Tarragona is a lovely place to visit, next to the Mediterranean Sea.
With lots of ancient remains.

2nd Century Roman Amphitheatre
on the seashore: Open 1st January to 30th September

31.6 km, 26 mins on C-32 from Sitges, near Barcelona (DIRECTIONS)

Roman Amphitheatre FEATURES

• Tarragona was the provincial Roman capital
• Built 1st century BC
• Enlarged 2nd century AD
• 15,000 spectator capacity
• 130 x 102 meters
• A circus, c. 450 m (over the Plaça de la Font)
• Vestiges remain

TIMELINE

• After fall of the Western Roman Empire Quarry
• 10th century: abandoned during islamic invasion of Spain
• 12th century: Romanesque style church built over remains of the Visigothic church
• 1576: Convent for the order of the Trinity
• 1780: Prison for prisoners who were constructing the port
• Mid-20th century: recover of theatre (funded by the Bryant foundation)

Times (please confirm details here)

Summer time

• 14th May to 30th September (closed Oct to Dec)
  (& during Holy Week: 26th March to 1st April, 2013)
  
  • Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 21hrs 9pm
  • Sundays from 10 am to 15hrs 3pm

Winter Hours

• 1st January to 12th May
  (except Easter 26th March to 1st April, 2013 : as classed as summer time)
  
  • Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 19hrs 7pm.
  • Sundays from 10 am to 15hrs 3pm.

Closed on Mondays: Except

• April 1st (10am to 15pm)
• 1st & 6th January
• 24th June
• 19th August
• 23 September
• 25th & 26th December
• 1st January 2014

Prices (please confirm details here)

Single adult entrance – 3.15€

• Joint entrance for all the enclosures – 10.55€
  (to see Roman Circus etc. below)
• Retired persons, students over 16 with a student card, the unemployed and each member of a group of more than 25 persons Single adult entrance – 1.60€
• Combined single entrance to all museums and monuments – 5.25€
• Large families, 1 single entrance (valid for one monument) – 3.15€
• Large families, combined entrance (valid for 6 monuments) – 10.55€
• Yearly pass for registered Tarragona residents – 6.50€
• Free entrance for:
  • Under 16s
  • Members ICOM
  • Museologists of Catalonia
  • Organized school groups of any age (by arrangement)
  • Members of RSAT
  • Members of SOS Monuments
  • Members of Associació d’Arqueòlegs Catalunya
  • Members of Fundación Casas Históricas

Inscription in the podium, dated 3rd century AD (reign of Elagabalus)

In 259, during the persecutions against the Christian ordere by Emperor Valerian, here were burnt alive the city’s bishop, Fructuous, and his deacons, Augurius and Eulogius.

The city is also home to the National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona

Pre Roman Cyclopean walls foundations, near the Cuartel de Pilatos.
Part of the palace of Augustus (prison in 19th century)

The Roman ruins of Tarraco have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Other Roman buildings include:

• Roman walls: Walls of Tarraco
  
  • Roman Circus (info)
    Fees & Times similar to Amphitheatre
  • Cabiscol Tower
  • Minerva Tower
  • Arzobispo Tower

  

  
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• Roman Colonial Forum
  Fees & Times similar to Amphitheatre
  
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• Placa de Forum (part of a Roman Wall : Cafe closeby for summer lunch)
  
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• Tower, alias the sepulchre or the Scipios
  • 6 km (4 mi) east of Tarragona
  • On coast road

  
  View Larger Map

• Roman Quarry – Cantera Romana de El Médol Quary (info)
  Carretera N-340 a 8 kms. de Tarragona 43006  Tarragona (41.142597,1.342285) Large basin of 200 meters+, good for a pic nic / forest walk
  Schedules (please confirm details here)
  19th April to 30 Sep Tuesday to Saturday Open all day From 9:00 to 20:00 (Public holidays and Sundays From 9:00 to 15:00)
  1st Oct to 29th Mar Tuesday to Saturday From 10:00 to 16:00
  (Public holidays and Sundays From 10:00 to 15:00)
  Closed: Monday
  Closed: 1st and 6th January, 1st May and 24th and December 26th.
  Rates General: 3,15 €
  
  
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• Les Ferreres Aqueduct / Pont del Diable Bridge (info)
  • 4 kilometres (2 miles) north of Tarragona
  • 217 m (712 ft) in length
  • Tall two tier arches (26 m/85 ft high)

  N-240 toward Lleida (4 Km from Tarragona)
  
  View Larger Map

Map

View Tarragona Roman ancient remains in a larger map

Religious buildings

• Cathedral, dating to the 12th-13th centuries, combining Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements.
• Convent of the Poor Clares, near the walls
• Convent of Santa Teresa
• Church of the Capuchins, the parish church of the port
• Convent of Sant Francesc
• Jesuit College was turned into barracks, their church, however, has been restored to them
• Convent of the Dominicans, now the town hall
• Archiepiscopal Palace, situated on the site of the ancient capitol, one tower of which still remains. It was rebuilt in the 19th century.
• Santa Maria del Miracle Church Remains (Holy Mary of the Miracle: demolished around 1915) at the Roman amphitheatre. Belonged to the Knights Templar. Then used by the Trinitarian Fathers, Once a penitentiary