
Tarragona, Spain

Tarragona is a city in northeastern Spain, on the Mediterranean coast, one of the oldest Spanish cities. Founded as the capital of Tarragona Spain by the will of the Romans in the III century BC, today Tarragona is the administrative center of the eponymous province of Tarragona.
The most exciting encounter with Tarragona must take place from the coastal hill, nicknamed the Balcony of the Mediterranean. There is nothing to compare with the stunning views of the sea, the city and the Roman amphitheater, garnished with the golden halo of fine yellow sand. Rightly this part of the Costa Dorada or the Gold Coast. Once in Tarragona, one must open all one's senses to the senses and perceive the unadulterated atmosphere of the impeccably intertwined past and present.
The cityscape is a wonderful remake of ancient fortress walls, telling about the power of the Roman Empire, the Cathedral of Santa Maria, the labyrinth of narrow and steep medieval streets, the Ramblas - there is nothing in the city that will not capture your heart. Tarragona simply has a charm that captivates you imperceptibly, because it is a city with its own spirit and charm, a city with an interesting "face", sophistication and aristocracy.
Tarragona is not an ordinary city, just one of all on the map of Spain, it is special and unique. Even her name carries greatness. Its foundations were laid as a Roman colony in 218 BC, founded by Publius Cornelius Taraco and it is after him that today's Tarragona is named. When Emperor Augustus took power over Tarragona, he managed to lead the city up the stairs in just two years.
The seat of Octavian, who lived and ruled the vast state, Tarragona became the second most important city in the empire. The city's fortress walls have been preserved since that glorious time - a monumental structure, a building style known as the Cyclops building. Fragments of the Tarragona Circus, built during the reign of Emperor Domitian, have been preserved from the Flavian era. The Fountain Square with the City Hall building has been built on most of the Circus.
Another landmark of the same era is the Amphitheater, whose stage for gladiatorial battles has absorbed the eyes of 14,000 people. It was built near the sea so that the arena could be flooded and sea battles could be recreated. On January 21, 259, Fructus, the first bishop of Tarragona, and two deacons, the young Auguri and Eulogius, were brought to the arena.
Christians were brutally tortured and eventually burned alive in front of a crowd. These are also the first martyrs for the faith in the city. Later, in the middle of the 5th century, a basilica was built in their memory at one end of the arena, from which the foundations can be seen today.
The sights of Tarragona from the era of the emperors are appreciated. In October 2000, UNESCO included the Roman Tarragona Complex in the World Heritage List, an architectural ensemble consisting of buildings created during Roman rule.
Medieval monuments are not inferior in their magnificence to ancient monuments. Undoubtedly the most prominent place is occupied by the cathedral built behind the fortress walls, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The construction of the temple lasted about two centuries (XII-XIV centuries), so its architecture is dotted with Romanesque and Gothic elements.
The interior decoration is magnificent, most of the images are dedicated to St. Thecla, the patron saint of the city. The palace of Pilate or El Pretorio, rising on the Royal Square, once housed the Aragonese kings on tours of their estates. Today, this grace preserves the rich collection of the Archaeological Museum.
Amazing city is Tarragona. History and modernity are built into each other and coexist, somehow in parallel. The cranes of the port facilities blow the air over the shore, the oil tanks of one of the largest oil companies Repsol reflect the sun's rays. Tarragona is a modern city, with a powerful industry and a major center of the chemical and petrochemical industries in Spain, with the second most important port in the country. When a person leaves Tarragona, he has a strange feeling of sadness, comparable to what a person feels when parting with a friend.