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Study in Tarragona, Spain


Study in Tarragona, Spain

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The Necrópolis Paleocristiana in Tarragona

The eternally sunny port city of Tarragona is a fascinating mix of Mediterranean beach life, Roman history and medieval alleyways. Spain's second-most important and well-known Roman site, Tarragona has a wealth of ancient ruins, including a seaside amphitheatre that has survived for centuries. The town’s medieval heart is one of the most beautifully designed in all of Spain, and its maze of narrow cobbled streets are encircled by steep walls and crowned with a splendid cathedral. A lively eating and drinking scene in Tarragona makes this a very pleasant and enriching stop for anyone planning to visit the Catalonia region of Spain Tarragona is a seaside port city located in the north-east portion of Spain on the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The city serves as the capital of the province of the same name (Tarragona province), and is part of the Tarragonès county and Catalonia region. Geographically, Tarragona is bordered on the north by the province of Barcelona and the province of Lleida. As of 2014, the city had a population of 132,199 permanent inhabitants.

Things to Do and See in Tarragona, Spain

Tarragona offers visitors a multitude of things to do and see.  Among some of the more popular of these attractions are:

The Forum de la Colonia

The main provincial forum, the Forum de la Colonia, occupied most of what is now the old town. Further down the hill, this local plaza was occupied by a judicial basilica (where legal disputes were settled) among other buildings. Linked to the site by a footbridge is another excavated area, which includes a stretch of Roman street. The discovery of foundations of a temple to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva suggests the forum was bigger and more important than had previously been assumed.

Tarragona’a Cathedral

Sitting grandly atop the town, Tarragona’s cathedral has both Romanesque and Gothic features, as typified by the main facade. The cloister has Gothic vaulting and Romanesque carved capitals, one of which shows rats conducting a cat’s funeral…until the cat comes back to life! It’s a lesson about passions seemingly lying dormant until they reveal themselves. The chambers off the cloister host the Museu Diocesà, which includes an extensive collection of items extending from Roman hairpins to some lovely 12th- to 14th-century polychrome woodcarvings of a breastfeeding Virgin.

National Archaeology Museum of Tarragona

This excellent museum does justice to the cultural and material wealth of Roman Tarraco. Well-laid-out exhibits include part of the Roman city walls, frescoes, sculpture and pottery. The mosaic collection traces the changing trends of the region – from simple black-and-white designs to complex full-color creations. A highlight of the museum is the large, almost complete Mosaic de Peixos de la Pineda, showing fish and sea creatures. The museum is open extended hours during the busiest summer season.

Forùm Provincial Pretori i Circ Romans

This sizeable complex, with two separate entrances, includes parts of the vaults of the Roman circus, where chariot races were once held, as well as the Pretori tower on Plaça de Rei and part of the provincial forum, the political heart of Tarragona province. The circus, 300m long, stretched from this structure to beyond the Plaça de la Font to the west.