Roman circus, Merida, Spain

The Roman Circus of Merida is 433m long and 144m wide. It is one of the best-preserved circuses in the Iberian Peninsula, where most of these structures were built in the 2nd century.
The chariot gates are the oldest part of the building. They were built, along with the grandstand, between the years 20 and 30 AD. 
According to a plaque found during the early 20th century diggings, the circus was remodelled during the reigns of Constantine II and Constantius II, in the 4th century, by the initiative of the local rulers. The central barrier dates from this period and it was originally covered with marble. The first studies in this part of the circus were carried out as early as the 16th century.
In the 18th century, the circus was a barley field and divided into rural states. There's a large empty space in the grandstands, which corresponds to a highway built between Madrid and Lisbon in 1862. Excavations started in 1919 and the highway was finally disassembled in 1987. Merida's monuments were classified as UNESCO World Heritage in 1993.

Opening hours: 9 am to 9 pm; in winter (25 Oct. to Mar.) 9.30 am to 2 pm/ 4 pm to 6.30 pm.
Entrance fee: €3 (the best option is to buy the combined ticket for €12, which gives access to all the main monuments)

 Back to Merida








Local: Av. de Juan Carlos I, s/n, 06800 Mérida, Badajoz, Espanha

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