Merida, Spain
Excavations continue in Merida
Today a small group (twelve of us) left Seville on a bus with Alberto our guide and Victor our driver to explore the Paradors and Pousadas of Spain and Portugal. Today our drive was approximately three hours through Andalusia to Merida. Merida used to be the center of Roman Lusitania and there are many fine Roman ruins in the area. After having our lunch and checking into the Parador, we had a very nice afternoon tour of the city and its ruins.
We enjoyed a driving tour of the city, and then a walking tour through some magnificent Roman ruins including an incredibly well preserved theatre (where they still perform), an amphitheatre which has been recently renovated, and several Roman houses with their usual mosaic floors. After this, we visited the National Museum of Roman Art, which is a fantastic red brick building housing sculptures, columns, tiles, weapons coins, jewelry etc. Under the museum are some burial grounds that are still being excavated.
After leaving the museum, Doug and I managed another stroll through the city to visit the 1st century AD Temple of Diana. It is absolutely amazing that ruins of this magnitude are right in the middle of a small metropolitan area.