World Heritage Cities in Spain

WORLD HERITAGE CITIES

From here it is just a short walk to one of the best-preserved Roman Circuses in Mainland Spain. There is a visitor cen- tre where you can see what it used to look like and what it was used for. This tour finishes with a visit to the National Museum of Roman Art , designed by the Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, where you'll find a splendid collection of exhibits which will help you understand what day-to-day life was like in a Roman colony. The town centre is the site of the Temple of Diana and Trajan's Arch , one of the ancient gateways into the city. Take a stroll around the adjacent streets and stop for a rest in one of the bars or restaurants in the Plaza de España . Delicious local dishes include lamb cas- serole, exquisite cheeses and Iberian cured ham. In the evening you can visit the Moorish Alcazaba , a fortified enclosure sur- rounded by a great ditch . In the patio of the fortress there's a section of the main Roman road and remains of the city wall. Inside there's a splendid water cistern decorated with Visigoth pilas- ters. From here you'll have beautiful views over the Guadiana River, over which there are a number of bridges including the Lusitania Bridge , a modern design by the architect Santiago de Calatrava, and the Roman Bridge , said to be the

longest still remaining in Spain. L L For further information go to: www.turismomerida.org

_ _ NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ROMAN ART

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