Medellín combines impressive architectural heritage with Roman archaeology and riverside experiences. The castle, Roman Theatre and Santiago Church offer different perspectives on the town’s history; a bathing area and a motorhome area add to the picture of the Guadiana and riverside life. When planning your stay, you can first decide whether cultural history or time by the water should take centre stage.

Castle and Roman Theatre

Medellín Castle has a double line of walls with numerous defensive and reinforcing towers. It also features imposing gateways and a two-part parade ground. These structures allow you to view the site as a fortified building: the walls and towers form part of the defences, while the gateways and parade ground complete its internal layout. The castle is therefore more than a striking exterior; it also contains several distinct areas.

The Roman Theatre lies on the southern side of the hill, between the castle and Santiago Church. Excavations uncovered it from 2007 onwards. The theatre preserves almost 800 original ashlar blocks, as well as sculptures and significant decorative material. An ashlar is a dressed, block-shaped stone; the surviving pieces and other finds bring the archaeological site’s material heritage to life. On 24 July 2013, the theatre officially opened to visitors. This date marks its opening at the time; check access arrangements when planning your visit today.

Santiago Church and Bridge Construction

Santiago Church was built at the end of the 13th century over the ruins of a Roman temple. Its architecture combines late Romanesque features with proto-Gothic elements. Different historical associations and styles thus come together in a single building. The church was restored in 2003 and enhanced from 2007 onwards, at the same time as the excavations at the Roman Theatre. In recent years, it housed the municipality’s Centro Museográfico.

The Puente Siglo XVII also tells a story of construction: the Baroque bridge was completed in 1630, has twenty arches and is 400 metres long. To put the bridge into context, it is also worth looking at its earlier predecessors. Remains of a Roman bridge and a Renaissance bridge that predated the Puente Siglo XVII can still be seen on both banks of the Guadiana. Together, the datable Baroque bridge and the visible remains of two earlier bridges represent different phases of construction.

Plan Your Visits and Enjoy the Riverside

Medellín Archaeological Park is open to visitors all year round. Check access arrangements before travelling. Guided tours are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00, starting from Plaza de Hernán Cortés; the entire route is on foot. If a tour fits your plans, confirm the time in advance, as schedules may change.

Playa de Medellín is a riverside bathing area with showers and a lawn. Several chiringuitos serve local dishes and refreshing drinks there. The bathing area offers a different focus from the castle, theatre and church: here, the emphasis is on spending time by the water, as well as food and drink. Playa is part of the area’s name; its specific features are showers, a lawn and the food and drink served by the chiringuitos.

There is a spacious, accessible motorhome area within the municipal district, on the banks of the Guadiana. Important for planning: overnight stays are currently not permitted there. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first consider whether you would prefer to focus your stay on archaeological and architectural heritage or on the bathing area.

Discover more destinations: Pallares, Zalamea De La Serena, Montemolín, La Bazana, Peraleda del Zaucejo, Quintana De La Serena, Badajoz, Barcarrota.

Return to the main travel overview: Badajoz.