Tarragona

Hola!

This weekend, I took a day trip with CIEE to Tarragona. It's about an hour away from Barcelona by bus and offers a rich history dating back to Roman times. Back in the day, "Tarraco" was the capital of Hispania (the Roman name for Spain). I enjoyed an afternoon exploring the city! 

Our first stop was the "Puente del Diablo" or Devil's Bridge, about 15 minutes from the Tarragona city center. It used to be the Roman aqueduct that brought water to the city, and was built in the 1st century. There is now a pathway that allows you to walk on the aqueduct (something I want to go back and do)! The legend says that "the bridge was built by the Devil after winning a bet in which a fair lady bet her soul." (article here)

Once we got into town we stopped at the model of the city to look at the structure and organization of the Roman city. It showed Tarragona at its best, and there were other mini re-creations of famous buildings like the Devil's Bridge and amphitheater.

Next, we did the archaeological walk along the Roman walls. Today, 1 kilometer of the former 5 remains to model the former city boundaries. Along the path, we passed by cannons, towers, and the different fortifications the city constructed over time! According to the Tarragona tourism website, "the walls are the oldest Roman construction still conserved outside Italy."

At the end of the walls, we walked up to the Tarragona Cathedral. It has a ton of history, including that it's built on the site of the Temple of Roman Emperor Augustus. The facade has sculptures of the 12 apostles and beautiful rose windows. We didn't go inside this time, but I would love to explore the interior and learn more.

We then stopped by the oldest store in Tarragona, called Cal Corderet. The shop owner told us stories and encouraged us to shop local! The store is more than 260 years old and has been selling candles of all types since then!

Next, we walked further down the street to the Roman Circus. They once held chariot races here, and the museum is open for visits for the curious tourist. There is also a former Roman tower with a flower design that changes throughout the year.

Our final stop before lunch was the Roman amphitheater. The various plaques explained the history and former uses of each part of the theater, and you can walk through the columns. Needless to say, it boasts a beautiful view of the sea and the city.

 
When it came time for lunch, we walked down the Rambla Nova of Tarragona, a pedestrian area. There were some nice buildings and murals as well as many local businesses and shops.

We got lunch at Da Mario in Tarragona right off the Rambla Nova. The pizzas are definitely big enough to split and reasonably priced! We sat outside and enjoyed some time in the sun.

We finished our day in Tarragona by stopping at the beach. There's a nice pathway starting at the Rambla Nova that provides more nice views of the coast.

Hasta luego!

Amy