Sights of Tarragona: how to feel the spirit of history in a modern city in ➀ a day. What to look for in the Monastery. Main Tourist Office

During the era of the Roman Empire, Tarragona was listed as the capital of Tarraconian Spain. Nowadays it's quiet tourist town, With big amount attractions, some of which are UNESCO heritage sites. Tarragona is a port city and is famous for its cuisine based on freshly caught seafood and fish. This city is famous for its golden beaches and celebrations. Here every tourist will find a rest to their liking and taste. If you are planning to relax here, then we have prepared the best for you. sights of Tarragona worth seeing.

1. Tarragona Cathedral

The main religious sights of Tarragona include the cathedral. It was erected on the site where a Roman building stood about two thousand years ago. The construction of the cathedral began in the second half of the 12th century, and was consecrated only in the first half of the 14th century. Due to the fact that the construction of the cathedral dragged on for several centuries, its appearance has elements of various architectural styles. The facade of the building is decorated with a relief image that illustrates the time of the Last Judgment. For connoisseurs of ancient architecture, this cathedral will give many unforgettable experiences.

2. Roman amphitheater

A real example of antiquity in Tarragona is the Roman amphitheater. It was built around the 1st-2nd centuries AD. This amphitheater has witnessed gladiator fights and the burning of high-ranking Christian priests. It will also be interesting for tourists to visit museum exposition, which was opened at the amphitheater. This building is located on a hill near the sea and allows you to enjoy a pleasant landscape. sea coast. Leaving the Roman amphitheater, visitors find themselves on the main street of Tarragona, from where they can continue their acquaintance with the city.

3. Devil's Bridge (Roman aqueduct)

One of the most beautiful places in Tarragona is the ancient aqueduct De las Ferreras (also called the Devil's Bridge). It was built by the Romans to supply the city with water. The construction technology never ceases to amaze the minds of architects to this day - the bridge was built using huge boulders and without a connecting mortar. Only part of the aqueduct has survived to this day, but it still amazes tourists with its grandeur. Nowadays, the structure is used as a bridge to cross the gorge. Visitors can also stroll through the romantic surroundings of the Ecohistorical Park.

4. New Rambla

New Rambla is the main pedestrian street of the city. Every year, thousands of tourists stroll along the New Rambla, visiting cafes and shops with souvenir shops, which are all dotted here. Also, this street is famous for its interesting and unusual architectural monuments. Life on the New Rambla never stops, it is full of happy people who are accompanied by street musicians. Citizens celebrate all celebrations on this street, and tourists can join this holiday of the soul.

5. Pretorius

Another ancient attraction of Tarragona is Pretorium, or as it is also called the Roman circus. It was erected in the 1st century - at the dawn of the new millennium. In its current dilapidated form, it is recognized world heritage UNESCO. Admirers of the Roman era will be very interested in visiting Pretorium in Tarranona. To look at the spectator stands lying in ruins, to walk along underground corridors, to walk under almost destroyed vaults and to examine the remains of tombstones of bygone eras means to touch history.

6. Fortress wall

Be sure to see the oldest prominent place in Tarragona - the Fortress Wall. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The wall was erected even before the ancient city of Tarraco was formed on this site. It surrounded the military camp and was originally made of wood. To date, the wall is divided into two parts: northern and southern. An archaeological boulevard has been created between them, which allows tourists to make walking tour. But it is worth noting that the boulevard runs along the northern part, because the southern one is poorly preserved, and some of its sections are unsuitable for walking.

7. Archaeological Museum

The popular tourist destination of Tarragona can rightfully be called the National Archaeological Museum. It consists of five halls, each of which contains ancient and very valuable exhibits. Here you can see everything - from Roman coins and household items to the head of Medusa Gorgon, and even parts of Roman buildings. Tourists can visit the archaeological museum any day. Other valuable sights of Tarragona are located near the museum, and from the observation deck located nearby Pretoria, a wonderful view of the local surroundings opens.

8. Roman Forum

The Roman City Forum, which has survived to our times in Tarragona, is a witness to the social life of the population of Tarraco. The forum was the meeting place of the Senate, court sessions, people's meetings were held in it, and decisions were made on various issues related to the administrative and public life of the city. On the territory of the forum, the ruins of the once existing treasury and the temple have been preserved. Nowadays, the forum is divided by Soler Street, along which tourists can walk and look at the sights of the forum.

9. Church of St. Francis

The religious landmark of Tarragona, with a discreet view from the outside, but bewitching inside, is the Church of St. Francis. The building of this temple was erected in the 18th century and is located on the New Rambla. Outwardly, the church is unremarkable, but the interior decoration amazes tourists with its wall manuscripts, frescoes, which can only be found in this temple. The ceiling is decorated with a rich forged chandelier. Even people indifferent to religion will enjoy a tour of the Church of St. Francis - a magnificent architectural structure.

