The circus
is the largest of the buildings for public spectacles that the Romans built in
Mérida and one of the most important of the Empire.

It should
have been built in the early years of the 1^st century AC, shortly
after the founding of Mérida.

The bleachers,
with capacity for some 30,000 spectators, adopted the Classic division in “Cáveas”.

The sand
or area where the competitions were carried out, of ample dimensions, occupies
an extension of 30,000 square meters. In its centre and dividing it into two parts,
the “Spina” is located where the richest decoration of the circus was
concentrated, consisting of sculptures and obelisks of which only the
foundations are left.

In the centre of one of its minor sides
-west- was the Porta pompe -door of the parades- by which the procession
entered, before the competitions, composed by musicians, charioteers
participants, priests, religious images, etc. On both sides of this door are
distributed the “cárceres” or garages that were used for the participating
chariots to take their position before going to the arena.