tar01 - Roman Tarragona (Part Alt)

Tarragona station

Tarragona (NOT Camp de Tarragona)

Take the footbridge or stairs going up opposite the roundabout

Roger de Lluria Monument

Roger de Lluria was a Calabrian admiral in Aragonese service, who was the commander of the fleet of the Crown of Aragon during the War of the Sicilian Vespers. He was probably the most successful and talented naval tactician of the Middle Ages

El Nen de l'Oca fountain

Fountain with child holding a Goose neck by sculptor Josep Pujol Montané inaugurated in 1946 as part of the remodelisation of Passeig de les Palmeres.

Balcó del Mediterrani

airy cliff top viewpoint offering splendid views of the Mediterranean, the Tarragona port, Platja del Miracle beach, and the Roman Amphitheatre. The iron railings along the Balcó del Mediterrani were designed by the architect Ramon Salas i Ricomá in 1889.

Sundial

Roman Amphitheatre

Dating from the 2nd century A.D. on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the oval shaped amphitheatre was used as a venue for numerous popular events, including gladiatorial games. The pits in the main arena were used lo load animals and gladiators into the arena. In the central part of the amphitheatre, the remains of the plan of a Visigoth basilica are preserved (6th century) as well as those of a Romanesque-Gothic church from the 12th century.

Parc del miracle cafe

Roman Circus

The circus was the most popular mass spectacle in the Roman world because of the chariot races, pulled by two or four horses. The building dates from the end of the first century AD, during the reign of Domitian, and was part of the large provincial monumental complex, of which it occupied the lower terrace. The Roman circus of Tarraco had dimensions of approximately 325 meters in length and a width of between 100 and 115 meters. It was built on powerful cement vaults that fulfilled a double function: on the one hand, they were the foundation on which the steps, the stairs and the upper platform were based; on the other, they served as internal corridors that made it possible to distribute spectators throughout the building, much like a modern arena today. In this network of vaults rested the upper platform of the building and the bleachers, arranged along three of the sides, while in the fourth were the exit point of the carts.

Roman Praetorium

Around 73 AD, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, the Provincial Forum was built in the upper part of the city. It had the function of running the province from a political and economic point of view. The governing body of the new administrative network was the Consilium Provinciae Hispaniae Citerioris (Provincial Council) of which the governor was an active part. The Provincial Forum was divided into two terraces taking advantage of the unevenness of the terrain. On the upper terrace was located the imperial place of worship and below, the representation square. On a third terrace was the circus that, built a few years later, completed the monumental complex. During medieval times was a castle and kings residence.

Plaça del Rei

can be found outside the Roman Praetoruim building. The square has two churches, Nazareth and Trinity and Parish of the Holy Trinity. This square is the meeting place of the misteris, a procession of the Holy Burial during Holy Week.

Modern Art Museum

Plaça d'en Rovellat Jewish quarter

Is the centre of the Jewish quarter of Tarragona (Call jueu). The evidence points to the ruins and arches were the synagogue with school, bathhouse and residential properties around the synagogue. The Jewish district was established in the 12th century and grew till 1492, when the Semites were expelled from Spain.

Casa Canals

Casa Canals is a modern era stately home built in the Neoclassical style taking advantage of the existing 2nd Century Roman wall, the house is built into the structure of the wall and has been found to contain a Spanish Civil war (1936 - 1939) Air raid shelter in the basement and has been built on the remains of a 14th Century home.

Portal de San Antonio

The east gate through Tarragona wall. The current door is not of Roman origin, but was built in Savinosa stone with marble applications in 1737, in a Baroque style. Above the semi-circular arch, you can see the shield of Philip V, flanked by lions. In the keystone of the arch, there is the shield of Tarragona. On the sides there are two pilasters with military trophies in the Roman style.

Font d’Armanyà

The Mina de l'arquebisbe supplied water to the city of Tarragona since the 18th century. The water reached the city through an aqueduct. The work was promoted by Archbishop Joaquín de Santiyán i Valdivieso, between 1779 and 1783, and continued by his successor Archbishop Francesc Armanyà i Font. A fountain of that water is located in Plaça de San Antonio.

Plaça del Fòrum

Contains remains of the old representation square of the Roman provincial forum. On Saturdays hosts a fruit and vegetable market. Square used for celebrations during the festivities of Santa Tecla with various processions and events. The square was created after the Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939), since the bombings on the city destroyed part of the buildings that were erected inside the current square.