Able to brag sunny weather, beautiful coastline and interesting ancient monuments, Tarragona is a port city that hugs the golden shores of the Costa Dorada.

Most of the city overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. Magnificent beach El Milagro is within walking distance of the main attractions. Echoes of ancient history await the visitor at every corner, from UNESCO-listed Roman ruins to medieval lanes and cobblestone streets, as well as a Romanesque-Gothic cathedral.

To soak up the quaint atmosphere of the Old World, you should go to the El Serrallo area - once a fishing village, where the big city began to emerge, which is now called Tarragona. In this atmospheric corner, tourists can take a walk along scenic trails and enjoy delicious fresh seafood at one of the waterfront restaurants.

Situated at the top of the city, this cathedral has both Romanesque and Gothic features, typical of the façade of many cathedrals in Spain. Here you can see Gothic vaults and Romanesque carved capitals. Inside the cathedral you can also find a small museum with its large collection of various objects, from Roman hairpins to beautiful polychrome wooden sculptures 12th and 14th century.

National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona

This archaeological museum has one of the most incredible collections of ancient Roman art in the country. Tourists here can see ancient finds that were found near historical monuments in the city.

Many will undoubtedly be amazed by the variety of exhibits, here are sculptures, ceramics, and other works of art. The main and most popular exhibits here are mosaics depicting Greek gods.

Adjacent to the museum, a huge Roman praetorium served as the residence of a Roman general. This impressive tower is known as the supposed birthplace of Pilate.

Location: Plaça del Rei - 5.

Next to the beach is this well-preserved amphitheater where gladiators fought each other or a wild animal. In its arena are the remains of 6th and 12th century churches built to commemorate the martyrdom of a Christian bishop and two deacons, who are believed to have been burned alive here in 259 AD.

Most of the amphitheater was taken to pieces, the stones were used to build the port, so now only a partial reconstruction of what was once an amphitheater can be seen here.

A walk through the old city will lead tourists to two lines of city walls. The inner ones are mostly Roman and date back to the 3rd century BC, while the outer ones were built in 1709 during the War of the Spanish Succession. But most of all, tourists admire the huge gate built by the Iberians, to the right of the entrance, there are steps that allow you to climb higher to enjoy incredible views of the city.

A walk to the old town is worth starting from Porta del Rozer.

This bridge is located near the labyrinths of dusty paths and clearings, 4 km from the central part of the city, not far from the AP7 motorway. This building dates back to the reign of Emperor Augustus.

The Devil's Bridge, consisting of a two-level arch, impresses with its design. The upper part has 25 arches, while the lower part has about 11. They are all the same diameter. The distance between each support post is 10 m.

This vast Roman Christian City of dead on the western edge of the city consists of more than 2000 complex tombs. It has been in use since the 3rd century BC and thus confirms the conversion of Rome to Christianity. Funerary objects and sarcophagi, ceramics and crypts are presented here.

On the west side of the Rambla Nova, this incredible historical monument, which was previously the center of the ancient city. The rectangular space (formerly the square) is the site of the remains of many Roman buildings, an important institution. All of them belong to the classical Roman era, when this place was called "Tarraco" and was the center of the province. Tourists should visit the Roman Curia, the most famous ruins that have been found in this area. They are open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, admission is free.

This large complex with two separate entrances includes part of the space where chariot races were once held, as well as the praetorium tower on Royal Square and the provincial forum, the political heart of the province of Tarraco. The Provincial Forum is a Roman archaeological site that was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. It has been built since 73 AD. by order of the emperor Vespasian and remained in use until the 5th century.

El Serrallo is an area in the central part of the city where once there was a fishing village. This area still has an old world charm, despite the fact that Tarragona has long since become a modern developed city. The incredible promenade is considered the main highlight here, it is also a good place for evening walks.

Here tourists can try local culinary masterpieces from seafood. Many restaurants stand right on the waterfront and can offer tourists a wonderful selection of delicious dishes. Many owners of cafes and restaurants buy fresh products every day at the nearby fish market.

This building was erected at the end of the 15th century specifically for an influential family living in the province. exquisite gothic interior furnished in the style typical of the house of Isabella II.

The most architecturally unusual features are the patio and the staircase with its row of Gothic columns. The rooms display impressive paintings. Now this building is open as a museum with an amazing ethnographic collection.

Location: Carrer dels Cavallers - 14.

Playa del Milagro beach

Tarragona appreciates the magnificence of beaches with clean beaches and warm water. From the main observation deck of the city hiking trails bring tourists straight to the beaches. The best of them is Playa del Milagro, a wide strip sandy shore, which stretches for a kilometer in length. The beach is located in the center, from here it is easy to get to the Roman amphitheater.

Monument unveiled on May 29, 1999 and dedicated to Catalan artists. It is located on the Rambla Nova. The monument is made of bronze and weighs twelve tons. It was created in the form of an improvised tower from 222 human figurines which are made with stunning detail. In many of these figures one can recognize such masters as Pablo Casals, Pablo Picasso, Antoni Gaudí, Joan Miro or Juan Antoni Samaranch and many others.

