Roman theatre of Mérida

The Roman Theatre of Mérida was inaugurated in 16/15 BC; the consul Marcus Agrippa is regarded as its instigator. About 6,000 spectators found a place on its three tiers of seating, which are partly built into the slope of the Cerro de San Albín. The eye-catcher is the stage front, with two storeys of marble columns and statues of Ceres, Pluto and Proserpina as well as of emperors. For centuries the theatre lay buried, with only the topmost rows showing above ground; locals called them the “Siete Sillas” (seven chairs). Excavation has been under way since 1910.

The amphitheatre is right next door, so you can combine both monuments in a single visit. In July and August the theatre hosts the Festival Internacional de Teatro Clásico, which opened in 1933 with Seneca’s “Medea” in Miguel de Unamuno’s version. After the 1934 edition it lay dormant for 19 years and has been held again since 1953. The programme consists of Greek and Roman tragedies and comedies.