Art and culture
Ice well
Ever since its remains were found in 1920, the ruin known as El Pozo de la Nieve (the ice well) in Mérida has been the object of research in order to find out what the real reason for its construction was.
- Explore
- Ice well
Location and Contact:
- Contact person: Consorcio Ciudad Monumental de Mérida
- Tel.:+34 924 00 49 08
- Fax: +34 924 00 49 16
- Email: visitas@consorciomerida.org
- Website address: www.consorciomerida.org
- Opening times
Consult Consorcio Ciudad Monumental de Mérida.
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Ever since its remains were found in 1920, the ruin known as El Pozo de la Nieve (the ice well) in Mérida has been the object of research in order to find out what the real reason for its construction was.
In Calle Reyes Huertas, sheltered by a modern apartment block, you will be surprised to find some Roman ruins which served the town of Mérida as an ice well from the 17th to the 19th centuries.
However, this space has been put to several different uses over time, including that of headquarters of a mystical religion, a glass factory and even a complex for storing and distributing water.
The hypothesis that has gained most momentum is the one that states that the lower circular chamber already contained an ice well in the age of the High Roman Empire, and the rooms in the upper part were used as thermal baths during the 3rd or 4th century AD.
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- Origin:
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- Romanisation (AD)
- Construction:
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- Thermal baths
- Art period:
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- Romanisation
- Period in history:
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- Various periods
- Various styles
- Romanisation
- 19th century
- 17th century
Gallery:
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