Street "El Carrer del Cós del Bou"

This street is part of one of the districts of Tarragona, which has long been faithful to the old traditions. Previously, this place was called "calle del hostal", but since 1552 it was decided to rename it. At the end of this street (where it ends at the Fish Market) there was a place where people were going to watch a bullfight. Two world famous musicians were born on this street: Josep Maria Pla i Mateu and Josep Sentís i Porta.

Monument "Torre dels Escipions"

This is a burial tower that the Romans built on the outskirts of the province. It is considered one of the best architectural buildings in Tarragona. The tower was built in the 1st century AD, a few kilometers from the main Roman road that crossed the entire peninsula from the Pyrenees to Cadiz. This is one of the ancient Roman burial structures, which still remains the most historically important in the entire Iberian Peninsula.

Church of St. John the Baptist (Parroquia De Sant Joan Baptista)

Second oldest religious center in the city after the cathedral, work on which began on September 5, 1802. Since 1805, this church has been a haven for the Capuchins in Catalonia. But in 1835 the Capuchins had to leave this place. In early 1840, the church served as a place of worship under the leadership of Bonaventura Homs, who was also the first rector of the parochial institute located in this church.

Location: Plaça General Prim - 8.

Tarragona, one of the oldest cities in Spain, stands on a hill on the Mediterranean coast.

Ruins of Roman buildings Tarragona was listed in 2000.

Weather in Tarragona:

Getting around in Tarragona:

The railway station of Terragona is located near the sea coast; The bus station is located in the northeast of the city.

Tarragona is divided into two parts by Rambla Vella (Rambla Vella), laid along the ancient Roman road Via Augusta, connecting Rome and Cadiz. To the north of the Rambla Vella are the old quarters with numerous monuments from the Roman period and the cathedral; they are surrounded by a fortress wall. To the south of Rambla Vella there are new quarters, the main street of which is Rambla Nova (Rambla Nova street).

A few kilometers from Tarragona are two medieval monasteries: Santes Creus (Santes Creus) and Santa Maria Poblet (Santa Maria Poblet), the burial place of the Aragonese kings.

One day is enough to inspect Tarragona; this is definitely worth a visit for those who are interested in the ancient history of Spain and who want to admire the perfectly preserved Roman monuments.

Tarragona tourist offices:

Main Tourist Office

Carrer Maior, 39, 977 24 50 64,
Mon-Sat 10.00-14.00, 16.00-19.00, Sun 10.00-14.00.

Tourist office of the province of Tarragona

Carrer de Fortuny, 4, 977 23 34 15,
Mon-Sat 10.00-14.00, 16.00-18.30, Sat 9.15-14.00, Sun closed

How to get to Tarragona:

Railway station

Passeig Maritim Rafael de Casanovas, 500 m from the city centre.
(3 times a day, 28.65 €) ,
(50 times a day, 1 hour 45 minutes, from 4.15 €) ;
(up to 15 times a day, 2-3 h. 45 min., 14.10 €) ,
(3-3 h 45 min, 13.10 €) ,
as well as trains to coastal cities and to.

Bus station

Placa Imperial de Tarraco, in the northeast of the city.
(up to 9 times a day, Sat and Sun - 1-2, 1 h. 45 min., 7.90 €);
Lleida (6 times a day).
Flights to , Pamplona and cities .

By car: Highways A7, N340.

History of Tarragona:

218 to out. During the Second Punic War, Publius Cornelius Tarraco captured the Iberian settlement
Kess and in its place founded the city of Tarracon.
28-25 BC Wealthy Tarracon became the capital of the Roman province of Tarracon and all of Nearer Spain.
V. Tarracon (Tarragona) passes under the rule of the Visigoths.
714. Tarragona was captured by the Arabs.
809. Frankish troops conquered Tarragona from the Arabs, and it became part of the Spanish brand.
1117. Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, annexes Tarragona to the Catalan Principate; active construction began in the city.

Sights of Tarragona:

Tourist route in Tarragona

It is best to start a walk in Tarragona from the coastal hill (35 m), the so-called Mediterranean balcony (Balco del Mediterrani) from where you can see the sea, the city and the ruins Roman amphitheater (II century)- one of the few structures of this type in Spain. It could accommodate 12 thousand spectators who came to watch gladiator fights, theatrical performances or public executions. So, in 259, the first Christians of Tarragona were burned alive on the stage of the amphitheater - Bishop Fructuosus and deacons Augurius and Eulogius. In memory of their martyrdom, a basilica was built next to the amphitheater in the days of the Visigoths, and in the 12th century. appeared Romanesque-Gothic Church of Santa Maria del Miracle Iglesia Santa Maria del Miracle, now dilapidated).

