Tarragona city in eastern Spain on the Mediterranean Sea, in southern Catalonia; capital of the province of the same name and the comarca of Tarragonès. The city had 134,883 inhabitants in 2022. The Tarragona municipal union is the twentieth largest in Spain and has 348,921 inhabitants. There is a large seaport in Tarragona. The city is home to a university (Universitat Rovira i Virgili).There is a Tarragona train station in the city. Aeropuerto de Reus airport is located 7.5 km from the city.The city has developed chemical, food, metal, wood, electrical, textile and refining industries.
- Tarragona Cathedral. Its construction began in 1184 on the remains of an old Christian basilica, which in turn occupied the site of an Arab mosque from the 10th century. It is in a transitional style from Romanesque to Gothic. It has a Latin cross plan, with three naves and an accentuated transept, over which rises an octagonal dome. The naves end in three circular apses. On the main façade are two Romanesque doors from the 12th century with a beautiful openwork rosette. The door has an image of the Virgin and Child on the jamb. Inside, the main altar from the 15th century, the work of Pere Johan, stands out. It is made of polychrome alabaster and is distinguished by the sculptures of the Virgin Mary, Saint Thecla and Saint Paul. The Gothic jewels of the church are the Archbishop’s Tomb located in the main altar and the Chapel of Santa Maria from the 14th century. In the Diocesan Museum, the most notable feature is the collection of tapestries from the Brussels workshops and the altarpiece by Jaime Huguet.
- Roman amphitheater. The amphitheater, built in the 2nd century AD on the Mediterranean coast, hosted various popular shows, such as gladiator fights. It has an elliptical plan, typical of this type of building. Under the arena, the performance stage, there are pits that serve auxiliary functions. In the central part of the amphitheater, there are remains of the floor plan of the Visigothic basilica (6th century) and the Romanesque-Gothic church from the 12th century. It is part of the complex of monuments in Tarraco, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- The aqueduct is called the Devil’s Bridge. The time of its construction is not specified, many authors agree that it was built in the time of Augustus. It was restored during the reign of Caliph Abd-el Rahman III and in the 18th century. It is called the Devil’s Bridge because legend has it that it was built by the Devil after winning a bet in which a certain woman bet on her soul. It was originally 25 km long, and is currently 217 m and 27 m high. It is part of the complex of monuments in Tarraco, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- Viewpoint. It is located at the end of Rambla Nova and offers a beautiful view of Tarragona. In this area, in addition to admiring the Mediterranean in all its splendor, you can see one of the most emblematic monuments of the city: the monument to Admiral Roger de Llúria.
- Roman and Paleochristian Necropolis. In the years 1923-1933, as a result of archaeological excavations conducted here, the remains of a very important historically Paleochristian cemetery were discovered. This necropolis was used from the time of Roman rule until the 7th century. Various types of pagan and Christian burials were found there, such as sarcophagi, tombs, amphorae, etc. Most of these finds can now be admired in the Archaeological Museum of Tarragona. It is part of the complex of monuments in Tarraco, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- Tarragona’s defensive walls. Several sections and three towers of the ancient Roman walls have survived.The Roman walls of this city are known as the Archaeological Passage (Paseo Arqueológico). They were built between the end of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 2nd century BC. Only the uppermost part of the former layout has survived. It consists of several sections of walls and three towers: the Cabiscol, the Minerva and the Archbishop. The Minerva Tower has the most typical Roman character, while the Archbishop’s Tower underwent a series of modifications in the Middle Ages.It is part of the complex of monuments in Tarragona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- National Archaeological Museum. The exhibits illustrate the process of Romanization of the Iberian Peninsula.This museum, founded in the 19th century, is the oldest in Catalonia in its specialty. Most of its collections are the result of excavations carried out over the last 150 years in the nearby early Christian necropolis. The material exhibited in this facility highlights the historical and monumental importance of the Roman city of Tarraco. Its rooms contain numerous remains of sculptures, mosaics, architecture, ceramics, domestic and military utensils, amphorae, costumes, funerary objects, coins… Many of these objects come from important historic areas of the city, such as the theatre, the circus, the amphitheatre and the forum.Temporarily closed for renovation. While the renovation is ongoing, the cross-sectional exhibition TARRACO/MNAT is open in its temporary location in hangar T4 of the port of Tarragona.
- The Praetorium and the Roman Circus. They are part of the monumental complex of Tarraco, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Praetorium is located in one of the corners of the city square of the forum. It is a tower that houses the stairs leading from the Lower Town and the circus to the Provincial Forum, with which it is connected by underground passages. In the 12th century it became the castle of the kings of the Crown of Aragon. The circus was built at the end of the 1st century, between the Via Augusta and the city forum. The building was intended to organize shows, such as chariot races. It fulfilled this function until the 5th century, and its capacity is estimated at about 30,000 spectators.
- Roman Forum. It is a historic complex consisting of a square on a rectangular plan. There were shops and various buildings on it, among which the Senate assembly building Casa de la Curia is worthy of attention. It is part of the complex of monuments in Tarraco, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
