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SEE TARRAGONA

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Table of Contents: 
ANCIENT TARRAGONA
SEE TARRAGONA
NEARBY TARRAGONA

See Tarragona change as the sun goes down.
See Tarragona in the day and the night. It is two different towns.

 

No more than one hour’s drive from Barcelona is this beautiful little jewel hiding from everyone.

As you walk this pedestrian-friendly town, there is no doubt that the Romans were here. And even though other ethnic groups ruled over Tarragona, none have left as many marks.

 It does not include the most extensive collection of Roman sites in Spain, but some very noteworthy ones. Why are you waiting? Let’s see Tarragona.

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Ancient Sites.

You can call them ancient sites, or the UNESCO World Heritage  Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco.  Either way, we are pretty much talking about the same thing.

Much of the circus is buried under the modern city.
Torre (Tower) de les Monges marks the only visible corner of the Roman Circus (chariot race stadium.)

 

It is fascinating on so many levels.
Because it is under the modern city, you need to go under to see the circus remains.

 

It was just outside the city walls near the sea.
The Roman Amphitheater could hold 15,000 spectators.

 

European cities get the importance of dramatic lighting. Even small villages light up their prize buildings and sites.
Dramatic lighting transforms the Roman Amphitheater in the evening.

 

You can imagine its original size.
See Tarragona’s Roman Forum. It has hundreds of years of history.

 

Some places you cant move without tripping over something Roman.
Ancient and not so old mix near the forum.

 

It can even boast some stained glass from before 1600 A.D.
The Tarragona Cathedral has more than 12 chapels and a museum worth seeing.

 

Some pieces, like this one, give us a clearer picture.
The carvings give us a glimpse in a moment in time.

If you visit no other sites while in the Tarragona area, the archeological museum and circus underground should be at the top of your list.

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Within the City Walls

First, we should talk about the walls themselves. The major fortification began around 200 B.C. with the idea of keeping the Carthaginians out.

The original walls encircling the town were over two miles in length. Today, about a third of them remain.

The walls are the oldest Roman construction outside Italy under conservation. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, they reinforce the walls with bulwarks, a shorter curtain wall, and exterior fortifications in preparation for the new types of artillery. A walk between the remaining gates is an excellent way to kill 45 minutes. Maybe you will learn a little something along the way.

When you consider they were all built by hand, it makes them that more amazing.
The wall’s durability is still strong after 2,200 years.

 

Without machines or modern cement, how did they build these?
A walk winds between the different walls.

 

They were built to keep everything out.
The depth of an archway gives you an idea of how thick the walls are.

 

Within the Walls

Everywhere you look, there is detail.
A typical street in the old town with hand-placed stones.

 

There are more than 15 chapels throughout the cathedral.
The cloister of the Cathedral.

Around every other corner, you are apt to stumble across another architectural or historical (or both) find. Get out and see Tarragona.

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Near Tarragona.

The most important and the most visited site is the aqueduct.

1900 years and still standing.
Dating from the 1st-century A.D., the Ferreres Aqueduct was one of two bringing water to Tarragona.

 

Could we design something so simple today?
There was no electricity or machines that required electricity. Gravity and a constant downhill slant created the water pressure.

The highlight is the castle.
An hour drive N.W. of Tarragona is Miravet, clutching to the hillside.

 

Kayaking and rowing are big sports on the river below.
The view from the Templar Castle over the village.

 

They were in this role for over 200 years.
Dating from 1059 A.D., the Altafulla castle is part of the defenses along the boundaries between the county of Barcelona and the territories of Al-Andalus.

 

It is also known for its church.
The village of Altafulla lies 20 minutes east of Tarragona.

See Tarragona

Explore the world of the Romans.

This is the most Roman town in Spain.

If you can get away from the tour groups, you can imagine noble Romans around the next corner.

Walk medieval passageways and admire the Gothic and Baroque architecture.

Or enjoy the local take on Catalan cuisine, wine, and excellent hospitality.

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