Coming down the hill Rambla Vella, you will find yourself next to a well-preserved 4-kilometer stone wall 10 m high. It was built to protect the city at the end of the 3rd century. BC, but later it was repaired more than once. The weight of the huge blocks at the base of the wall reaches 3.5 tons.

Plaza del Rey:

Walk a little along the walls to Placa del Rei, where several monuments of the Roman era are concentrated at once:

circus,
the palace of the Roman governor (palacio Pretoria), who ruled the province of Tarraco and
Roman Museum (Museu de la Romanidad).

There you can go down to the underground covered passages of the Roman period discovered by archaeologists. This museum adjoins another, larger one - National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona Placa del Rei, 5, BC 10.00-14.00, June-Sept. Tue-Sat 10.00-20.00, Oct.-May Tue-Sat 10.00-13.30, 16.00-19.00, closed Mon), which contains archaeological finds from all over the province.

By Carrer Santa Anna (St. Santa Anna), past Church of Santa Anna you can go to Roman Forum (Forum Romano, I century), which in the first centuries of our era was the center of public life in the province of Tarragona. In the Middle Ages, this street passed through the Jewish quarter, and now there is Museum of Modern Art (Museu d'Art Modern, Carrer de Santa Anna, 8, Tue-Fri 10.00-20.00, Sat 10.00-15.00, 17.00-20.00, Sun 11.00-14.00, Mon closed).

To take a break from the Roman monuments, we advise you to go from Plaça del Forum (Pl. Forum) along Carrer Merceria to:

Cathedral of Tarragona:

Its entrance is located on Placa del la Seu(July 1-Oct 15 10.00-19.00, Oct 16-Nov 15 10.00-17.00, Nov 16-March 15 10.00-14.00, March 16-June 31 10.00-13.00, 14.00-19.00).

The Cathedral of Tarragona was built from the 12th to the 15th centuries. on the site of the ancient Roman temple of Jupiter, which was replaced by a mosque under the Arabs. In 1171, Archbishop Hugo de Cervello bequeathed a significant amount for the construction of the cathedral, but the construction was completed only in 1331, so the appearance of the temple combines the features of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, while Moorish type ceilings, Gothic chapels, and the altar of the 15th century are preserved inside. dedicated to St. Tekle - the patroness of Tarragona, the sarcophagus of Archbishop Juan of Aragon of the XIV century. A small museum has been opened in the treasury of the cathedral - you can get into it from the courtyard, the columns of which are decorated with very expressive capitals (the most famous image is the "Rat Procession" - rats are carrying a dead cat).

Around Tarragona Cathedral:

The Roman walls surrounding the city come close to the cathedral; from the outside, a walking alley is laid along them Passeig Arqueologic(Passeich-Archeolozhik), leading around the northern part of the wall and allowing you to see in detail ancient walls (western entrance Portal del Roser located on the side of Avinguda de Catalunya). But if on the one hand there really is a Roman wall, then on the other - a wall of a much later time (XVIII), erected by the British during the War of Spanish Succession.

Not far from the entrance to the medieval palace Casa Castellarnau located Museum of the History of Tarragona, Carrer dels Cavaliers, 14. Easter-Sept. Tue-Sat 10.00-21.00, Sun 9.00-15.00 Sept.-Easter. Tue-Sat 9.00-17.00, Sun 10.00-15.00, Mon closed).

Ancient Roman heritage of Tarragona:

From the museum you can go down a narrow street-staircase to the former Roman market square, Placa de la Font, which is now located City Hall (Ayuntamiento) and continue on to the new part of the city, where two more interesting monuments of the Roman period have been preserved.

Carrer de Sant Francesc (St. Sant Francesc) will lead to the ruins of another Forum (Forum Romano); unlike the one located in the old part of the city, this forum discussed issues related exclusively to city problems, and not to the whole province - therefore it was smaller than the central one in size. Next to the forum, archaeologists have unearthed the pavements of ancient streets.

Continuing west along Avinguda de Ramon i Cajal (Avinguda de Ramon i Cajal) and passing a tobacco factory, you will come to one of the most famous early Christian in Spain Necropolis (Necropolis Paleocristins) located on the banks of the Francoli River (Sun 10.00-14.00, June 1-Sept. 30 Tue-Sat 10.00-20.00, Oct. No. 4).

Early Christian burials of the 3rd-5th centuries have been preserved here. The cemetery is open Museum of Early Christianity (Museu Paleocristia), where ancient sarcophagi, tombstones and other items found during excavations are exhibited.

4 km from the city center (highway A7 or N240 towards Lleida; bus number 5) is roman aqueduct (Ferreres Aqueduct or Pont del Diable, I c. BC.). A two-tier arcade 217 m long and 27 m high was built to supply Tarragona with water. The bridge is also called the Devil's Bridge: according to legend, the shepherd asked the devil to build a bridge between two hills to make his life easier. During the night, the devil built a bridge, but set a price: the soul of the first person to cross the bridge. The shepherd outsmarted the devil by letting a lamb walk across the bridge first. This bridge is part of the Roman heritage ancient city Tarraco and is listed as a monument in Spain.

