2-370-509 - Samuel Magal/Sites & Photos/Heritage Images

Roman Bridge over the Guadiana River, Merida, Spain, 2007. The construction of this bridge was linked with the foundation of the Emerita Augusta colony (later Merida) in 25 BC by Emperor Augustus. With 64 granite arches, it has a total length of 792m. Features of its original appearance are visible in the sections marking the beginning and end of the work, for both major river floods and military conflicts have created the need for numerous restorations. The restoration carried out in the 19th century was the one that left the bridge in its present state. The archaeological ensemble of Merida was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993.