Merida
Merida is the capital and institutional core of Extremadura. Even though this city is a relevant institutional reference for tourism in Extremadura, it is well known around the world due to its significant archaeological sites. Therefore, it was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.
It has a large number of monuments and structures of great importance to keep alive the history that took place in the city many centuries ago. It is commonly said that Merida is a Roman city in Spain. Merida today is a modern and functional city.
Capital of Extremadura :
Merida city has made huge progress as the capital. Furthermore, it has a big percentage of population which performs their professional jobs in this city. Thus, this city has experienced great economic and urban growth.In its role as a capital of Extremadura, it offers a wide range of hotels with all the facilities and luxury. You will find many places for tourist enjoyment and halls for special events, conferences and congresses.
Connection with other cities:
In Merida two main highways of Spain cross: the A-5, which links the two capitals Peninsular (Madrid and Lisbon), and the A-66, old N-630, the current path of the Ruta de la Plata, which joins Gijón with Seville. There are also plans for the new motorway A-43, which connects Valencia Merida Puertollano, Ciudad Real, Manzanares, Tomelloso and Albacete Almansa. Furthermore it has a bus station, RENFE (fast railway) and AVE station.
Today, Merida has an excellent transport network and it has been expanded with Ferrovial of the AVE, line that connects Madrid and Lisbon. It passes through the city and provides an accessible tourist destination.
Merida offers various alternatives for amusement and fun for tourists and for its 60,000 inhabitants.
Future and Modernity:
Apart from many ancient monuments that are in the city, we can highlight elements of modernity in Merida. It also has a sports city (one of the best in Spain), the IFEMA (fair center of Merida), the Congress and Exhibition, Headquarters Guadiana Hydrographic Confederation (Rafael Moneo), State Public Library, the Lusitania bridge over Guadiana (Santiago Calatrava), Building Morerías (by Juan Navarro Baldeweg, headquarters of the ministries of the Government of Extremadura and home to some important Roman sites), Centro Cultural Alcazaba and the School of Public Administration.
There is also the Cortez Cultural Complex under construction. There are several museums (geology and paleontology, planetary, rail, Juan de Avalos …), a large plaza with outdoor auditorium, bus station and underground parking and multipurpose cultural halls.