AEMET OpenData 
|language = es 
|access-date = 13 November 2024
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241113115453/https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/4a2f221b
|archive-date = 2024-11-13}}</ref>
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 23.4
|Feb record high C = 25.3
|Mar record high C = 30.6
|Apr record high C = 36.9
|May record high C = 39.4
|Jun record high C = 44.0
|Jul record high C = 44.8
|Aug record high C = 46.4
|Sep record high C = 44.7
|Oct record high C = 36.6
|Nov record high C = 27.3
|Dec record high C = 22.6
|year record high C = 46.4
|Jan high C = 14.3
|Feb high C = 16.1
|Mar high C = 19.8
|Apr high C = 22.4
|May high C = 26.8
|Jun high C = 32.3
|Jul high C = 35.0
|Aug high C = 35.3
|Sep high C = 31.1
|Oct high C = 25.2
|Nov high C = 18.6
|Dec high C = 14.8
|year high C = 24.3
|Jan mean C = 9.0
|Feb mean C = 10.3
|Mar mean C = 13.3
|Apr mean C = 15.6
|May mean C = 19.4
|Jun mean C = 24.1
|Jul mean C = 26.1
|Aug mean C = 26.6
|Sep mean C = 23.3
|Oct mean C = 18.7
|Nov mean C = 12.9
|Dec mean C = 9.8
|year mean C = 17.4
|Jan low C = 3.7
|Feb low C = 4.3
|Mar low C = 6.7
|Apr low C = 8.9
|May low C = 12.0
|Jun low C = 15.8
|Jul low C = 17.2
|Aug low C = 17.8
|Sep low C = 15.4
|Oct low C = 12.1
|Nov low C = 7.2
|Dec low C = 4.7
|year low C = 10.5
|Jan record low C = -10.0
|Feb record low C = -6.9
|Mar record low C = -4.9
|Apr record low C = 1.0
|May record low C = 2.3
|Jun record low C = 8.0
|Jul record low C = 11.0
|Aug record low C = 10.2
|Sep record low C = 8.8
|Oct record low C = 2.7
|Nov record low C = -1.7
|Dec record low C = -4.7
|year record low C = -10.0
|precipitation color = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 44.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 37.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 40.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 36.7
|May precipitation mm = 31.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 8.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 4.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 5.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 19.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 60.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 51.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 41.6
|year precipitation mm = 381.7
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 6.4
|Feb precipitation days = 5.7
|Mar precipitation days = 6.0
|Apr precipitation days = 6.4
|May precipitation days = 4.8
|Jun precipitation days = 1.3
|Jul precipitation days = 0.5
|Aug precipitation days = 0.9
|Sep precipitation days = 2.6
|Oct precipitation days = 6.4
|Nov precipitation days = 7.1
|Dec precipitation days = 6.0
|year precipitation days = 
|Jan humidity = 80
|Feb humidity = 70
|Mar humidity = 65
|Apr humidity = 62
|May humidity = 53
|Jun humidity = 48
|Jul humidity = 47
|Aug humidity = 46
|Sep humidity = 52
|Oct humidity = 64
|Nov humidity = 75
|Dec humidity = 81
|year humidity = 62
|daily = Y
|source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]] (AEMET OpenData)<ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/b84e5a85
|title = Extremes
|website = opendata.aemet.es
|publisher = AEMET OpenData 
|language = es 
|access-date = 22 November 2024
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241122121446/https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/b84e5a85
|archive-date = 2024-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/4f45b2e5
|title = Normals
|website = opendata.aemet.es
|publisher = AEMET OpenData 
|language = es 
|access-date = 22 November 2024
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241122121331/https://opendata.aemet.es/opendata/sh/4f45b2e5
|archive-date = 2024-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.aemet.es/es/datos_abiertos/AEMET_OpenData
|title = AEMET OpenData
|publisher = AEMET
|access-date = 2024-05-14}}</ref>
|date = December 2023
}}

