The Roman Empire was one of the greatest in history, especially in terms of cultural legacy. In the 2nd century BC, the Romans made their first entry into Spain as a result of the struggle for hegemony over the western Mediterranean.

It was a very long and complex process for the Romans, starting in the east and south, moving westwards and ending with northern Spain. It took the Romans two full centuries to take over Spain completely, but eventually Spain fell under Roman rule for some 700 years.

During this period the Iberian Peninsula was known as Hispania. The Romans imported all their customs and culture into the conquered territories, a process known as "Romanisation". It is not surprising then, that Spain has a very strong Roman influence today; they embraced the culture and it was one of the most stable territories of the Roman Empire.

Proof of this enormous cultural legacy in Spain are the magnificent aqueducts, such as the one in Segovia, or amazing Roman bridges such as the Alcántara and Mérida, beautiful roads and spas, and imposing theatres and amphitheatres, among others.

 

The territory of Hispania was divided into 3 regions: Baetica, Lusitania and Tarraconensis. Broadly speaking, Baetica was present-day Andalusia with its capital at Cordoba; the second included Extremadura and Alentejo (Portugal) with its capital at Merida; and Tarraconensis was mainly Catalonia and the rest of Spain, with its capital at Tarragona.

 

Augusta Emerita, today's city of Mérida, was the capital of the region of Lusitania and was of great importance during the Roman Empire due to its strategic location linking Spain and Portugal and the north and south, the entire Iberian Peninsula.

This capital will surprise you with many impressive Roman monuments and structures, which will make you feel like you are in a small Rome. That is why the monumental ensemble of the whole city has been declared a World Heritage Site.