DAY 9: OCT 14 TORREMEJIA TO ALJUCEN (33 KM) 47,811 STEPS

The 16 kilometers to Merida passed quickly in anticipation of viewing the many archeological wonders from the Roman era.  There is no grander entrance to a city on the Camino than the 60-arch Puente Romana. This is one of the largest and best examples of a Roman engineered bridge in the world. It was finally limited to foot traffic in the 1990's.

The next three hours were spent touring and viewing Merida's Roman past. Here is a selection of photographs.

The Diana Temple, unfortunately with a newer building in its interior .

The anfiteatro. Note the patrons awaiting the start of the "games".

The 1st century BC, 6000 seat Teatro Romana is located immediately beside the anfiteatro and continues to be used for presentations to this day.

As you leave the city there are more incredible sights. The 15 metre arch, the Arco de Trajano was located on one of the principal Roman streets (Kardo Maximus) in the city.



Lastly there are the remnants of the immense 25 metre high Acueducto de los Milagros that was part of a system that provided water from a reservoir some six km from Merida.

The reservoir, Embalse de Proserpina, was the biggest in the Roman Mediterranean world with 21 metres thick walls that extended for almost 500 metres.

I struggled for the remainder of the day and finally arrived in Aljucen as it was getting dark. I went to bed at 8:30 and fell asleep at 8:29.