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Mérida, Spain

 
Mérida, Spain

 
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Mérida, Spain
 
 
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Mérida is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura
Extremadura

Extremadura is an autonomous communities in Spain of western Spain whose capital city is M?rida, Spain. It includes the provinces of Spain of C?ceres and Badajoz ....
, Spain
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
. It has a population of 55,568 (2008).

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
Bridge

A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, Rail tracks, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle....
 over the Guadiana
Guadiana

Guadiana is one of the major rivers of Spain and Portugal. It forms part of the border between the two countries, separating Extremadura and Andalucia from Alentejo and Algarve ....
 river. Two veteran legions
Roman legion

The Roman Legion is a term that can apply both as a translation of legio to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly , to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of the Roman army in the period of the late Roman Republic and the Roman Empire....
 were the former settlers: V Alaudae
Legio V Alaudae

Legio quinta Alaudae sometimes known as Gallica, was levied by Julius Caesar in 52 BC from native Gauls. Their emblem was an elephant, and their cognomen Alaudae came from the high crest on their helmets, typical of the Gauls, which made them look like larks....
 and X Gémina
Legio X Gemina

Legio decima Gemina , was one of the four legions used by Julius Caesar in 58 BC, for his invasion of Gaul. There are still records of the X Gemina in Vienna in the beginning of the 5th century....
.






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Mérida is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura
Extremadura

Extremadura is an autonomous communities in Spain of western Spain whose capital city is M?rida, Spain. It includes the provinces of Spain of C?ceres and Badajoz ....
, Spain
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
. It has a population of 55,568 (2008).

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
Bridge

A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, Rail tracks, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle....
 over the Guadiana
Guadiana

Guadiana is one of the major rivers of Spain and Portugal. It forms part of the border between the two countries, separating Extremadura and Andalucia from Alentejo and Algarve ....
 river. Two veteran legions
Roman legion

The Roman Legion is a term that can apply both as a translation of legio to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly , to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of the Roman army in the period of the late Roman Republic and the Roman Empire....
 were the former settlers: V Alaudae
Legio V Alaudae

Legio quinta Alaudae sometimes known as Gallica, was levied by Julius Caesar in 52 BC from native Gauls. Their emblem was an elephant, and their cognomen Alaudae came from the high crest on their helmets, typical of the Gauls, which made them look like larks....
 and X Gémina
Legio X Gemina

Legio decima Gemina , was one of the four legions used by Julius Caesar in 58 BC, for his invasion of Gaul. There are still records of the X Gemina in Vienna in the beginning of the 5th century....
. The city became the capital of Lusitania
Lusitania

Lusitania was an ancient Ancient Rome Roman province including approximately all of modern Portugal south of the Douro river, and part of modern Spain ....
 province
Roman province

In Ancient Rome, a province was the basic, and until the Tetrarchy , largest territorial and administrative unit of the empire's territorial possessions outside of the Italia ....
, and one of the most important cities in the Roman empire
Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was the Roman Republic phase of the Ancient Rome, characterised by an autocracy form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. Mérida preserves more important ancient Roman monuments
Roman architecture

The Architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the external Greek Architecture for their own purposes, which were so different from Greek buildings as to create a new architecture style....
 than any other city in Spain (including a triumphal arch
Triumphal arch

A triumphal arch is a structure in the shape of a monumental arch, in theory built to celebrate a victory in war, actually used to celebrate a ruler....
 of the age of Trajan
Trajan

Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus, commonly known as Trajan , was a Roman Emperors who reigned from 98 until his death in 117. Born Marcus Ulpius Traianus into a nonpatrician family in the Hispania Baetica province , Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian, serving as a general in the Roman army along the Limes G...
); because of this, the "Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida" is a World Heritage site
World Heritage Site

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site that is on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 Sovereign state which are elected by their General Assembly for a four-year term....
.

During the Visigothic period it maintained much of its splendour, especially under the sixth-century domination of the bishops, when it was the capital of Hispania
Hispania

Hispania was the name given by the Ancient Rome to the whole of the Iberian Peninsula . When Rome was a Roman Republic, Hispania was divided into Roman provinces: Hispania Citerior and Hispania Ulterior....
. Bishop Paul
Paul, Bishop of Mérida

Paul was the Metropolitan bishop of M?rida in the mid sixth century . He was a Greek medicine who had travelled to M?rida, Spain, where there may have been a Greek expatriate community....
 brought the diocese great wealth, making it the wealthiest diocese in Spain. Bishop Fidelis
Fidelis of Mérida

Fidelis was the Bishop of M?rida flourishing probably in the 550s and 560s.Fidelis was a Greek people who was hired out by his parents to a merchant venture to Spain in the mid sixth century, arriving in M?rida, Spain, where his mother's brother, Paul, Bishop of M?rida, was bishop....
 rebuilt the cathedral and under the bishop Masona
Masona

Masona or Mausona was the Bishop of M?rida and Metropolitan bishop of the province of Lusitania from about 570 until his death. He is famous for exercising de facto rule of the city of M?rida, Spain during his tenure as bishop and for founding the first confirmed hospital in Spain....
 it became the site of the first recorded hospital in Spain.

