Alcazaba of Mérida
Alcazaba de Mérida
One of the oldest Muslim fortresses in Iberia, completed in 835, with walls built along the river and an underground cistern you can descend into.
The Alcazaba was built in 835 by Emir Abd al-Rahman II of the Umayyad dynasty and is one of the oldest surviving Muslim fortresses on the Iberian Peninsula. Its walls make extensive use of Roman and Visigothic stone and guard the head of the Roman Bridge. The most notable feature inside is the stepped underground cistern (Aljibe), which once channeled river water into the fortress. There are also remains of Roman streets and houses. It is included in the combined site ticket, and you can climb the walls for views over the Roman Bridge and the Guadiana River.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–18:30 (winter) / 09:00–21:00 (summer)
Nearby sights
- Plaza de España (Mérida)
- Morería Archaeological Site
- Arch of Trajan (Mérida)
- Roman Bridge of Mérida
- Temple of Diana, Mérida
- Portico of the Municipal Forum
- Casa del Mitreo
- National Museum of Roman Art