== Annual Events ==

=== Emerita Lvdica ===
Each year the city holds a week-long event to celebrate the Roman history of the area.  The "games" ''(lvdica)'' include scheduled events throughout the city during the day and into Mérida's comfortable evenings.  They include parades, brightly-costumed attendees, fiercely-armored gladiators, mock battles in the ancient amphitheater, plus some simulation of the daily life in that period.  The schedule is roughly the last week of May until the first weekend in June and should be checked in advance by visiting the city's schedule of events page.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emerita Lvdica » Turismo Mérida |url=https://turismomerida.org/emerita-lvdica-eng/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=Turismo Mérida |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Culture==
===Main sights===
{{Main|Emerita Augusta}}
Among the remaining Roman monuments are:
[[File:Mérida - Puente romano sobre el Guadiana - DSC 2172 W.jpg|thumb|[[Puente Romano]]]]
The [[Puente Romano]], a bridge over the [[Guadiana]] River that is still used by pedestrians, and the longest of all existing [[Roman bridge]]s.<ref name="O’Connor 106–107">{{harvnb|O'Connor|1993|pp=106–107}}.</ref> Annexed is a fortification (the ''[[Alcazaba of Mérida|Alcazaba]]''), built by the Muslim emir [[Abd ar-Rahman II]] in 835 on the Roman walls and Roman-Visigothic edifices in the area. The court houses Roman mosaics, while underground is a Visigothic cistern.
* remains of the [[Roman Forum (Mérida)|Forum]], including the Temple of Diana, and of the Roman [[Provincial Forum (Mérida)|Provincial Forum]], including the so-called [[Arch of Trajan (Mérida)|Arch of Trajan]]
* remains of the [[Circus Maximus (Mérida)|Circus Maximus]] (1st century BC), one of the best preserved Roman circus buildings
[[File:Acueducto "Los Milagros" Mérida (Badajoz, España).jpg|thumb|[[Acueducto de los Milagros]]]]
* [[Acueducto de los Milagros]] ([[aqueduct (Roman)|aqueduct]] of Miracles)
* [[Roman villa|patrician villa]] called the ''[[Mithraeum|Villa Mitreo]]'', with precious mosaic pavements
* [[Proserpina Dam]] and [[Cornalvo Dam]], two [[Roman reservoirs]] still in use
* the [[Mérida Amphitheater|Amphitheatre]], and the [[Roman Theatre of Mérida|Roman theatre]], where a summer festival of [[Classical theatre]] is presented, usually with versions of Greco-Roman classics or modern plays set in ancient times.
*Morerías archaeological site
* [[National Museum of Roman Art]] designed by [[Rafael Moneo]]
* Church of ''Santa Eulalia'', dating to the 4th century but rebuilt in the 13th century. Its portico reuses parts of an ancient temple of Mars.
[[File:Templo de Diana en Mérida.jpg|thumb|Temple of Diana]]
Other sights include:

*[[Co-cathedral of Saint Mary Major of Mérida|Cathedral of Saint Mary Major]] (13th-14th centuries)
*Renaissance ''Ayuntamiento'' (Town Hall)
*Church of ''Santa Clara'' (17th century)
*[[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] church of ''Nuestra Señora de la Antigua'' (15th-16th centuries)
*Baroque church of ''Nuestra Señora del Carmen'' (18th century)

Several notable buildings were built more recently, including the Escuela de la Administración Pública (Public Administration College), the Consejerías y Asamblea de Junta de Extremadura (councils and parliament of Extremadura), the Agencía de la Vivienda de Extremadura (Housing Agency of Extremadura), the Biblioteca del Estado (State Library), the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones (auditorium), the Factoría de Ocio y Creación Joven (cultural and leisure center for youth), the Complejo Cultural Hernán Cortés (cultural centre), the Ciudad Deportiva (sports city), the Universidad de Mérida (Mérida University), the Confederación Hidrografica del Guadiana (Guadiana Hydrographic Confederation designed by [[Rafael Moneo]]), the [[Lusitania Bridge]] over the Guadiana River designed by [[Santiago Calatrava]]), the Palacio de Justicia (Justice Hall), etc.

==Sport==
[[Mérida AD|AD Mérida]] is the principal football team of  the city, founded in 2013 as a successor to [[Mérida UD]], which itself was a successor to [[CP Mérida]]. The last of these teams played two seasons in Spain's top division, [[La Liga]], in the late 1990s.

All three clubs played at the city's 14,600-capacity [[Estadio Romano]]. On 9 September 2009, it hosted the [[Spain men's national football team|Spanish national team]] as they defeated Estonia 3–0 to qualify for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], which they went on to win. Mayor of Mérida Ángel Calle said, "We want to use the Estonia match to promote Mérida and Extremadura, we will welcome the players as if they were 21st-century gladiators."<ref>{{cite news|last=Rogers|first=Iain|title=Spain's '21st century gladiators' do Merida proud|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2009/09/10/spains-21st-century-gladiators-do-merida-proud/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915195531/http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2009/09/10/spains-21st-century-gladiators-do-merida-proud/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 September 2009|access-date=24 January 2014|newspaper=[[Reuters]]|date=10 September 2009}}</ref>
==Transport==
The nearest airport to the city is [[Badajoz Airport]], located {{convert|50|km|0|abbr=on}} west of Merida.

== International relations ==
{{Refimprove section|date=February 2015}}
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain}}
Mérida is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:

