The Top Things To Do And See In Tarragona, Spain
The Tarragona province sits within the southern part of Catalonia and is filled with historic towns and cities, beautiful beaches, and soaring mountains. Its capital is the city of Tarragona, lying along the coast approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Barcelona. Here, remains of an old Roman city mix with a lively port, stunning beaches, fascinating museums, and a charming medieval center.
Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona
Museum
Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona
This excellent museum is the place to go if you want to learn more about the city’s Roman past. It features displays of mosaics, including the near-complete Mosaic de Peixos de la Pineda, featuring fish and other marine life. Plaques are only in Catalan and Spanish, but an audio guide is available and included in your entrance fee.
Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona, Plaça del Rei, Tarragona, Spain, +34 977 23 62 11
Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona | © Enfo/WikiCommons
Tarragona Cathedral and Museu Diocesà
Cathedral, Museum
Tarragona Cathedral and Museu Diocesà
Built on the highest point in the city, on the same spot as an ancient Roman temple, construction on the cathedral began in the 12th century and was in the Romanesque style, with Gothic elements added at a later date. One of its most striking features is its façade with a large rose window – also worth a look are the beautiful cloisters and gardens. Head up to the bell tower to see one of the best views over the city, and then stop to take a look at the Museu Diocesà inside – a museum filled with Roman objects and religious woodcarvings.
Catedral de Tarragona, Plaça Pla de la Seu, Tarragona, Spain, +34 977 22 69 35
Fòrum de la Colònia
Ruins
Fòrum de la Colònia
The city’s old Roman forum – the religious and social center of the old Roman city – used to cover most of Tarragona’s old town, and many of its vestiges can still be seen today. Old arches and mighty columns juxtapose against the city’s more modern structures. Built around the year 30 BC, excavations and ruins of old Roman streets, shops, and even temples remain.
Fòrum Romà, Carrer de Lleida,Tarragona, Spain, +34 977 25 07 95
Amfiteatre Romà
Amfiteatre Romà
One of the highlights of any visit to Tarragona is its old Roman Amphitheater. Built in the 2nd century, right next to the sea, it measures 109.5 by 86.5 meters and could once hold around 14,000 spectators. Much of its original structure remains, transporting visitors back to a time of gladiatorial battles and public executions.
Amfiteatre Romà, Parc de l’amfiteatre, Tarragona, Spain, +34 977 24 25 79
Museu i Necròpolis Paleocristians
Museum
Museu i Necròpolis Paleocristians
Just south of Tarragona, archaeologists discovered a Roman burial site consisting of over 2,000 tombs. Some are thought to be the remains of a bishop and his deacons who were killed in the city’s amphitheater around 259 AD. The construction of a basilica and important burial site, built in honor of these martyrs, gives a good insight into Roman burial traditions and culture. The museum acts as an interpretation center and also displays many of the tombs and sarcophagi found there.
Necròpolis Paleocristians de Tarragona, Avinguda de Ramón y Cajal, 84, Tarragona, Spain, +34 977 21 11 75
Museu i Necròpolis Paleocristians | © Fernando Fernández Baliña/WikiCommons
Platja del Miracle
Platja del Miracle
Stretching 500 meters along the edge of the city, this beautiful beach has fine sand and is ideal for swimming in the warmer months of the year. As well as beachside cafés and restaurants, it has facilities such as showers and changing rooms.
Platja del Miracle, Passeig Maritim Rafael Casanova, Tarragona, Spain
Miracle Beach, Tarragona | © makamuki0/Pixabay
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