What's the itinerary?+
• You find yourself in the Acueducto de los Milagros park, literally translating to the park of the Aqueduct of Miracles, where you can view the significant ruins of the aqueduct, a major archaeological site in the city.
• You will stroll through the lovely Albarregas River Park, one of the city's largest green areas. The expansive lawns are ideal for enjoying views of the miracle aqueduct, and during the summer, the grass often becomes a stage for impressive performances.
• Next, you arrive at the Aqueducto de San Lazaro, named after a former nearby hermitage dedicated to Saint Laurent that was demolished in the 20th century. This aqueduct was one of the two structures that supplied water to the city prior to the construction of the renowned Aqueduct of Miracles.
• Recognizable by its distinctive oval shape, you are now at the ancient Roman circus of Mérida, one of the best-preserved circuses from the Empire and a key structure, second only to Rome’s Circus Maximus.
• Your next stop is Mérida’s most significant archaeological site. If you can only visit one place, this should be it. However, not much can be seen from the outside, so it is recommended to get an entrance to explore the ruins of the amphitheater and Roman theater from the former Emerita Augusta.
• What’s remarkable about Mérida is the frequent encounters with extraordinary remnants of its ancient past while walking around. You find yourself in the center of the ancient Roman forum, where key structures were located, opposite the temple of Diana.
• You are now in the central area of Mérida, at the Spanish Steps, which were designed in their current form during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. Historians view their reign as the turning point from the Middle Ages to modern times.
• The Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria the Mayor, the oldest structure in Plaza de España, can be seen here. It is classified as a co-cathedral because it shares its archdiocese with Badajoz Cathedral.
• The Alcazaba de Mérida, a square fortress located behind its fortified walls, was constructed under the orders of Abd-al Rahman II, the 4th Umayyad Emir of Cordoba, in the early 9th century.
• In the center of the roundabout stands the statue of the She-Wolf of the Capitol, a gift from Rome to Mérida in 1997. The original has been held in the Capitol museums since 1471, though similar representations exist globally, from Paris to Buenos Aires, Chicago, and Tokyo, among others.
• You now stand on the Roman bridge of Merida, one of the longest bridges from ancient times. Under the Roman Empire, it crossed the Guadiana River in two sections, with a break in the middle of the river.
• You are visiting an island park, a lovely green area, as Mérida is known for its parks. It ranks as Spain’s second-largest city in terms of parks and gardens, second only to Madrid.
• Here, you get a clear view of the Guadiana River and the new Lusitania Bridge, aptly named since ancient Emerita Augusta served as the capital of Lusitania, a Roman province that encompassed much of what is now Portugal along with parts of León and Extremadura.
• Discussing the figure you see represented in front of you, who founded the Roman city that became Mérida, it’s beneficial to learn more about Augustus.
• Facing the San Juan de Dios Hospital, which currently houses the Assembly of Extremadura, you can trace its origins back to 1632 when the local mayor invited the brothers of Saint-Jean-de-Dieu to improve care for the sick and needy.
• If you lived in Augusta Emerita during the Roman era
