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Museum · Mérida, Extremadura
Museo Nacional de Arte Romano
Museu de Rafael Moneo, dating from 1986, with large brick arches that recall Roman architecture, mosaics, theatre statues and everyday objects from Augusta Emerita.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Museo Nacional de Arte Romano
The Museo Nacional de Arte Romano stands opposite the theatre and the amphitheatre and was opened in 1986. The building, by architect Rafael Moneo, is one of the most studied works of recent Spanish architecture: a large nave with brick arches, made with the same technique and proportions as Roman construction, lit from above.
The collection brings together finds from the excavations in Mérida. In the main nave are the statues from the theatre’s stage front, such as Ceres and Augustus, and large floor mosaics from houses, with scenes of hunting, myths and chariot races. The side galleries display coins, glassware, pottery, jewellery, funerary inscriptions and everyday objects.
In the basement, the crypt preserves a section of the Roman city uncovered during construction: a street, houses, tombs and part of an aqueduct. The museum also has a centre for studies of the Roman period.
The building is a good shelter from the heat on summer afternoons.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1.5 to 2 hours.
Best time
At midday, after seeing the theatre and amphitheatre in the morning, or late in the afternoon. Closed on Mondays; check the opening times.
How to get there
It is on Calle José Ramón Mélida, opposite the teatro romano, a 10-minute walk from Plaza de España.
Tip
Go up to the upper galleries to see the main nave and the mosaics from above. Go down to the crypt, which many people skip. The museum has its own ticket, separate from the combined ticket.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Museo Nacional de Arte Romano
Who designed the Museu Nacional de Arte Romana?
The architect Rafael Moneo. The building was inaugurated in 1986.
Is the museum included in the combined monuments ticket?
No. It is a national museum with its own ticket. Check the conditions.
What's in the museum's crypt?
A section of the Roman city found during the building works, with a street, houses and tombs.