A Day at the Beach…?

Since it was constructed by the Romans (to supply water, via that miraculous aqueduct, to Mérida) Proserpina Reservoir has been a refreshing feature in this otherwise arid part of Extremadura.

With its flat-topped lakeside villas and dry, dusty forests reflected in azure water, this man-made reservoir looks more like a particularly pretty and secluded Greek bay than a landlocked Extremadura valley. There are even a couple of picturesquely ramshackle chiringuitos (beach bars) on the western shore.

Built around the 1st century CE, Proserpina Reservoir was constructed during Emperor Augustus’s reign to supply water to the city of Emerita Augusta (now Mérida). The Romans, always ahead of the game with their engineering, dammed the Albarregas River to irrigate the cereal fields and to feed the city's baths and fountains. The ancient wall, measuring about 400m long and 21m at its highest point, is still formed largely of opus caementitium (Roman concrete) and a series of information boards - in Spanish, English and Portuguese - explains in great detail the construction methods and archaeological importance of the site.

Today, Proserpina is a peaceful spot, mixing ancient history with stunning natural surroundings. It is also a poignant reminder of how the Romans shaped the landscape.

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Caribbean-style - a hammock on the Proserpina shore.