Tarragona Things to Do

There are many museums and historical monuments in Tarragona. The first one I visited was the Amphitheatre and I was asked if I wanted to have a single ticket to the site or a combination ticket valid for six museums/monuments. I took the combination ticket which was 9.25 Euro.
Museums/monuments included in that ticket are:
The Amphitheatre
Fòrum Romà
Casa Canal
Casa Castellarnau
Pretori i Circ Romans
Muralles - Passeig Arqueològic
First I thought the Archaeology National Museum was included as well but as it wasn’t I decided to visit that museum last, if I had time, but unfortunately I didn’t.

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The Amfiteatre is a well preserved example of Tarragona's impressive Roman heritage. Many of the seating areas are still quite in tact and you can wander to your heart's delight through the old Roman theatre. Notice, as you walk through the centre of the amfiteatre that it was also used as a place of worship for local Christians after the area was converted to Christianity. The church is no longer standing, but you can make out the ruins of a basilica in the centre.

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Tarragona is part of that privileged group of cities that has converted its historical heritage into a symbol of identity. The city's Roman monuments are included in the UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites and was one of the main reasons why we wanted to visit Tarragona and especially the Forum Local Romà.

From the end of the 3th century and throughout the 2nd century BC Tarraco was a free or federated Roman city, as well as being a very important winter camp for the legions. Under Julius Caesar it became the 'Celonia lulia Urbs Triumphalis Tarraco', and from then on it began to be provided with political and administrative structures necessary for a Roman colony. The Forum was the nerve centre of Roman Tarraco. The city's main streets led to it and it was the focal point for all public activities. As such, it became the meeting place for the local elite, as well as being the administrative centre. It was, in summary, the centre of the social and political life of the colony. Time to explore!

Opening hours:
1 october to the week before Easter:
* Tuesday - Saturday: 09:00u - 17:00u;
* Sunday and public holidays: 10:00u - 15:00u;
* Monday closed.

Easter to 30 september:
* Tuesday - Saturday: 09:00u - 21:00u;
* Sunday and public holidays: 09:00u - 15:00u;
* Monday closed.

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The Forum Local Romà was located in the lower part of the Roman city, in the residential area, half way between the provincial administration sector and the port. Today it is delimited by Cervates, Lleida, Soler and Gasometre Street. We had some difficulties on finding the entrance at Lleida Street and we even walked under the footbridge over Soler Street, seeing both parts of the Forum, but not able to enter it. Quite rustrating!

But anyway, we found the entrance and were pleasantly surprised by the friendly entrance fee of €2,20 per adult and the kids were free! We learned that a large number of sections of buildings have been excavated in this particular area and many inscriptions and statues have been found, especially of emperors and members of the imperial family. We immediately saw one of the main buildings of the Forum - the judicial basilicia, which was built in the time of either Augustus or Tiberius and would have been located at the northeastern end of the forum square. The preserved remains include some of the columns that separated the main nave from the side naves and a series of small rooms that were probably the offices of the judicial administration.

Opening hours:
1 october to the week before Easter:
* Tuesday - Saturday: 09:00u - 17:00u;
* Sunday and public holidays: 10:00u - 15:00u;
* Monday closed.

Easter to 30 september:
* Tuesday - Saturday: 09:00u - 21:00u;
* Sunday and public holidays: 09:00u - 15:00u;
* Monday closed.

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Iris had quite the time of her life. She climbed up columns and jumped off huge and old brick stones. Filled with historical notion she shouted:"Gheee, it's quite a fun place, isn't it?"

We continued our tour by visiting the Curia, where the local senate (Ordo Decurionum) would have met. Crossing the footbridge over Soler Street we first saw the remains of a building (possibly a second basilica or a porticus), of which only part of the floor and a series of column foundation remained. Next we came to the remains of a small peristyle and plain columns in front of a room with some deposits lined with flagstones (City's Public Treasury). We also saw the colony's main temple and the initerary ended with remains of an area of Roman housing and a paved street. On our way back to the entrance we stopped at the commemorative bust dedicated to Monsignor Joan Serra Vilaró, the archaeologist who excavated this site around 1920. And quite a site it is, a must see!

Opening hours:
1 october to the week before Easter:
* Tuesday - Saturday: 09:00u - 17:00u;
* Sunday and public holidays: 10:00u - 15:00u;
* Monday closed.

Easter to 30 september:
* Tuesday - Saturday: 09:00u - 21:00u;
* Sunday and public holidays: 09:00u - 15:00u;
* Monday closed.

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During our stay in Tarragona we enjoyed its splendid nature, mild climate and an extraordinary set of monuments. The town was founded by the Romans, was a military base for the conquest of the lands of the peninsula and it became the capital of the Tarraconense Hispania. Its importance is evident in the quantity and scope of the constructions from this period., which extend from the high parts down to the sea. In 2000, the city was declared World Heritage by UNESCO. The L'Amfiteatre Romà is definately one of the masterpieces to see as it is well preserved.

Maybe we wanted to see and relive the scenes of lions and gladiators? Whatever our reason was to visit L'Amfiteatre Romà, it was a good one, as we liked it a lot. The amphitheater is located by the sea, outside the old Roman city. When we hiked the Walls of Tarragona we already could see it and just like a magnet it just sucked us towards it.

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Like we said: Tarragona played a main role during the Roman domination of Hispania (Iberian Panisnula). In those years many of the city's monuments were erected. We left the walled city and via a stop at a playing ground for kids, we walked towards L'Amfiteatre Romà. The location of the amphitheater wasn't chosen by accident. It is very close to the Via Augusta (main road towards Rome), just before the road enters the city, and near the beach, where the animals used in the spectacles were disambarked.

The amphitheatre completed the trio of buildings (theatre, circus and amphitheater) to hold spectacles in, which were the symbols of an important Roman city and capital of an Imperial province. Its construction was made possible by the euergetic donation of an (yet unknown) Imperial Priest. At the information sign, just next to the entrance, we read that two types of spectacles were held here: gladiator combats (munera) and wild animal hunts (venationes). It was also used to execute prisoners who had been redemned to death.

Below the Balcón extends the Parque del Milagro, in which L'Amfiteatre Romà was excavated in 1952. The building has an elliptical ground plan. The arena, or area where the spectacles took place measures 62,50 metres by 38,50 metres and is sperated from the stands by a 3,25 metres high podium. The stands (cavea) were divided into three sections (maeniana). On the northern side they were cut out of the rock and on the rest of the amphitheater they were built over vaults. We could clearly see and identify for ourselfs the tribune, the main gate into the arena and a very small part of the facade. Quite amazing to learn that the amphitheater had seating for 12000 spectators.

When we arrived at the gates we were sorry to see that it was closed. But a friendly guard let us in, because we were dying to see the 'fossae' where the mural painting dedicated to Nemesis was discovered. We were in and out in no time, just enough time to take one picture, but we were very thankful for this fast trip. The guard also told us that two the Deacons Augurius and Eulogius were burned alive in the arena. This act inspired the construction of a basilica in the 6th century. In the 12th century the Romanesque church of Santa Maria del Miracle were built on the remains of the early-Christian basilica. A fascinating historical place it is!