National Museum of Roman Art facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
National Museum of Roman Art

Museo Nacional de Arte Romano
Facade of the National Museum of Roman Art
Former name	Museo Arqueológico de Mérida
Established	26 March 1838 (1838-03-26)
Location	Mérida, Spain
Type	Archaeology museum
Collections	Roman art
Collection size	37,000
Visitors	239,798 (2017)
Architect	Rafael Moneo
Owner	General State Administration
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	iii, iv
Designated:	1993 (17th session)
Part of:	Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida
Reference #:	664-017
Region:	Europe and North America
Spanish Property of Cultural Interest
Type:	Non-movable
Criteria:	Monument
Designated:	1 March 1962
Reference #:	RI-51-0001309

The National Museum of Roman Art (which is Museo Nacional de Arte Romano in Spanish) is a special museum in Mérida, Spain. It's often called MNAR for short. This museum is all about Roman art. It shows off many amazing items found in the ancient Roman city of Augusta Emerita. This old city is one of the biggest and most important Roman sites in Spain. In 1993, it was even named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History of the Museum

How the Museum Started

The idea for an archaeology museum in Mérida first came about a long time ago. It was officially created on March 26, 1838. Back then, an old church building was used to hold all the ancient collections. This happened because of new laws that changed how church properties were used.

A New Beginning

In 1975, Mérida celebrated its 2,000th birthday! To mark this big event, the museum was given a new start. It was renamed the National Museum of Roman Art. A famous Spanish architect named Rafael Moneo designed the amazing building you see today. Work on the new building began in 1981. The museum officially opened its doors on September 19, 1986.

Museum Collections

The museum has a huge collection of Roman items. These include statues, mosaics, and everyday objects. They help us understand what life was like in the Roman city of Augusta Emerita. You can see how Romans built roads, what their homes looked like, and even what gods they worshipped.

Gallery