Drive another 20 km to the northeast (route 340) on the former Via Augusta, a Roman road along the coast mediterranean sea, you will see the Roman Arc de Triomphe(Arc de Bera, 1st century) Also on the list of monuments in Spain.

5 km north of Tarragona, near Constanti (Constant) preserved Mausoleum of Tsenzelsa (Centcelles Mausoleum, iv), built by a Roman landowner; Roman mosaics have survived to this day.

Museums in Tarragona

Museum of Ancient Weapons

(Museu d'Armes Antigues)
Carrer de la Nau, 12. 10.00-13.00, 16.30-19.30, closed Mon.

Port Museum of Tarragona

(Museu del Port)
Refugi 2 Mall de la Costa,
Sun 11.00-14.00, June-Sept. Tue Sat 10.00-14.00, 17.00-20.00,
oct. May Tue-Sat 10.00-14.00, 16.00-19.00, closed Mon.

Modern Art Museum

Museu D'Art Modern de Tarragona
Santa Anna, 8, Tarragona
Free admission
Tue - Fri 10 - 20, Sat 10 - 15

National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona

Museu Nacional Arqueologic
Plaça del Rei 5. Tarragona
Entrance: 2.40€
www.mnat.es
Opening hours: June - Sept Tue - Sat 9 - 21, Sun 9 - 15
Oct - May Tue - Sat 10 - 13:30 and 15:30 - 18:30, Sun 10 - 14
bus: 8

El Portal del Roser

www.museutgn.com.
Entrance 2.40€.
Oct-March Tue-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun and holidays 10am-3pm;
Apr-Sept Tue-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun and holidays 9am-3pm.
Bus: 2.

Museu Diocesà and Cathedral

Plaça de la Seu.
Entrance: 3.50€.
March 16 - May 30: Mon - Sun 10 - 13 and 16 - 19
June 1 - Oct 15: Mon - Sat 10 - 19
16 Oct - 15 Nov: Mon - Sat 10 - 17;
16 Nov - 15 Mar: Mon - Sat 10 - 14
Bus: 1.

Tarragona Map

And another version of the map of Tarragona:

North of Tarragona

Monastery of Santes Creus

(Monestir Santes Creus - approx. 35 km north of Tarragona)

How to get there

Bus service to Tarragona. Nov.-March 10.00-13.00, 15.00-17.30, Apr.-Oct. 10.00-13.30, 15.00-19.00.
Highway C246.

Santes Creus, part of the "Cistercian triangle", was founded in the 1150s, destroyed during the Napoleonic and civil wars first half of the 19th century and restored in the 20th century. From the first decades of the existence of the monastery, the Romanesque church of Santes Creus (Iglesia de Santes Creus) survived, with a portal decorated with stone carvings and a rose window. In the temple, under huge canopies in sarcophagi, the remains of the kings of Aragon and Catalonia (Pedro III, Jaume II, Blanca of Anjou) are buried. In front of the church on Placa Mayor (Square Mayor) there are buildings of the 17th-18th centuries. - baroque fountain, abbot's house (1640), gate of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet

(Monestir de Santa Maria Poblet, approx. 40 km northwest of Tarragona)

How to get to the monastery:

Trains from Barcelona (to the station ≪L'Espluga de Francolio≫).
Villana buses from Tarragona
Highway A2 (E90), exit from highway N240 8 km from Montblanc.

The Monastery of the Virgin Mary in Poblet (April-Sept. 10.00-12.30, 15.00-18.00, Oct.-March 10.00-12.30, 15.00-17.30) is one of the most important Catalan shrines, located in the Francoli river valley since 1151. It was created by Ramon - Berenguer IV, who liberated Catalonia from the power of the Moors.

Asserting his power in the newly acquired lands, he founded the famous "Cistercian triangle" (the monastery in Poblet, the monasteries of Santes Creus and Valbona de les Monges). The Cistercians preached austerity and asceticism, dreamed of returning purity and humility to monastic life. Therefore, the monastery buildings are simple and monumental.

History of the monastery:

Poblet was one of the largest Cistercian monasteries: there was a hospital for the poor and the homeless and a huge library. During its heyday (XIV), the monastery was a small principality under the leadership of the abbot: he owned 60 villages, and in 10 neighboring cities the monastery appointed mayors.

In the XII-XV centuries. Poblet became the tomb of the kings of Aragon: Alfonso II, Juan II and other persons of royal blood are buried here. Kings often came to the monastery, and special royal cells and even palaces were built for them.

The monastery in Poblet was plundered and burned down in the middle of the 19th century, during the civil wars in Spain, its restoration began only at the beginning of the 20th century, and one of the first to put forward such an idea was Antonio Gaudí, who raked rubble in Poblet with his own hands. In 1940, the monks returned to Poblet: now it is an active monastery, part of the premises of which has been given over to the museum. Be sure to visit the cathedral, the monastery library, the courtyards of the 12th-13th centuries. and the chapter hall.

