Tarragona Favorites

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Favorite thing: Tarragona was a ancient Roman Tarraco and kept the architecture of Classical Roman style. It is still possible to encounter such treasures as aphiteatre or circus, remains of old wall.

Year by year the town altered its view and quite impressive gothic buildings were constructed as Cathedral, King's castle.

Nowadays town is proud for keeping an old spirit and is quite remarkable place for those who interested in Roman Empire or medieval times. Let say one of the best Roman aqueduct is still kept, but a bit away from city centre (haven't visited it).

Favorite thing: The long Rambla Nova is the main thoroughfare in Tarragona for both locals and visitors to this beautiful city. Fun to wander along during the day, adorned with flowers stalls, newspaper stands, and regular markets and, not to be missed, the Statue of Castellers, an ideal photo opportunity! In the evenings indulge in the Spanish passion for 'paseo’ and wish 'buenos noches’ to passers by.
Rambla Nova boasts designer shops and restaurants. Pedestrianised down the centre, it was once a river bed, with kiosks selling books, pictures and newspapers. There is a twice weekly market selling clothes, household goods, animals i.e. live guinea pigs, rabbits, birds, chicks. Traffic in the city is not particularly a problem.

Fondest memory: My fondest memory of Tarragona? Where do I start, there are so many. In addition to the people, I would have to say, it would be, an evening stroll around the old town, and the dinner at one of the quaint, catalonian restaurants. Followed by a nightcap in the bar of the Hostal Noria, on the edge of Placa de la Font, observing daily catalan life at it's best!

Favorite thing: Let’s make no secret of it. We both like a nice cold glass of beer. Being abroad is always a challenge to find a beer we like, which reflects our taste of having a beer. In Australia it was sometimes rather difficult. We found out that there are quite some local beers, only known in that particular area. But anyway, we did like San Miguel.

Mahou is a Spanish brewing company, founded in Madrid in 1890 under the name of Hijos de Casimiro Mahou, fabrica de hielo y cerveza. (The Sons of Casimiro Mahou, maker of ice and beer). After the purchase of San Miguel corporation at the end of the 2000, the company was re-named Mahou-San Miguel, the greater Spanish brewing company. The San Miguel Especial is a nice beer and comes close to the lager we enjoy at home.

Favorite thing: Placa del Pallol is the last place on my itinerary of Roman remains. This lovely little square is right inside the Portal del Roser and it contains one of the two remainig fragments of the provincial forum. Of all the roman edifices inTarragona, the forum is the one which there is least left of. As with all roman cities, the forum played an important role in the life of the city and was its political and administrative centre. Unfortunately, all that remains today are two fragments: one reasonably substantial chunk on the Placa del Forum itself, and the other smaller one, here on the Placa del Pallol.
Unfortunately , the only photograph of the Placa del Pallol which I managed to salvage, has nothing to do with the Roman forum. It shows a very happy little dog getting a cooling bath in the fountain.But I really like this photo. It perfectly encapsulates hot sunshine and cool fountains - essential elememts of a September Sunday in Tarragona.

Favorite thing: The ancient walls had two gates: one on the western side of the city, the Roman-style Portal del Roser and the more classical-style Portal de Saint Antonio on the Eastern side. The photo shows the Portal del Roser, just at the entrance to the Paseig Arquelogic and if you look closely you can see clearly the three different layers which make up the stratification of the walls. On the bottom are huge foundation stones, in the middle is the typical Roman stonework and on top are stones added in the middle ages. Going out of the Portal del Roser is a major culture shock. It takes you out of the old quarter to the Via de L'Imperi Roma and from the enclosed shadowed world inside, you are suddenly exposed to a vast, crystal-clear panorama of the newer city spreading off into the distance.

Favorite thing: Without a doubt , the walk along the ancient city walls which enclose the old quarter on three sides, is one of the most spectacular attractions of Tarragona. These walls are the oldest Roman construction still standing outside of Italy and were started shortly after they arrived here in 218 BC.The walk which circumnavigates the walls, winds its way between the original Roman walls and the more modern, 16th -18th century reinforced additions. Parts of the route, especially around the Camp de Mart, goes through beautiful Mediterranean gardens and along the way you will pass three great towers which form part of the fortifications.

PH: 977 24 57 96
OPEN: Summer, Tues- Sat, 9-9; Sundays and bank holidays, 9-3
Winter: Tues- Sat, 9-5: Sundays and bank holidays, 10-3

Favorite thing: From Placa del Rei you can walk to the remains of the circus and visit the most important museum in Tarragona, the Musee Nacional Arqueologic. The square is very pretty with loads of outdoor cafes and trees and is oobviously popular with both tourists and locals. In the photo you can see the museum and also the tower /Praetoruium that once housed the stairs which connected the lower city to the forum. This tower was rebuilt in the middle ages asCastell Pilat and later converted to a royal residence, Castel del Rei.
The Museum has a formidable collection of Roman artifacts found during excavations in Tarragona and the mosaics, in particular are amazing. Unfortunately, by the time I got to Placa del Rei , it was after three so I didn't get to see them and had to make do with the photographs.

PH: 977 23 62 09 www.mnat.es
Check the website for opening times and admission costs.

Favorite thing: Moving upwards from the amphitheatre, passing by the seaward end of both Rambla Nova and Rambla Vella ( the two main thoroughfares of the new and old parts of the city), you will arrive at Passeig de las Palmeras. Near here are the largest remains of the Cirque Romans. This circus, like all Roman circuses was used for chariot racing, and extended from here as far as the Placa del Font, 325m x115m in size, with capacity for 30,000 spectators. Locating a circus within the city limits was unusual and it is quite intriguing as you amble around the old quarter of Tarragona, to find great lumps of what used to be the circus, embedded in buildings and people's houses. This section of the ruins is quite dramatic with its arches and tunnels and magnificent location high up over the sea.

PH: 977 23 01 71 WWW.tarragonaturisme.ie