Colony of Augusta Emerita, Mérida

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The colony of Augusta Emerita, which became present-day Mérida in Estremadura, was founded in 25 B.C.E. at the end of the Spanish Campaign and was the capital of Lusitania. The well-preserved remains of the old city include, in particular, a large bridge over the Guadiana, an amphitheater, a theater, a vast circus and an exceptional water-supply system. It is an excellent example of a provincial Roman capital during the empire and in the years afterwards.

Cite this page as: UNESCO, "Colony of Augusta Emerita, Mérida," in Smarthistory, May 27, 2021, accessed December 9, 2024, https://smarthistory.org/colony-of-augusta-emerita-merida/.