The Roman heritage is present everywhere you go in Extremadura. From bridges, to houses, palaces, sewage systems, aqueducts and more, the architectural legacy is vast, rich and worth the trip to this offbeat Spanish region.
Some of the most special Roman structures built in Extremadura are theatres. This article, aimed at travellers interested in history and heritage, offers a general overview and practical info about the three Roman theatres in Extremadura.
Table of contents
The three Roman theatres in Extremadura: an overview
Teatro Romano de Mérida
Mérida’s superb Roman Theatre is not only the city’s most remarkable monument, but also Extremadura’s number one tourist attraction. Built around 16-15 BCE, this dazzling construction could hold around 6,000 spectators at the time, while today, it seats around 3,000 people. The biggest highlight is its two-tiered columnated stage, with beautiful Corinthian capitals and statues of emperors.
Some tips:
• For the best first impression, access the theatre from the top level (rather than from the openings leading to the stage).
• To avoid the crowds, particular in high season, visit the Theatre first thing in the morning or during the last hour before closing time.
• Walk about the gardens behind the Theatre and don’t miss the mosaic in the little house to the west.
Teatro Romano de Medellín
Medellín is a small town of around 2,200 people in the Vegas Altas del Guadiana area of Badajoz province, just over half an hour by car from Mérida. It features a splendid Roman theatre only discovered in 2007, after centuries of being buried in the hillside of a medieval castle. Some four hundred new seats were added to the eight hundred original seats and today, the Theatre hosts regular music and theatre events, including several plays within Mérida’s International Classic Theatre Festival programme.
Some tips:
• Make sure you buy the combined ticket (Parque Arqueológico), which gives you access to the Roman Theatre, a Museum/Visitor Centre, and the Castle.
• Visit the castle (Castillo de Medellín) just before sunset to enjoy an amazing view of the Roman Theatre and the village in the evening light.
Teatro Romano de Regina
Casas de Reina is a tiny village near Llerena, in the Campiña Sur area of Badajoz province. Outside the village, in the middle of the countryside and overlooked by a nearby Moorish citadel, lie the remains of the former Roman city of Regina Turdulorum. The remains excavated so far show two main roads, a sewage system, a house with a central courtyard, four temples, a religious building, a large market and the main highlight – a Roman Theatre.
Some tips:
• Do visit. While not as spectacular as the other two Roman theatres, this is a pretty special place I love recommending others. Regina’s potential is enormous, yet it is a hugely underpromoted sight deserving a lot more visitors than it gets.
• Visit the nearby Moorish citadel (Alcazaba de Reina) and spot the theatre and the other Roman remains in Regina from above.
Practical info for visiting the Roman theatres in Extremadura
Tickets and prices
Teatro Romano de Mérida: the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre can be visited with a €13.50 combined ticket. Alternatively, you can visit six Roman sights (and also the Alcazaba, the Morería Archaeological Site, and Santa Eulalia Basilica’s crypt) with a €17.50 Conjunto Monumental combined ticket. Combined tickets allow you to visit the sights on different days.
Teatro Romano de Medellín: the general entry fee to the Roman Theatre and the Museum/Visitor Centre is €5. The general entry fee to the Parque Arqueológico (Museum/Visitor Centre, Theatre and Castle) is €7. Tickets can be purchased in advance online on Turismo de Medellín website (in Spanish).
Teatro Romano de Regina: free entry. Contact details: (phone) +34 924 87 03 35; (emails) [email protected] and [email protected].
Opening times
Teatro Romano de Mérida: from 1 October to 31 March, the Teatro Romano opens every day from 9am to 6.30pm; from 1 April to 30 September, it opens every day from 9am to 9pm. Closed on 25 December, 1 January and 6 January.
Teatro Romano de Medellín: from 6 May to 9 September, the Museum/Visitor Centre, the Roman Theatre and the Castle open every day of the week from 10.30am to 2pm and from 6pm to 9pm; from 10 September to 20 October, the Museum/Visitor Centre, the Roman Theatre and the Castle open every day of the week from 10.30am to 2pm and from 5.30pm to 8pm; from 29 October to 18 February, the Museum/Visitor Centre, the Roman Theatre and the Castle open every day of the week from 10.30am to 2pm and from 3.30pm to 6pm; from 19 February to 5 May, the Museum/Visitor Centre, the Roman Theatre and the Castle open every day of the week from 10.30am to 2pm and from 4.30pm to 7pm. They close on 1 January, 6 January, 14 September, and 25 December.
Teatro Romano de Regina: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm (last entry at 4.30pm); open alternate weekends. Always double check the opening times before you visit.
Events
Mérida’s International Classic Theatre Festival, the oldest of its kind in Spain, is hosted annually in summer at the three Roman theatres in Extremadura, with the vast majority of plays taking place in Teatro Romano de Mérida. Several plays are also hosted at the Roman city of Cáparra and in Madrid. The festival starts at the end of June and ends at the end of August. The festival programme is usually announced in early spring and tickets can be purchased online.
Teatro Romano de Mérida hosts another relevant event in summer – the Stone & Music Festival, which takes place over the summer (from June to September).
Teatro Romano de Medellín hosts a series of concerts annually as part of its Metellinum Festival.
Teatro Romano de Regina hosts two main theatre festivals during the summer: an amateur theatre festival called Noches de Regina, and the Festival de Teatro de Regina (with some of the plays being part of Mérida’s International Classic Theatre Festival).
Map of the three Roman theatres in Extremadura
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Irene Corchado Resmella
Hi! I’m Irene (/ee-REH-neh/). Long since settled in the UK, I explore my Spanish home region of Extremadura with an inquisitive mind, a sharp eye, and the duality that comes with being both a local and a visitor. Then I write about it here to help you discover this beautiful yet overlooked part of Spain. If you have any questions after reading this article, submit a comment below! Read more about me.
