Tarragona: Tarraco, Roman monuments and beaches
Tarragona carries within it an extraordinary chapter of Roman history through Tarraco. The Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco is located in Tarragona. Tarraco was the first and oldest Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula. The amphitheatre completed Tarragona’s trio of important Roman buildings for theatrical spectacles: the theatre, circus and amphitheatre.
Roman History
Gladiatorial combats (munera) as well as fights or hunts involving wild animals (venationes) were held in the amphitheatre. Chariot races took place in the Roman circus; the chariots were usually drawn by two or four horses. The circus was built towards the end of the 1st century AD and is exceptionally well preserved. Its construction history therefore links the building’s origins with an element of the Roman cityscape that can still be clearly identified today.
The Forum of the Colony was the social and political centre of the Roman colony. It was located in the lower part of the Roman city, in the residential area between the provincial administrative district and the port. The Provincial Forum was built in the upper part of the city around 73 AD under Emperor Vespasian. It served the political and economic administration of the province.
The Roman city wall was the first major construction the Romans built in Tarragona. Tarragona’s first stone Roman city wall was built between 217 and 197 BC. Casa Canals is an elegant modern-era residence built incorporating the Roman city wall. Casa Castellarnau was built at the beginning of the 15th century. The les Ferreres Aqueduct also belongs to Tarragona’s Roman past: it was built in the 1st century AD. Its water channel collected water at the site of today’s village of Puigdelfí and carried it to Tàrraco.
Paths and Hiking
Tarragona’s public network of paths comprises 75 kilometres of signposted routes. There are also eight self-guided hiking routes: four within the city and four in the surrounding area close to the city. The routes begin at locations accessible by public transport and can be completed entirely on foot. For such tours, current trail conditions and transport times can be checked before setting out, especially when a specific starting point or a fixed route is planned.
Beaches
Platja de la Savinosa is a 350-metre-long and 30-metre-wide beach with fine sand. Tarragona has four beaches designated as unspoilt: Cala Jovera, Platja de l'Arboçar, also known as Cala Fonda or Waikiki, Platja de Becs, also known as La Roca Plana, and Platja dels Capellans.
Other places that belong directly to Tarragona are La Mòra, Tamarit, Torreforta and Monnars.
To the higher-level travel overview: Tarragona.
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