Discover Mérida on a private tour designed for you to enjoy the city at your own pace, with an official tour guide exclusively for your group. We'll stroll through its streets to learn how the ancient Augusta Emerita, founded in 25 B.C. by order of Emperor Augustus, became one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire and the capital of the province of Lusitania.
Our tour begins at the Puerta de la Villa, where we'll learn about the origins of the city and the work of the archaeologists who made it possible to recover much of its extraordinary heritage. From there, we'll follow the ancient Decumanus Maximus, today Calle Santa Eulalia, one of the high streets of Roman Mérida, until we reach the historic Mercado de Calatrava.
We'll continue to the Parador Nacional Vía de la Plata, housed in a former 18th-century convent-hospital, before coming across one of the city's most amazing monuments, the Arch of Trajan. You'll discover why this impressive Roman arch remains one of Mérida's great enigmas.
The tour will also take us to the former Convent of Santa Clara, now home to the National Museum of Visigothic Art, a perfect place to understand the importance of the city during the Visigothic Kingdom. Nearby is the Co-Cathedral of Santa María la Mayor, where we'll talk about the transformation of Mérida during the Middle Ages and the different cultures that left their mark here.
We'll continue to Plaza de España, the true heart of the city, surrounded by historic buildings such as the City Hall, the Casa de los Pacheco, and the Palacio de la China. Here you'll discover how Mérida has managed to combine its Roman past with centuries of medieval and modern history.
To top it all off, we'll arrive at the spectacular Temple of Diana, one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Spain and one of the great symbols of Mérida. Its elegant columns, erected almost two thousand years ago, continue to impress everyone who sees them and provide the perfect ending point to a journey through history.
Throughout the tour, we'll not only talk about monuments, but also about interesting facts, legends, historical figures, and anecdotes that will help you understand why Mérida was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and continues to be one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe.
If you're looking for an intimate, enjoyable experience tailored to your interests, this private tour is the best way to discover Mérida. Without rushing, with time to ask questions and enjoy every corner.