The monastery was included in the World Cultural Heritage List.

The dawn of this city fell on the era of Ancient Rome. It was from here that the reigns of Julius Caesar, Octavian Augustus and Septimius Severus spread throughout the empire. During its long life, this city managed to visit the capital of Middle Spain. Today it is the largest Mediterranean Spanish port and a popular tourist centre. It has its own main Rambla, its famous Cathedral, its amphitheater, its museums, bridges, monuments and sculptures. Unusual and bright, always glad to see guests!

Tarragona attractions (Tarragona)

in my own way beautiful city. On the one hand, it is traditional for Spain with a “set” of standard attractions familiar to tourists. On the other hand, this city is full of its own nuances and peculiarities.

It has its own old town where you can see ancient architecture, colorful elements of buildings, buildings that look like fortresses and castles.

The main and most important objects for tourists are geographically close to each other. Therefore, the sights of Tarragona (Spain) can easily be bypassed in one day.

I will try to briefly tell you about the most popular and "promoted" objects that Tarragona guests usually visit. These include a couple of museums, the ancient Devil's Bridge, the main street of the city - the Rambla, the Cathedral, the Roman amphitheater and the walls of the ancient Roman fortress, and, of course, the park of words about local beaches. A map of Tarragona sights in Russian will make it easier for you to perceive my notes, and in the future it will help you make your own travel itinerary.

Roman amphitheater (Anfiteatro romano)

It is an honor for the people of Tarragona to have their own Roman amphitheater. Ancient Roman builders partially saved building materials and cut down the amphitheater with one side in the rock. Then, in the second century, the stands could simultaneously accommodate 14,000 people.

The shape of the amphitheater is classical - an ellipse. Dimensions: 109x86 meters. Gladiator fights, theatrical shows, and, the sad truth of life, executions were arranged here.

Today, tourists see only the ruins of that majestic structure which drew thousands of Romans.

A neat park stretches up the hill from this attraction. Therefore, here and on ancient architecture you can see and take a walk around park area. At the very top of the hill is one of several observation platforms called the Mediterranean Balcony. And very close to the highway leading to Rome. This is especially convenient for motorists who decide to explore the sights of Tarragona on their own.

Roman walls (Paredes romanas)

If Roman military architecture has retained its most striking examples, then they are located here. These are the so-called Roman walls. These walls of the old fortress are today included in the unique archaeological complex. If you decide to devote your sightseeing time exclusively to archeological monuments, then the Roman walls will definitely be included in your itinerary.

The walls are well preserved. Once they were part of a powerful fortress wall. The Romans built it around the city as early as the 2nd century BC. Of course, the main goal is defense and protection from enemies.

Initially, the length of the wall was 3.5 km. Today, we can see only 1.1 km of fortifications, skirting the oldest urban areas.

Cathedral

Style - Romanesque Gothic. In Catalonia, this Cathedral of St. Thekla is considered one of the most beautiful. Construction started in the 12th century and completed in the first half of the 14th century. At the heart of the foundation is the Roman Temple of Jupiter. As you have already noticed from my "traveler's notes", the ruins of Roman temples or fortress walls in Spain became an excellent foundation for many buildings that have survived to this day.

The first thing you will look closely at here in the cathedral is a beautiful altar. The compositions of sculptures based on biblical motifs are also interesting. Pay attention to the tombstone of Infante Juan of Aragon. It is very skillfully designed. And, of course, do not forget to keep your eyes on the western facade of the building with eleven statues of the apostles and a rose window.

What else can be said about the Cathedral? It can be noted that it is advantageous geographical position- on highest point cities. However, the cathedral is not alone on this hill. It is part of the complex ancient buildings. In addition to him, the statue of St. Paul, the House of Canons, the Chapel of St. Thekla, Cathedral Square, etc. deserve the attention of tourists here. Guides can be found on complete list sights of the "near the cathedral" territory. It has all the photos and descriptions of the sights of Tarragona.

Tower Als Castells (Castells)

It's amazing and unusual monument bronze, which is located on the central boulevard Rambla Nova. I will tell you about this street a little later, but for now, about the monument in more detail. The unusualness of the object, first of all, in the composition itself. It is rare to see such non-standard monuments. This is a whole story, plot, event captured in bronze.

The pyramid of 219 human figures is impressive at first sight.

At first it may seem that this is a monument to something tragic. In fact, the sculptors depicted a traditional Tarragona fun called Castells. Catalonia regularly hosts competitions among the best teams in this kind of fun. The task of the participants is to pile on each other so that your living tower is higher than that of your opponents.

Sometimes the number of such living floors reaches a dozen, and the base (foundation) of the tower is built by hundreds of people.

The height of the bronze composition itself is 11 meters. It weighs 12 tons.

