Arab alcazaba and Roman bridge over the Guadiana

The Mérida Alcazaba has watched over the entrance to the Roman bridge over the Guadiana for almost twelve centuries. They are two visits in one: the fortress, with its underground cistern and remains from every period of the city, and the bridge, the longest walk over the river and free.

The Alcazaba

An inscription over its main gate dates its inauguration to the year 835. It was built to protect the Muslim rulers from the revolts of Mérida's population and to control the bridge crossing. It is an almost square enclosure, with a perimeter of about 550 m, and 25 square towers that act as buttresses; some are already Christian. The main entrance, towards the city, was defended by a barbican raised where one of the Roman city's gates had stood.

The most special piece is the cistern: you enter by two facing doors to a distributor and go down by two staircases to the cistern, which was filled by seepage from the Guadiana. Above it there was a small mosque and a watchtower. Inside the enclosure you also see the Roman dike, the base of the bridge gate, Roman streets and houses, pilasters of a large Visigothic building and the conventual house of the Order of Santiago. From the wall-walk you look out over the river.

The Roman bridge

Its construction is tied to the foundation of Augusta Emerita. It is 792 m long and has 60 arches, with spillways between them, of concrete faced with rusticated ashlars. Floods and wars forced it to be restored many times, but the stretches at the ends keep their original shape. Since 1993 it has been pedestrian only.

Hours and price

The Alcazaba is open from 1 October to 31 March from 9:00 to 18:30, with the ticket office until 18:00, and from 1 April to 30 September from 9:00 to 21:00. It closes on 25 December and 1 and 6 January; on 24 and 31 December, 10:00 to 15:00. The individual ticket costs €6, €3 reduced, and is included in the €17 joint ticket. The bridge is free to cross. In summer there are guided night visits to the Alcazaba: check dates at the ticket office. Allow an hour for the two.

Getting there and what to combine

The Alcazaba is on Paseo de Roma, at the end of Calle Romero Leal, five minutes from Plaza de España; the bridge leaves from its gate to the other bank, where the bus station is. Next to it is the Morería archaeological area, and in sight, Santiago Calatrava's Lusitania bridge. For eating two steps away, Tuétano is beside the Alcazaba, and the Temple of Diana is on the same street.