Travel to Extremadura, Spain – Episode 368

Hear about travel to Extremadura in Spain as the Amateur Traveler talks to Sam from indefiniteadventure.com about living and working there.

Extremadura is a lesser-known region in southwest Spain on the border with Portugal and adjacent to Andalusia, Madrid, and Castilla. Sam lived in the city of Mérida for 3 months teaching English.

“If you are into Roman history you should definitely go to Extremadura because there is a hell of a lot of Roman history there. Merida was the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania. It was one of the wealthiest cities in the Iberian peninsula. Unusually for Spain, it has a lot of Roman ruins right in the center of the city. Merida was founded in 25 B.c as Emerita Augusta. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site”. Merida was founded by veterans who had served Caesar Augustus.

Standing in the Teatro Romano in the middle of town Sam says “you can definitely imagine how it was in Roman times. It’s quite impressive.” Sam also visited the crypt of Saint Eulalia of Mérida who is the patron saint of Merida and was an early Christian martyr there under the Romans.

But the most impressive of the Roman ruins in Merida may be the Acueducto de Los Milagros, the Aqueduct of Miracles which is the second more complete of the Roman aqueducts in Spain. “You can see storks, which are a symbol of Extremadura. nesting on the pillars .” The aqueduct is itself another UNESCO World Heritage site.

Throw in Roman baths, a Roman circus, a temple to Diana, Roman festivals, and a lively central plaza, and Merida proved to be a wonderful city for spending a few months.

right click here to download (mp3)
right click here to download (iTunes version with pictures)

Show Notes

Indefinite Adventure
Roman Theater, Merida
Circus Maximus
Eulalia of Mérida
Acueducto de Los Milagros
Shangri-La Vegetarian Restaurant
Galileo Italian Restaurant
Indefinite Adventure on Facebook
Hidden Gem: Merida, Spain

News

American Airlines orders systemwide ground delay due to computer glitch
Letter alleges captain diverted plane because family complained about in-flight film
TSA Agent Confuses Pepper Spray With Laser Pointer, With Comic Results

Community

Savio added a comment with some great tips on Travel to Toulouse, France – Episode 367