However, the monument has another amazing zest - in the faces of its characters you can see Miro, Casals and others famous people. And one of the figures is a "self-portrait" of the sculptor himself - Francesc Angles.

Devil's Bridge

Behind the creepy name is a popular local attraction. This bridge is a witness to the reign of the Roman Caesar Augustus in these territories. This is one of the two bridges through which water was brought to the townspeople in those distant times. By the way, water was brought through it until the 18th century. The height of the bridge is 27 meters. Length - about 220 meters. Beneath it is a deep gorge.

According to local legend, the builder of the aqueduct was the devil himself. In return for his “good deed,” he demanded the soul of the one who first settled and drank water there. The honor of becoming the first settler fell to the donkey. The people called the Devil's bridge. This name stuck and became official.

Pont del Díable is valuable not only as an ancient architectural object. Tourists love to take great photo shoots here. Above the gorge there are paths along which you can walk and “click” great shots.

And around the bridge itself, they created an extensive park with an ecological and historical bias.

House Canals (Casa de canales)

This object belongs to the list of interesting sights. The mansion looks majestic. It exudes antiquity and aristocracy.

At the same time, several eras merged in the architecture of this building. The ruins of the Roman walls from the 2nd century BC are the basis for the foundation. In Spain, you can often find similar old houses, which are based on the remains of the ruins of the Roman Empire.

And the first floor of Canalls House is already the ruins of a building dating back to the 14th century.

The interior of the premises is dated to the 19th century. Living rooms in blue tones are amazing. The bedrooms are all pink. Mirrors with gilded frames, faded from old age, old canvases on the walls - the imprints of history are visible in everything.

From the terrace of Canalls, you can admire the beautiful cityscape of Tarragona.

House with fake facade

What wonderful houses you will not meet when traveling the world: crooked, slanting, shifters. This is a house with a false facade, known far beyond the borders of Spain. The four-story building has become a popular local landmark, which has been included in many excursion routes. The facade painting technique is called “trompe-l’œil” (tricks). The artist tried to paint the house according to the traditions of the 19th century. On the balconies filled with flowers, he placed the legendary Spanish characters - a harlequin, a doctor and a captain.

On the third floor of the facade, there is an image of the author himself with his wife watering the flowers. Optical illusion allows passers-by to perceive all the depicted characters as three-dimensional figures. That is, they do not seem flat, but convex, almost natural. I note that for this you need to look at the house, being on Plaça dels Sedassos. Actually, where this outlandish house stands.

In fact, the painted facade is nothing more than a blank wall of the house, which overlooks the square adjacent to it. Not so long ago, in 1995, Carles Arola painted an unsightly facade, drastically changing the fate of this building.

Museum of Modern Art (Museo de Arte Moderno)

This museum is considered one of the most visited and worthy of attention in the city. Its expositions are dedicated to the works of contemporary authors. The museum began its work in 1976. There were so many works that the museum workers were given three old mansions that underwent reconstruction at once. Among the exhibits are mainly sculptures and paintings of the Catalans. Salvador Martorell, Ramon Carrete, Luis Saumels and others are the authors of the exhibited works. In addition to paintings and sculptures, visitors can also see here the works of jewelers, all kinds of furniture and tapestries.

Earlier centuries (12-19th century) are dated ceramic products, which are presented here in abundance.

National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona (Museo Arqueolgico Nacional)

Fans of archaeological and architectural artifacts should enjoy this museum. There is a rich collection of exhibits that were collected at the end of the 19th century. In general, the museum is considered almost the oldest among its kind in Catalonia.

Five halls present various exhibits, united thematically and historically.

Here are elements of ancient Roman buildings, and a library of the same clock, and a mosaic depicting the head of Medusa, and old coins, clothes and utensils, and a lot of interesting things ...

All this is the result of the work of archaeologists over the past century and a half.

Arena Tarraco Plaza (Tarraco Plaza Arena)

The arena is quite advanced in age and attracts thousands of tourists every year. It was built in the late 80s of the 19th century. The similarity with the ancient Colosseum and, at the same time, the design in modern style give the object a special piquancy. In the period 2006-2010, the arena was closed for a large-scale restoration.

After that, the object acquired an even more attractive appearance in terms of tourist attention. The city spent 20 million euros to build a hefty retractable dome over Tarraco Plaza. Its weight is about 1,000 tons, its diameter is 80 meters. The time for the full opening of the dome is 12 minutes.

The whole embarrassment or “irony of fate” is that the opening of the renovated stadium coincided with the introduction of a ban on bullfights in Spain. I had to local authorities adapt the facility for theatrical shows, concerts and sports competitions.

Boulevard Rambla Nova

I will not be original if I say that the Rambla is the main street of many Spanish cities. And here, in Tarragona, Rambla Nova is the central city boulevard for hiking, trade in all sorts of things and street entertainment.