* [[Mérida, Yucatán|Mérida]], Mexico
* [[Mérida, Mérida|Mérida]], Venezuela

== See also ==
* [[Emerita Augusta]], Roman buildings in Mérida
* [[Battle of Valverde (1385)]]
* [[List of municipalities in Badajoz]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Mérida - Letras 1.jpg|Mérida Letter Art
File:Teatro Romano. Mérida (España).JPG|Roman Amphitheater panorama
File:Mérida (1984) 05.jpg|Roman Amphitheater closer view
File:J29 320 Amphitheater Mérida, Hauptzugang.jpg|Roman Amphitheater  entrance arch
File:J29 319 Amphitheater Mérida, Zugang.jpg|Seating and entrances to Roman Amphitheater 
File:J29 321 Mérida, römisches Theater.jpg|Roman Amphitheater from different angle
File:Ceres Teatro Romano Mérida - panoramio.jpg|Statue of Ceres in Roman Amphitheater
File:Ceres of Mérida (cropped).jpg|Closeup of the statue of Ceres in the Roman Amphitheater
File:Mérida - Teatro - 02.jpg|Statues lining the Roman Theater
File:Mérida - Anfiteatro - 02 - Panorámica.jpg|Panorama of the Roman Amphitheater
File:Mérida (1984) 14.jpg|Details of mosaic tile pattern in the Roman Theater
File:Teatro de Mérida, España, 2017 10.jpg|Detail of Roman Columns from the Roman Theater 
File:Mérida 2015 10 17 1588 (24164079070).jpg|Cornerstone dedicating the Roman Amphitheater in 8 BC for use in gladiatorial contests and staged beast-hunts 
File:Mérida - Templo de Diana - 02 edited.jpg|Temple of Diana
File:Templo de Diana (Mérida).jpg|Temple of Diana
File:J29 269 Bf Mérida, Acueducto de los Milagros.jpg|Roman Aqueduct
File:Puente Romano de Mérida, España.jpg|Roman Bridge
File:Puente romano de Mérida.jpg|Roman Bridge in Merida
File:Spain-Merida-Spain-Merida-Puente Romano-P1170557 (25592981670).jpg|Roman Bridge
File:J29 252 Mérida, Ermita de la Antigua.jpg|Ancient Hermitage
File:Spain-Merida-Spain-Merida-Puente Romano-P1250189 (25893548645).jpg|Roman Bridge
File:Portada tardorrománica de Santa Eulalia, Mérida (15790991169).jpg|Late Romanesque Portal to Santa Eulalia Church 
File:Mérida - Arco de Trajano 3.jpg|Trajan's Arch
File:Mérida - Monumento a Octavio Augusto 03.jpg|Monument to Octavian Augustus, for whom Augusta Emerita was named
File:Mérida - Basílica romano cristiana - DSC 2112 W.jpg|Roman Christian Basilica
File:Mérida. The Capitoline She-Wolf. Badajoz. Extremadura. Spain (4921150035).jpg|Copy of the Roman Capitoline She-Wolf
File:Mérida (1984) 03.jpg|Entrances to the Arena
File:Mérida - Monumento a Marco Agrippa 3.jpg|Monument to Marcus Agrippa
File:Mérida - Plaza de España - 02.jpg|Spain Square, Mérida
File:Mérida - Palacio de la China 02.jpg|Chinese Palace
File:MNAR (Mérida) Exterior 01.jpg|Exterior of Merida Museum
File:Cantimplora, Mérida (16811193209).jpg|Roman ceramic canteen
File:Convento de Jesús Nazareno, Mérida. Patio.jpg|Patio of the Jesus of Nazareth Convent
File:Mérida - Estatua ecuestre de Augusto 2.jpg|Equestrian Statue of Augustus Caesar
File:Mérida - Estatua ecuestre de Augusto 4.jpg|Closeup of Equestrian Statue of Augustus Caesar
File:Mérida - Alcazaba - 01.JPG|Alcazaba (Cistern) Mérida
File:Mérida - Alcazaba - 06 - Panorama.jpg|Panorama of Merida's Alcazaba
File:Mérida - Plaza de la Constitución 1.jpg|Plaza de la Constitución 
File:Mérida - Palacio de Congresos 3.jpg|Mérida's Congress Palace
File:Parador de Mérida 4.jpg|Parador de Mérida 
File:Hotel Mérida Palace.jpg|Hotel Mérida Palace
File:Dinosaurio Mérida Museo.jpg|Dinosaur Museum
</gallery>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== Sources ==
*{{citation
 | last = O'Connor
 | first = Colin
 | title = Roman Bridges
 | publisher = Cambridge University Press
 | year = 1993
 | isbn = 0-521-39326-4
 | pages = 106–107
}}

== External links ==
{{commons}}
{{EB1911 Poster|Mérida (Spain)}}
* {{Official website|http://www.merida.es/}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20061020113736/http://www.museoromano.com/ Roman Art National Museum]}}
* [https://www.livius.org/a/spain/merida/emerita.html Pictures of Roman Mérida]
* [http://musique09.free.fr/espagne_new2/thumbnails.php?album=71&lang=english Photos of Mérida: Roman monuments and other views of the city]

{{Autonomous Community capitals of Spain}}
{{List of European capitals by region}}
{{Municipalities in Badajoz}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merida, Spain}}
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[[Category:Mérida, Spain| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities in the Province of Badajoz]]
[[Category:25 BC establishments]]
[[Category:20s BC establishments in the Roman Empire]]
[[Category:1st-century BC establishments in Spain]]
[[Category:1st century BC in Hispania]]
[[Category:Establishments in Spain in the Roman era]]