Mrida, Spain

Mrida, Spain
Mrida
Municipality

Flag Coat of arms

Location in Spain Coordinates: 3854N 620W Country Autonomous community Province Comarca Valley Judicial district Founded Government Mayor Area Total Elevation Population (2010) Total Density Demonym Time zone Summer(DST) Postal code 57,127 66/km2 (170/sqmi) Emeritenses CET (UTC+1) CEST (UTC+2) 06800 865.6km2 (334.2sqmi) 217m (712ft) Jos ngel Calle Gragera (2007) (PSOE) Spain Extremadura Badajoz Mrida Guadiana Mrida 25 BC [1]

Mrida, Spain

2
Official language(s) Website Official website [2]

Mrida (Extremaduran: Mria) is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura, western central Spain. The population was 57,127 in 2010. The Archaeological Ensemble of Mrida has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993.

Climate
Mrida has a Mediterranean climate with Atlantic influences, due to the proximity of the Portuguese coast. The winters are mild, with minimum temperature rarely below 0 C (32F), and summers are hot with maximum temperatures occasionally exceeding 40 C (104F). Precipitation is normally between 450 and 500mm annually. The months with most rainfall are November and December. Summers are dry, and in Mrida, as in the rest of southern Spain, cycles of drought are common, ranging in duration from 2 to 5 years.

Climograma Merida (Spain).

In autumn the climate is more changeable than in the rest of the year. Storms occur with some frequency, but the weather is often dry. Both humidity and winds are low. However, there is frequent fog, especially in the central months of autumn and winter.

History
The town was founded in 25 BC, with the name of Emerita Augusta (meaning the veterans discharged soldiers of the army of Augustus, who founded the city; the name Mrida is an evolution of this) by order of Emperor Augustus, to protect a pass and a bridge over the Guadiana river. The city became the capital of Lusitania province, and one of the most important cities in the Roman empire. Mrida preserves more important ancient Roman monuments than any other city in Spain, including a triumphal arch of the age of Trajan. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, during the Visigothic period, the city maintained much of its splendor, especially under the 6th-century domination of the bishops, when it was the capital of Hispania. In 713 it was conquered by the Muslim army under Musa bin Nusair, and became the capital of the cora of Mrida; the Arabs re-used most of the old Roman buildings and expanded some, such as the Alcazaba. The city returned to Christian rule in 1230, when it was conquered by Alfonso IX of Len, and subsequently became the seat of the priory of San Marcos de Len of the Order of Santiago. A period of recovery started for Mrida after the unification of the crowns of Aragon and Castile (15th century), thanks to the support of Alonso de Crdenas, Grand Master of the Order. In 1720 the city became the capital of the Intendencia of Mrida. In the 19th century, in the course of the Napoleonic invasion, numerous monuments of Mrida and of Extremadura were destroyed or damaged. Later the city became a railway hub and underwent massive industrialization.

Mrida, Spain

Main sights
Among the remaining Roman monuments are: the Puente Romano, a bridge over the Guadiana River that is still used by pedestrians, and the longest of all existing Roman bridges.[] Annexed is a fortification (the Alcazaba), built by the Muslim emir Abd ar-Rahman II in 835 on the Roman walls and Roman-Visigothic edifices in the area. The court houses Roman mosaics, while underground is a Visigothic cistern. remains of the Forum, including the Temple of Diana, and of the Roman Provincial Forum, including the Arch of Trajan remains of the Circus Maximus (1st century BC), one of the best preserved Roman circus buildings Acueducto de los Milagros (aqueduct of Miracles) patrician villa called the Villa Mitreo, with precious mosaic pavements Proserpina Dam and Cornalvo Dam, two Roman reservoirs still in use the Amphitheatre, and the Roman theatre, where a summer festival of Classical theatre is presented, usually with versions of Greco-Roman classics or modern plays set in ancient times. Moreras archaeological site Museo Nacional de Arte Romano (designed by Rafael Moneo) Church of Santa Eulalia, dating to the 4th century but rebuilt in the 13th century. Its portico reuses parts of an ancient temple of Mars. Other sights include: Cathedral of Saint Mary Major (13th-14th centuries) Renaissance Ajuntamento (Town Hall) Church of Santa Clara (17th century) Gothic church of Nuestra Seora de la Antigua (15th-16th centuries) Baroque church of Nuestra Seora del Carmen (18th century) Several notable buildings were built more recently, including the Escuela de la Administracin Pblica (Public Administration College), the Consejeras y Asamblea de Junta de Extremadura (councils and Church of Nuestra Seora de la Antigua. parliament of Extremadura), the Agenca de la Vivienda de Extremadura (Housing Agency of Extremadura), the Biblioteca del Estado (State Library), the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones (auditorium), the Factora de Ocio y Creacin Joven (cultural and leisure center for youth), the Complejo Cultural Hernn Corts (cultural centre), the Ciudad Deportiva (sports city), the Universidad de Mrida (Mrida University), the Confederacin Hidrografica del Guadiana (Guadiana Hydrographic Confederation designed by Rafael Moneo), the Puente Lusitania (Lusitania Bridge over the Guadiana River designed by Santiago Calatrava), the Palacio de Justicia (Justice Hall), etc.

Mrida, Spain

International relations
Mrida is twinned with: Rome, Italy Mrida, Venezuela Mrida, Mexico Mrida, Philippines El Paso, Texas, USA

Sport
Mrida UD is the principal football team of the city.

Notes
[1] http:/ / tools. wmflabs. org/ geohack/ geohack. php?pagename=M%C3%A9rida,_Spain& params=38_54_N_6_20_W_region:ES_type:city [2] http:/ / www. merida. es/

Sources
OConnor, Colin (1993), Roman Bridges, Cambridge University Press, pp.106107, ISBNISBN 0-521-39326-4

External links
Official website (http://www.merida.es/) Roman Art National Museum (http://www.museoromano.com/) Pictures of Roman Mrida (http://www.livius.org/a/spain/merida/emerita.html) Photos of Mrida: Roman monuments and other views of the city (http://musique09.free.fr/espagne_new2/ thumbnails.php?album=71&lang=english) The Marvel of Mrida (http://www.guardian.co.uk/spanish-tourist-board/ merida-augusta-emerita-lusitania-spain) by The Guardian

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Mrida, Spain Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=553725806 Contributors: Abizern, Afernand74, Alcarmonita, Andrew Dalby, Attilios, Aymatth2, Bill Thayer, Bkwillwm, Boivie, Breffni Whelan, Budelberger, CJLL Wright, Chochopk, CommonsDelinker, D6, El Mexicano, EoGuy, Error, Faucon7, Fernando, G. Capo, Gene Nygaard, Good Olfactory, GreatWhiteNortherner, Greenshed, Guliolopez, Gun Powder Ma, Iga23, Infrogmation, JaGa, Jameswilson, Jauhienij, Javitomad, Jbeans, Jdsteakley, Joey80, Joseph Solis in Australia, Kazubon, Khalid hassani, Kokahen, Kristinwt, Liamgilmartin, LilHelpa, Longbow4u, MBisanz, Magioladitis, Mani1, Marek69, Metsavend, Mirekmarut, Mlouns, Montrealais, NVO, Naru12333, Neddyseagoon, Notsureifsrs, Olivier, Panairjdde, Paul-L, Perique des Palottes, Peter Flass, Philip Trueman, Plasticspork, Plastikspork, Pol098, Pschemp, R'n'B, Raymond Cruise, Redthoreau, Rellis1067, Scotthatton, Semperf, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Srnec, Stephensuleeman, Treisijs, Trusilver, Venerock, Viajero, Wetman, Whhalbert, Wik, Worldtraveller, Xerxes225, Youssefsan, 99 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Bandera de Mrida.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bandera_de_Mrida.svg License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Xinese-v (from Spanish wikipedia Taller de Herldica y Vexilologa ) File:Escudo de Mrida.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Escudo_de_Mrida.svg License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Xinese-v (from Spanish wikipedia Taller de Herldica y Vexilologa ) file:Spain location map.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Spain_location_map.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: NordNordWest File:Flag of Spain.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Spain.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anomie File:Flag of Extremadura with COA.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Extremadura_with_COA.svg License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: User:ChristianBier File:Clima Mrida.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Clima_Mrida.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Contributors: SmartCasual File:LaAntigua.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:LaAntigua.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Manu22 1981 File:Flag of Italy.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Italy.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anomie File:Flag of Venezuela.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Venezuela.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alkari, Bastique, Cycn, Denelson83, DerFussi, Fry1989, George McFinnigan, Herbythyme, Homo lupus, Huhsunqu, Infrogmation, K21edgo, Klemen Kocjancic, Ludger1961, Neq00, Nightstallion, Reisio, Rupert Pupkin, Sarang, SiBr4, Sparkve, ThomasPusch, Vzb83, Wikisole, Zscout370, 13 anonymous edits File:Flag of Mexico.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Mexico.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Alex Covarrubias, 9 April 2006 Based on the arms by Juan Gabino. File:Flag of the Philippines.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_Philippines.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: User:Achim1999 File:Flag of the United States.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_United_States.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anomie

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