Merida was founded in the year 25 BC, with the name of Emerita Augusta by order of Emperor Augustus. The city became the capital of Lusitania province, and one of the most important cities in the Roman empire. Mérida preserves more important ancient Roman monuments than any other city in Spain (including a triumphal arch of the age of Trajan); because of this it has been designated as a World Heritage site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mérida,_Spain).