The boulevard stretches from the Balcony of the Mediterranean (observation deck) to Imperial Taracco Square, penetrating almost the entire city.

In addition to everything that can be seen on such boulevards, there are also the most interesting monuments Tarragona. Usually tourists are brought to the bronze tower of Castells, which I talked about above. This is a mandatory point in all routes passing through the Rambla.

Right there, on the sides of the pedestrian zone, you can see Art Nouveau mansions, monasteries and churches, the building of the central city market, and so on. Each of these objects deserves special attention thanks to its history, destiny and amazing architecture.

Here, as on the Rambla in any other Spanish city, life is raging almost around the clock. Buy flowers and souvenirs, watch a mini-concert of street musicians and artists, become a participant in city holidays, just relax on a bench - all this can be done on the Rambla Nova.

The beaches of Tarragona

Who doesn't know mediterranean coast passing through Tarragona, "behind the eyes" is called the Gold Coast. Golden sand here on almost all local beaches. Amazing beaches here stretched along the sea for as much as 15 km. The sea is crystal clear. The entrance to the water is gentle and safe even for children. All this makes the Tarragona beaches a favorite and popular place rest like local population, and visitors.

Actually, ordinary civilized beaches, as they should be in resort town. All relevant infrastructure is present: sun loungers and umbrellas for rent, showers, ice cream sales, cafes, sports equipment and the like. You can safely relax here with the whole family.

Evidence of the excellent condition of local beaches (both coast and sea) - annually awarded blue flags! Yes, and reviews of tourists about beach holiday the most positive. Come and be sure - everything is on the level!

Catalan Tarragona has been known to historians since the time of the ancient Iberians, who settled in east coast modern Spain, starting from the III millennium BC. and in the 5th century BC. founded the settlement of Kesse here. It was later taken over by the ancient Romans.

A real settlement on the site of modern Taragonna flourished in the II-III centuries AD, when an amphitheater, a circus, powerful fortress walls were built here, which have survived to this day and have become historical and cultural monuments.

Other attractions of Tarragona are the beautiful beaches of the Costa Dorada, the gentle sun of Catalonia, the azure Mediterranean Sea and excellent tourist infrastructure. Tarragona really has something to see and where to relax.

The main attractions of Tarragona

Many of the sights of Tarrangona can be explored on your own by purchasing or downloading a map of the city and its monuments. We bring to your attention short description attractions of Tarragona with photos and names.

This city was the residence of the Roman emperors Augustus and Hadrian. Therefore, in the 2nd century, an amphitheater was built here on the seashore, where the Romans and local barbarians entertained themselves with fights of gladiators, wild animals, executions and tortures.

The Roman amphitheater can accommodate 13,000 people. It was discovered and excavated by archaeologists only in the middle of the 20th century. Today it is one of the best and most visited tourist attractions in Tarragona and throughout Spain.

This Catholic cathedral is a monument of early Gothic. It is located in the old part of Tarragona and is dedicated to Saint Thekla. The construction of the temple began at the end of the 12th century, and the first architects assumed that it would be a fortress.

The church was consecrated only in the first half of the 14th century. As a result, a combination of Romanesque and gothic styles. Later additions were added in the Baroque and Renaissance styles. At cathedral there is a museum.

This is the main city pedestrian street, which has many cafes, restaurants, shops, boutiques. Residents of Tarragona and guests of this wonderful city can enjoy wonderful examples of architecture and sculpture here.

Rambla Nova is business card cities. Here you will fully see and feel its beauty and sophistication, learn more about the history and culture of the Catalan people and for sure you will never forget Catalonia.

This circus was built in the 1st century AD. In ancient times, horse and chariot races were held here. Later, the audience came here to watch theatrical performances. The solemn events of Tarragona were also celebrated here.

The circus was designed for 37 thousand spectators, and was built according to all the rules of the architecture of such structures. Today it is just ancient ruins, inside which stands the sarcophagus of Hippolytus, son of Theseus. The Roman Circus is on the UNESCO lists.

In the II century BC. a high and powerful wall was erected around the settlement of Kesse to protect and define the boundaries, which later became a landmark of Tarragona and all of Spain. Today, any tourist can see it.

The fortress wall has been preserved only partially. Previously, its length was 3.5 km, today it is only 1.1 km. It surrounds all Old city and is the most important part of the popular Archaeological Route, which includes all the Roman antiquities of Tarragona.

The exposition of the museum contains many archaeological finds of Tarragona and the entire province: figurines, ceramics, Roman mosaics, weapons, coins and other heritage of Ancient Rome. Here you can find ancient history and culture of this city.

The Archaeological Museum of Tarragona was opened in the middle of the 19th century and today is considered oldest museum Catalonia. It continues to develop and replenish with new unique artifacts from the history of the city.

This medieval palace is a must see in Tarragona. It was erected in the 15th century in the old town and later rebuilt in the Baroque style. Today the palace has turned into a museum where you can feel the spirit of several historical eras Spain.