Introducing Tarragona
Tarragona was first occupied by the Romans, who called it Tarraco, in 218 BC. In 27 BC Augustus made it the capital of his new Tarraconensis province (roughly all modern Spain) and stayed until 25 BC, directing campaigns in Cantabria and Asturias. Tarragona was abandoned when the Muslims arrived in AD 714, but reborn as the seat of a Christian archbishopric in 1089. Today its rich Roman remains and fine medieval cathedral make it an absorbing place.
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Orientation
The main street is Rambla Nova, which runs roughly northwest from a clifftop overlooking the Mediterranean. A couple of blocks to the east, and parallel, is Rambla Vella, which marks the beginning of the old town and, incidentally, follows the line of the Via Augusta, the Roman road from Rome to Cádiz.
The train station is about 500m southwest of Rambla Nova, near the seafront, and the bus station is about 2km inland, just to the northwest, off Plaça Imperial de Tàrraco.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
