Romanization culturally unified the Iberian Peninsula and left, in addition to language and numerous social institutions, abundant artistic remains. Some of them are fundamental for the understanding of Roman art, such as the aqueducts in Segovia and Los Milagros (Merida), the Alcantara bridge or the arch in Medinaceli (Soria), the ruins at Bolonia (Cadiz), Sagunto (Valencia), Tarragona, Ampurias and the circus at Tarragona.

Two exceptional Roman remains are those of Italica (Sevilla) and Merida, with its splendid theatre, in which, every July, an international festival of classical theatre is offered. The great amount of Roman ruins in this city led to the construction of the National Museum of Roman art, opened in 1986.

If during its first five centuries Hispania was shaped by Rome, the favour was soon returned in the form of its most capable sons -some of whom became emperors: Trajan and Hadrian. Marco Anneo Seneca, Lucio Anneo Seneca, Marco Anneo Lucano represented an exceptional family. Other important figures were the geographer Pomponio Mela, the writer of treatises on agriculture, Columela, the erudite Quintiliano, and the best epigrammatic poet, Valerano Marcial.

Rome's legacy impregnated institutions and the world of Law. It introduced, through vernacular Latin, almost all of the Peninsula's languages with the exception of Euskera (Basque language): Castilian, Catalan, Gallego and Portuguese.

For more information, please write or call to:

     MUSEO NACIONAL DE ARTE ROMANO
     Jose Ramon Melida, s/n.
     06800 MERIDA (Badajoz)

     Tel.: (24) 31 16 90
           (24) 31 19 12

     Fax:  (24) 30 20 06

Thank-you, very much.