Mérida and Cáceres, Extremadura

A short drive north of Seville lies the autonomous community of Extremadura. Somewhat off the beaten tourist path, the region has several places of interest.

Mérida

Originally the Roman colony of Augusta Emerita, Mérida has probably some of the finest Roman ruins is all of Spain, including the remains of a massive dramatic theater, a Colosseum-like amphitheater, two aqueducts, temples, roads, and the old city walls. It is also home to the National Museum of Roman Art.

Cáceres

Though once the Roman city of Norba Caesarina, few Roman ruins remain in Cáceres. Today the city hosts one of the best preserved old centers in all of Spain, designated a World Heritage Site in the 1980s. The city museum also houses a terrific collection of prehistoric and Visigothic art and the remains of a Moorish cistern, shown here with a random art exhibit involving slides projected against the arches of the room and the water below - a bit random in my opinion.