It was the main public area of the Roman city of Emerita Augusta, founded in 25 BC by Emperor Augustus.

Together with the other archaeological sites of the city, it was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.

Mérida, or Emerita Augusta in Latin, was once the capital of the Lusitania imperial province that included most of Portugal as well as the western central portion of Spain.

It contains many common places found in a Roman city: buildings such as theatres, temples, forums, and arenas.

Mérida preserves more important ancient Roman monuments than any other city in Spain