TARRAGONA

This agreeable city is not very well known to most foreign visitors to the region, even though it contains the largest example of Roman remains in Spain, the remarkable architectural legacy of Roman Tarraco and was once capital of an area that covered half the Iberian peninsula, Originally settled by Iberians and then Carthaginians, it later became the base for the Roman conquest of Spain and the main commercial centre on this stretch of the coast until Barcelona and Valencia overshadowed it, after the Christian reconquest of Spain in the early 12th century.

The town is situated on a rocky hill, sloping down to the sea. The ancient upper town contains most of the Roman ruins, some interesting museums and an attractive medieval quarter with a grand cathedral. Below the Old Town lies the modern shopping district, centered on the Rambla Nova with its smart boutiques and restaurants, and a daily fruit and vegetable market in Plaica Corsini Below the main town, the chief attraction of the lower part of the city is the maritime district of EI Serrallo with its colorful fishing fleet, traditional Lonja (fish auction), and dockside restaurants. The rocky coastline beyond conceals a couple of beaches, notably Platja Arrabassada and Platja Llarga.

In the hillside overlooking the sea, the Amfiteatre Rami (Roman Amphitheatre) was where the Romans held their public spectacles, including combats between gladiators and wild animals before an audience of 12,000 people, During the 12th century the Romanesque church of Santa Maria del Miracle was built on the site, giving the beach below its name EI Miracle. Tarragona's grandiose cathedral is a magnificent Romanesque-Gothlc building was built as the centrepiece of the ciutat antigua (old City). The fascinating Museu Arqueologic (Archaeological Museum) includes a section of the old Roman wall, statues of emperors, several sarcophagi and some interesting mosaics, Nearby stands the Praetorium and the vaults of the first century Roman Circus, The Praetorium is the site of the Museu d'Historia (Tarragona History Museum), which traces the origins and history of the city through such treasures as the sarcophagus of Hipolitus, a masterpiece that was rescued from the sea in 1948.

Tarragona's most treasured Roman remains are housed in the Museu i Necropolia Paleocristians (Paleo Christian Museum), in what was once an ancient necropolis, a 20 minute walk west of the city centre, It includes a valuable collection of mosaics, pottery, metalwork, glass and ivory, Currently closed for restoration For an overview of the old city and the hinterland of the Camp de Tarragona, walk the Passeig Arqueologic This promenade encircles the northernmost half of the old town, around the Roman walls, of which 1 kmof the original 4km (25 miles) remains, Seven defense towers and gates still stand.