Before I visited Tarragona I have to be honest and admit I didn’t know much about it at all, but on my whirlwind train journey around Spain I discovered a beautiful city which would make a superb city break away from the crowds – here you can beautifully combine a mix of laid-back beach life and impressive ancient history.
Blessed with an ancient walled old town, UNESCO-listed Roman ruins as well as a collection of fine sandy beaches and natural surroundings, it’s a place where I honestly would have loved to stay a lot longer!
The picturesque small port city is located in northeast Spain, on Costa Daurada, and was founded before the 5th century BC. I personally thought its most stand-out features was the imposing amphitheatre, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and once held up to 14,000 spectators.
Once the capital of Hispania, I spent hours just wandering around the late 3rd-century city walls, gazing in awe at the necropolis and amphitheatre, and strolling the city’s buzzing main street, Rambla Nova, which is lined with fabulous bars and restaurants!
A bit of history including the Roman Ruins
The medieval part of the city is known as La Part Alta de Tarragona, and this is where I felt like I was walking around a Game of Thrones set! I really loved this place!
It’s home to a very impressive collection of Roman ruins and artefacts and also a gothic cathedral which I really loved discovered (it took me a full afternoon to explore both).
In 2000, Tarragona was named a World Heritage City by UNESCO and with good reason, the Roman ruins of Tarraco are truly inspiring and it’s believed that part of the Cyclopean walls pre-date the Romans.
The focal point of the Old Town is the Tarragona Amphitheatre which was built between the end of the 1st century BC and the start of the 2nd Century BC.
It used to be able to hold around 13,000 spectators and saw numerous gladiator battles and executions. For just a few euros I gained entry and took a few good hours exploring the whole site and unlike the Colosseum in Rome, I didn’t have restricted access.
I thought the Roman Circus of Tarragona was another special place and it’s actually one of the best-preserved sites of the Roman Empire. It was similar to Circo Massimo in Rome but held around 20,000 spectators and incredibly today some of the original walls still exist today. Walking through it really did feel like I was stepping back in time and I explored its underground passages, which must have once buzzed with activity from both the vendors and spectators!
I was seriously blown away by the city’s surrounding walls, built by the Romans way back in the 2nd century BC! It’s incredible that you can still walk along 1,100 meters of the original 3,500-meter wall – these walls are the oldest Roman structures still standing outside Italy!
The Cathedral
All major cities have a cathedral, but I personally think the tour of Tarragona’s Cathedral of Santa Maria offers something a little bit different!
The locals are justifiably very proud of their beautiful cathedral and here you can go on a tour lasting around two and a half hours – the guide will show the Cloister, the Treasure, the Diocesan Museum and the Roman temenós as well as a special treat of visiting the bell tower.
I would recommend to try and arrange your tour when the bells are rung, although be warned they can be very loud!
The Beaches
The area of Costa Dorada is known as the ‘Golden Coast’ due to its miles of sandy beaches, and there are approximately ten miles of beach to choose from, so yep, you are spoilt for choice!
The local beach for Tarragona is El Miracle, which is 500 metres long and only a short stroll from Rafael de Casanova promenade. I loved this spot—it was a very stunning beauty spot!
A family-friendly beach not far from the city centre is L’Arrabassada Beach, or (and if you’re feeling a little braver) you can always opt for the nudist beach La Savinosa. The longest beach in the area, though, is Playa Larga, which is three kilometres long and makes a peaceful spot for sunbathing or swimming.
Beaches aside, I would also recommend a visit to the Balcon del Mediterranean, a balcony at the end of the Rambla Bova, right next to the amphitheatre. The views of the sea are truly wonderful here, and it’s a great place to kick back and take in the beauty of it all!
Food and Drink
Being located next to the sea, I think fish is the best option for dinner in Tarragona – I would suggest trying ‘cassola de romesco’, which is a casserole with fish.
Tarragona’s red prawns are very famous and extremely tasty – if you see them on the menu then I think it’s something that should be ordered! I would also highly recommend making the most of Spain’s ‘Menu del Dia’ (Menu of the Day) where you will get to taste traditional and sometimes more modern dishes at a fair price.
No trip to Tarragona is complete without trying some Vermouth. Although the drink originated in Italy, the locals in Tarragona see it as one of their own. I recommend heading to Plaza del Rey to enjoy a fresh vermouth on a terrace and indulge in a spot of people-watching! Enjoy this extraordinary place and a city that I think deserves a lot more recognition!
Travelling Spain by Train
I found travelling around Spain by train surprisingly easy and efficient. High-speed AVE trains (Alta Velocidad Española) link major cities at up to 186mph, and if you book in advance online, you can find great deals on fares at the official Spanish rail website, www.renfe.com.
This page will give you all the information you need on how to travel cheaply around Spain by train and do the same kind of tour I did!
