The site occupied by St. Martin's Church (Sint-Maartenskerk) was already a place of worship in around 650 AD. Later a Romanesque church was built there, which was replaced by a Gothic church in the Middle Ages, built between 1390 and 1466. The Brabantine Gothic stone tower dates from 1439. But in 1862 the tower was struck by lightning and the wooden section was completely destroyed by fire. The spire was fully restored to its former glory over the next few years. The wooden spire houses a carillon with 49 bells. The church is a hall church comprising three aisles. The middle choir, two side choirs and the St. Anna chapel were rebuilt in Neo-Gothic styles after being destroyed by fire in 1862.
The church possesses many hidden treasures. Its showpiece has to be the Triptych of the Holy Spirit by Bernard de Rijckere from 1587: a Pentecostal scene featuring the baptism of Jesus and the creation of Adam. The unique 6,5 metre-high Sacraments Tower from 1585 cannot fail to impress.
Valuable church items including the 16th century chasubles and antependia (hangings for the altar), are classed as Flemish masterpieces. It was decided to turn St. Eloois chapel (1450) into a treasury to preserve these pieces in an optimal manner. The treasury is open to the public at regular hours.
References:The Roman Theatre of Mérida is a construction promoted by the consul Vipsanius Agrippa in the Roman city of Emerita Augusta, capital of Lusitania (current Mérida). It was constructed in the years 16 to 15 BCE. One of the most famous and visited landmarks in Spain, the Roman Theatre of Mérida is regarded as a Spanish cultural icon and was chosen as one of the 12 Treasures of Spain.
The theatre has undergone several renovations, notably at the end of the 1st century or early 2nd century CE (possibly during the reign of Emperor Trajan), when the current facade of the scaenae frons was erected, and another in the time of Constantine I (between 330 and 340), which introduced new decorative-architectural elements and a walkway around the monument. Following the theatre"s abandonment in Late Antiquity, it was slowly covered with earth, with only the upper tiers of seats (summa cavea) remaining visible.