Plaça de Santiago Rossinyol

Former Plaça de les Cols, it has been documented as a vegetable market since medieval times. During the 14th century, with the consecration of the Cathedral in 1331, the construction of the Merceria porches was carried out. Square with an important cultural role in carrying out significant demonstrations during the city's patronal festivities.

Catedral de Tarragona

Dedicated to Saint Tecla, Tarragona Cathedral was built on approximately the same site of what was once the Roman temple of Jupiter that formed part of the provincial forum, being the seat of the Tarraco provincial government in the 1st century A.D. Later it became a Visigothic cathedral and Moorish mosque. When exploring the cloisters, there is a door that exposes the foundations of the various ages of construction.

Pla de Palau

Medieval square behind the Cathedral. Oil and soap were measured and sold in this square.

Plaça de Sant Joan

Typical square with small houses all made of stone, the most interesting of which are the ones embedded in the Roman wall. There is also a fountain of modern construction, on the wall of the garden of the Lord Archbishop, which is popularly known as Font de la Pitja.

Passeig Arqueològic Roman Wall

The archaeological walk is along the kilometre of Roman wall that surrounds the old town of Tarragona, between the original Roman Wall and the outer countermure defence wall which was added later. We can see additions from modern times and visit the Arquebisbe and Minerva towers. The wall was the first major construction by the Romans shortly after settling on the site, originally a wooden structure. The original military settlement was the origin of the future city of Tarraco. The Roman city quickly became the bridgehead due to the arrival of reinforcements from Rome which resulted in the need to strengthen the defences that existed until then. Between 217 and 197 BC, the first stone wall was built. It consists of uneven stone blocks reinforced with towers at the most vulnerable points. The height of the perimeter walls was 6 meters and the thickness 4.5 meters with taller towers.

Portal del Roser

The west gate through Tarragona wall and the main entrance for visitors approaching from the landward side of the city. The portal.

Plaça del Pallol

The buildings in Plaça del Pallol correspond to part of the central gallery of the western side of the square that represents the Provincial Forum (1st century AD). The Pallol arcade formed part of the constructions of the great square of the Provincial Forum of Tarraco and must have been, in Roman times, a long gallery that ran behind the portico and was used to support a second floor. Externally the western wall of the arcade is conserved up to a height of 17.70 metres. A door with a sem icircular arch opens into the wall that forms a part of the same building. The rest of the arcade was built using Roman concrete. The current Plaça de Pallol layout is documented back to the 16th century under the name of Pla de Sant Feliu, although we know that it existed before that.

Casa Museu Castellarnau

Dates from the middle ages and has been remodelled various times throughout history with the current layout being that of the 18th century noble house. Today forms part of the Museu d'História de Tarragona (MHT) collection.

Escales de la Baixada Misericòrdia

Medieval stairs from the highest part of Tarragona that housed the Roman Provincial Forum down to the lower part that housed the Roman Circus.

Roman Circus remains

Gran Mural Callejero

The first thing that will capture your attention is the giant Mural that occupies the whole side of a building. The painter and muralist Carles Arola is the author of this work. Using the trompe-l'oeil technique, this façade simulates its decoration with elements and characters typical of the 19th century, in addition to introducing festive elements of the city such as the big heads during the festivals of Sant Magí and Santa Tecla. Note the the representation of the author's own workshop, the self-portrait of him on the balcony and the horse poking it's head out of the barn door.

Plaça de la Font

The largest public square in Tarragona Part Alta is dominated by the building with a neoclassical façade of the city's Town Hall. The square occupies part of the footprint of the Roman Circus arena where chariots would race. Since the 14th century, the popular Tarragona fair has taken place in this square. In the Middle Ages many public performances took place here. The square was known as Plaza del Corral. Note the streetlights by Ramón Salas (1889). The square is lined with Bars and Restaurants and is vibrant in the evenings.

Eglèsia de Sant Francesc

Església de Sant Agustí

Circo romano remains

Porticat d'època baiximperial

Carrer dels Calderers

Carrer de les Moles

Plaza Nazarenos

Carrer d'en Mediona

Arc de Toda

Carrer de Santa Anna

Carrer de la Civaderia