Buildings and structures


Among the remaining Roman monuments are the Puente Romano, a bridge over the Guadiana
Guadiana

Guadiana is one of the major rivers of Spain and Portugal. It forms part of the border between the two countries, separating Extremadura and Andalucia from Alentejo and Algarve ....
 river that is still used by pedestrians; an important fortification to defend the bridge, lately used by the Moors
Moors

In the Spanish language, the term for Moors is Moro; in Portuguese language the word is mouro. There seems to have been some confusion about the relationship of the word moro/mouro to the word moreno , both from Greek language ma?ros, i.e....
, called Alcazaba
Alcazaba

An alcazaba is a Moors fortification in Spain. The word derives from the Arabic word Kasbah, a walled-fortification in a city.Alcazabas remain in Almer?a , Antequera, Badajoz , Granada, Guadix, Alcazaba and M?rida, Spain ....
; the Temple of Diana; the remains of the Forum, including the Arch of Trajan; the remains of the Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus (Mérida)

Roman building in M?rida, Spain, for chariot racing, modelled on the Circus Maximus in Rome and other circus s throughout the empire....
; the Acueducto de los Milagros
Acueducto de los Milagros

Acueducto de los Milagros is a ruined Ancient Rome aqueduct at M?rida, Spain....
 (aqueduct); a villa
Roman villa

A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. A villa was originally a Rome country house built for the upper class....
 called the Villa Mitreo
Mithraeum

Mithraeum is a place of worship for the followers of the mystery religion of Mithraism. They were often constructed underground or in a cave to resemble the cave where Mithras is said to have slain the sacred bull ....
; the Embalse de Proserpina and Cornalvo reservoirs; the Circus
Circus

File:Faroe stamp 416 circus.jpgA circus is commonly a traveling company of performers that may include acrobatics, clowns, trained animals, trapeze acts, hoopers, tightrope walkers, juggling, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists....
, the Amphitheatre
Amphitheatre

An amphitheatre is an open-air venue for spectator sports, concerts, rallies, or theatrical performances. There are two similar, but distinct types of amphitheatres: Ancient amphitheatres, built by the ancient Rome, were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used for spectator sports; these comp...
 and the 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, Santa Maria's Cathedral and many others all around the city, and watch digging in progress, as well as the Museo Nacional de Arte Romano (by Rafael Moneo).

There are several buildings of contemporary age as Escuela de la Administración Pública (Public Administration College), Consejerías y Asamblea de Junta de Extremadura (councils and parliament of Extremadura), Agencía de la Vivienda de Extremadura (Housing Agency of Extremadura), Biblioteca del Estado (State Library) , Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones (auditorium), Factoría de Ocio y Creación Joven (cultural and leisure center for young), Complejo Cultural Hernán Cortés (cultural center), Ciudad Deportiva (sport's city), Universidad de Mérida (Mérida University), Confederación Hidrografica del Guadiana (Guadiana Hydrografic Confederation from Rafael Moneo
Rafael Moneo

Jos? Rafael Moneo Vall?s is a Spain architect. He was born in Tudela, Spain, and won the Pritzker Prize for architecture in 1996. He studied at the ETSAM, Technical University of Madrid from which he received his architectural degree in 1961....
), Puente Lusitania (Lusitania Bridge over Guadiana River from Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava

Santiago Calatrava Valls is an internationally recognized and award-winning Valencian Community Spain architect, sculptor and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zurich, Switzerland....
), Palacio de Justicia (Justice Hall)...

Miscellaneous

  • The cities of Mérida
    Mérida, Mérida

    Santiago de los Caballeros de M?rida, Venezuela, is the capital of the Municipalities of Venezuela of Libertador Municipality, M?rida and the state of M?rida , and is one of the principal cities of the Venezuelan Andes....
     in Venezuela
    Venezuela

    Venezuela , officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a country on the northern coast of South America.The country comprises a continental mainland and numerous islands located off the Venezuelan coastline in the Caribbean Sea....
    , capital of Mérida State, and Mérida
    Mérida, Yucatán

    M?rida is the capital and largest city of the States of Mexico of Yucat?n and the Yucat?n Peninsula. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about 35 km from the Gulf of Mexico coast, at ....
     in Yucatán
    Yucatán

    Yucat?n is one of the States of Mexico of Mexico, located on the north of the Yucat?n Peninsula. The Yucatan peninsula includes three states: Yucat?n, Campeche, and Quintana Roo; all three modern states were formerly part of the larger historic state of Yucat?n in the 19th century....
    , Mexico
    Mexico

    The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federalism constitutionalism republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico....
    , were named after Mérida in Spain. A square in Mérida called the Glorieta de las Méridas del Mundo (Square of the Méridas of the World) contains an obelisk commemorating the three sister cities.


  • Mérida UD
    Mérida UD

    M?rida Uni?n Deportiva is a List of football clubs in Spain team based in M?rida, Spain in the autonomous community of Extremadura. Founded in 1990, the club plays in Segunda Divisi?n B....
     is the principal football team of the city.


  • Culture people as the conductor Alberto Porro Carmona
    Alberto Porro Carmona

    Alberto Porro Carmona "Al Carmona"...
     "Al Carmona", pianist as Estéban Sánchez or painters as Mikelo.


External links