Tarragona is a port city situated in north-east Spain on the Costa Daurada Although, it only sits 100 km to the south of Barcelona, It is by far less known. It’s full of well-preserved medieval and roman charms and is listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
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The majority of tourists visit Barcelona and the more popular locations such as Madrid, Seville and Valencia. It’s surprising how many people have never heard of Tarragona here in the UK, especially since it is located only 11 km from Salou, the hugely popular British tourist destination.
Now I have to admit, I had never heard of it myself until I was searching for a city to visit on my 6th day in Salou. I come across it on trip advisor and was completely blown away by the pictures and reviews.
That morning I made the 15- 20 minute journey by bus for €2.50, I was so delighted I did! It was full of wonders!
I got off the bus at Tarragona bus station, google maps directed me to turn right and to walk straight ahead.
After 5 minutes of walking, I arrived at the beautiful port.
I was then lead slightly to the left off the port to this bridge.
I could see the views of the Amphitheatre as I walked further along the bridge.
Tarragona Roman Amphitheatre
This Roman amphitheatre built approximately in the 2nd century sits on the coast just of Rambla Nova. Initially, it was used for battles of the gladiators and fighting and hunting of animals. Later on, it was used for undertaking executions of people who were sentenced to death.
Circ Roma
Directly across the road from the amphitheatre was the Circ Roma (Roman Circus). Circ Roma is the underground open-air ruins of the 1st century where horses and buggy racing took place.
Admission is €3.30, free for children under the age of 16 years. €1.70 for groups of over 25 people, pensioners, students and one parent families.
Inside is spectacular! Full of dark underground tunnels. I didn’t get as many pictures as I would have liked but here are a few.
I made my way up the building, stopping to admire the contents inside until I reached the rooftop. The views from the rooftop were stunning!!
A 10-minute walk from here is the Roman walls and the cathedral.
The Cathedral
The cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church from the late 11th century and was declared a monument in 1905. The architecture inside is truly astonishing!
More wandering
I found a little people square surrounded by shops and cafes where I stopped to refuel. It was the perfect place for people watching and taking in a bit of the culture, as many locals seemed to be here with their dogs.
After here I wandered into the centre and browsed through the shops, whilst also wandering down the side streets.
I was entirely fascinated by this little cosmopolitan city, it completely took me by surprise! There were lots of little hidden gems everywhere! I could go on and on but then this blog would be far too long. I would highly recommend visiting this place, it’s especially worth visiting if you’re in Salou, Barcelona or any of the other nearby destinations.
Thanks for reading 😉
NattyTravels 