Past, present and future

The National Museum of Roman Art is a long-standing institution. Over 175 years old, it dates back to a small local collection which, due to the importance of the archaeological site of Mérida, grew into a national institution. It was then moved to a new building where its collections could be put on display with the dignity they deserve. Its content and activities revolve around the Roman period, which is the focus of the permanent exhibition in its main building. Nevertheless, the importance of Mérida in Late Antiquity, when it became the first capital of Spain, as well as during the Visigothic period and the beginning of the Middle Ages, marks out a path for our Institution’s future aspirations, with the creation of a new building to house the collections associated with these historical periods.