Today we are going to Tarragona – the oldest city in Spain and I will show you my top 6 list of things to see and do in Tarragona. As always, you can find our YouTube video at the end of the post. Check it out!
Tarragona is a picturesque city on the northeastern coast of Spain, 1 hour car ride from Barcelona. You can also easily reach it with train from Barcelona.
Tarragona is full of history, culture and Mediterranean charm. With its origins dating back to Roman times, Tarragona reflects the history of ancient civilizations, evident in its well-preserved archaeological sites like the Roman amphitheater and aqueduct.
The city’s old town, surrounded by medieval walls, is very cozy with narrow cobblestone streets and historic landmarks. Come along on this tour of the city and I will show you all of my favorite things in Tarragona!
1. Ponte del Diable (Ferreres Aqueduct)
Located slightly outside Tarragona is the famous Aqueduct, known as Ponte del Diable or Ferreres Aqueduct. It might be a bit tricky to find, so I will share a link here. There is a small parking lot where you can park and then it’s a 5 minutes walk to the actual structure.
This Roman Aqueduct was built to supply water from the Francoli River to the ancient city Tarraco, which is nowadays called Tarragona. It’s 250 meters long and 27 meters high. You can walk around the structure and see the amazing construction in detail. It’s really impressive.
2. Cal Mano Restaurant
Next up we will have lunch at a restaurant called Cal Mano. It’s located close to Plaza de la Font.
They serve home-made local dishes and we went for their lunch menu. Friendly service and a reasonable priced menu.
We tried four dishes. As starters, a salad with avocado and walnuts and a potato and seafood soup. For mains we got the grilled hake with vegetables and grilled chicken breast with a goat cheese sauce. For desserts cheesecake and Mel i mato, which is a fresh cheese with honey on top.
This place was really good for a simple lunch. Highly recommended.
3. Tarragona Amphitheatre
Tarragona Amphitheatre is a Roman amphitheatre that was built in the 2nd century AD. It’s location close to the Mediterranean sea is beautiful and this is really one of the highlights of Tarragona. The amphitheatre could house up to 15,000 spectators, and measured 130 by 102 metres. In its day, it was the scene of fights between gladiators and against wild beasts, as well as public executions. In the year 259 A.D., the Bishop Fructuoso and his deacons Augurio and Eulogio were burned alive within its confines.
We visited on a Monday and that is unfortunately the only day of the week where you can’t enter the actual amphitheatre, but you can still get a great peak from the parc just above.
4. Placa del Forum
The square called Placa del Forum is a cozy square in the middle of Old Town Tarragona. It is much more lively during the summer months with lots of restaurants are bars. The square was created after the Spanish Civil War, since the bombings on the city destroyed the buildings that were built inside the current square.
5. Tarragona Cathedral
The Tarragona Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary, is a large Gothic and Romanesque style Cathedral located in the old town of Tarragona. It’s actually the largest cathedral in Catalonia. Dating back to the 12th century, this religious masterpiece if full of details and stunning sculptures. The cathedral’s facade showcases a harmonious blend of styles. A general ticket was 11 euros and it gives to access to the cathedral and the cloister. The interior is adorned with chapels, altars, and religious artifacts. It also have a cloister, with beautiful gardens.
6. Monumento a los Castellers
Finally we will go to the newer parts of Tarragona and have a look at a great monument called Monumento a los Castellers. It’s located on the street Rambla Nova. A castell is a human tower built traditionally at festivals in some parts of Catalonia. This monument, completed in 1999, made in bronze by artist Fracesc Angles i Garcia.
A lot of the Roman structures are still in place, so it’s a bit like walking around in an open-air museum. We enjoyed Tarragona, definitely worth a visit. Especially in summer-time. It has great beaches also.
See our YouTube video for more information:
