In the city
Roman amphitheater
Located near the sea, it was built at the end of the 2nd century and had a capacity for 15,000 people. With the passage of time, he underwent several transformations, according to the destiny that was given him at each moment.
Initially, it was intended for gladiatorial fighting, as well as animal fights, athletic exhibitions and Christian martyrdom.
With the arrival of the first Christian emperors, a Basilica of three naves was built in the center of the arena, commemorating precisely the place of martyrdom of the three saints of the Tarraconense Church, San Fructuoso, San Augurio and San Eulogio, being subsequently replaced for a Romanesque Church.
Roman circus
It was built at the end of the first century, by order of the Roman Emperor Domitian, with a capacity of 25,000 people, in which the chariot races conducted by the Aurigas were celebrated.
Built within the walled city, between the Via Augusta and the Provincial Forum, it measures 310 meters long and 120 meters wide.
Today it still conserves the eastern head of the same one next to the walls, as well as diverse inner turns, through which the sand was acceded.
It remained in use until the middle of the fifth century, being one of the most important of the Roman Empire.
From that moment, the city of Tarragona encompassed the circus facilities.
Roman theatre
Located in the surroundings of the Complex of the Forum of the Colony of the city of Tarraco. It was built in the time of Augustus, at the end of the 1st century BC.
In the third century a fire was declared that devastated the area where the theater was located and as a consequence, most of its location was destined to housing.
Archaeological walk and walls
In the 2nd century BC, the Romans built a great wall that delimited the urban perimeter in a length of 3,500 meters.
Currently about 1,100 meters are preserved, which surround the Old Town of Tarragona.
It is the oldest Roman architectural construction of all preserved outside of Italy. Between the XV and XVIII centuries, the wall was adapted to the military fortifications suitable for the defense of the artillery, highlighting of them, the Archbishop's Tower and the one of Minerva.
The latter contains the sculpture and the oldest Roman inscription on the Iberian Peninsula.
It is advisable to walk among gardens along the wall.
National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona -MNAT-
Created in the mid-nineteenth century as a provincial museum, it is the oldest of its kind in Catalonia.
It is dedicated to the recovery, conservation, research and dissemination of heritage from the Roman Tarraco.
In addition to archaeological pieces from Roman times and early Christianity, its rooms also house a Library. Located in the Plaza del Rey, next to the Roman Praetorium.
In the vicinity of the city of Tarragona
The Pont del diable
It is the Roman aqueduct of Tarragona.
Called the aqueduct of Les Ferreres -because of the area where it is located- it was built in the 1st century BC. by Augusto and is a part of the different channels that supplied water from the Francolí River to the city of Tarraco.
Located 4 km north of Tarragona, it is 217 meters long and 27 meters high. It has two levels with superimposed arches built on ashlars.
You can walk along the road that goes along the Francolí River.
Arco de Bará
It is a triumphal arch built by the Romans during the reign of Emperor Augustus, around the year 13 a.C.
The Via Augusta ran under its arch of half a point. It was erected in order to mark territorial limits, avoiding disputes between tribes.
It is located about 20 kms. to the northeast of Tarragona, in the town of Roda de Bará.
Tower of the Scipios
Funerary tower built by the Romans at 6 kms. from the city, on Via Augusta, next to highway 340 towards Barcelona.
Built in the middle of the 1st century next to the Via Augusta, which crossed the whole Peninsula, from the Pyrenees to Cádiz, it is built with rectangular ashlars and consists of two reliefs attached to its East face, representing the god of Phrygia Attis, divinity of death and resurrection.
Its name comes from an error in the identification of the two mentioned reliefs of the god Attis who, for years, were related to the Escipión brothers, considered the founders of Tarraco.
Roman quarry of El Mèdol
Located at 6 kms. of Tarragona, next to the National Highway 340, towards Barcelona. It is a calcareous quarry, excavated in the period of the Roman Empire, approximately 200 meters long and between 10 and 40 meters wide, next to the Via Augusta .
The most important buildings of Tarraco were built with stones from the same. In the center of the quarry there is a column of original intact rock, which attests to the amount of stones extracted.
Villa dels Munts
Located about 10 kms. of Tarragona, in the municipality of Altafulla, in it the remains of a Roman residential area of the second century are conserved.
In its hot springs, in addition to the mosaic pavements, traces of the coverings with marble plates are preserved on the walls of the pools.
Villa Mausoleum of Centcelles
Located 7 kms. of Tarragona, in the municipality of Constantí and next to the Francolí river.
This Villa mausoleum, built between the 1st and 2nd centuries, stands out for how well preserved it has survived to this day and with mosaics of exceptional value located in its dome.
It is one of the buildings of the Province that contains more original late Roman vestiges.
