Things to do in Tarragona
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Museu d'Història de Tarragona
To call the four sites that make up the Museu d'História de Tarragona a museum is somewhat misleading, as they are in fact four separate Roman sites (which since 2000 together have constituted a Unesco World Heritage site) and a 14th-century noble mansion, which now serves as the Museu Casa Castellarnau.
Start exploring with the Pretori i Circ Romans, which includes part of the vaults of the Roman circus, where chariot races were once held. The circus, 300m long, stretched from here to beyond Plaça de la Font to the west. Nearby Plaça del Fòrum was the location of the provincial forum and political heart of Tarraconensis province. Near the beach is the crown jewel of Tar…
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Catedral
Sitting grandly at the top of the old town, Tarragona’s cathedral is undergoing a major facelift and much of it is largely closed. However, the cloisters and museum are open and continue to demand a solid chunk of your time. Built between 1171 and 1331 on the site of a Roman temple, it combines Romanesque and Gothic features, as typified by the main facade on Pla de la Seu. The entrance is by the cloister on the northwestern flank of the building.
The cloister has Gothic vaulting and Romanesque carved capitals, one of which shows rats conducting what they imagine to be a cat’s funeral…until the cat comes back to life! The rooms off the cloister house the Museu Diocesà, …
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Fòrum Romà
The remains of the Fòrum Romà are dominated by several imposing columns. The northwest half of this site was occupied by a judicial basilica (where legal disputes were settled), from where the rest of the forum stretched downhill to the southwest. Linked to the site by a footbridge is another excavated area which includes a stretch of Roman street. This forum was the hub of public and religious life for the Roman town. The discovery in 2006 of remains of the foundations of a temple to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva (the major triumvirate of gods at the time of the Roman republic) suggests the forum was much bigger and more important than had previously been assumed.
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Aqüeducte Romà
Aqüeducte Romà sits, somewhat incongruously, in the leafy rough just off the AP7 freeway, which leads into Tarragona (near where it intersects with the N240). It is a fine stretch of two-tiered aqueduct (217m long and 27m high), along which you can totter to the other side. Bus 5 to Sant Salvador from Plaça Imperial de Tàrraco, running every 10 to 20 minutes, will take you to the vicinity, or park in one of the lay-bys marked on either side of the AP7, just outside the freeway toll gates.
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Museum
This carefully presented museum gives further insight into Roman Tarraco. Exhibits include part of the Roman city walls, frescoes, sculpture and pottery. A highlight is the large, almost complete Mosaic de Peixos de la Pineda, showing fish and sea creatures. In the section on everyday arts you can admire ancient fertility aids including an outsized stone penis, symbol of the god Priapus.
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El Varadero
El Varadero brims with mouth-watering seafood and opens late. Go for a selection of dishes, which might include tigres (stuffed, breaded and fried mussels), ostrón (fat oyster) and cigalas a la plancha (grilled crayfish). You can sit inside (head upstairs) or take a seat at one of the outdoor tables. Hour-long queues at midnight on summer weekends are not unheard of.
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Museu Nacional Arqueològic de Tarragona
This carefully presented museum gives further insight into Roman Tarraco. Exhibits include part of the Roman city walls, frescoes, sculpture and pottery. A highlight is the large, almost complete Mosaic de Peixos de la Pineda, showing fish and sea creatures. In the section on everyday arts you can admire ancient fertility aids, including an outsized stone penis, symbol of the god Priapus.
Admission entitles you to enter the museum at the Necròpolis Paleocristians. This large Christian cemetery of late-Roman and Visigothic times is on Passeig de la Independència on the western edge of town and boasts some surprisingly elaborate tombs. Unfortunately only its small museum is…
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Cathedral
Tarragona's cathedral is a treasure house deserving 1½ hours or more of your time, if you're to do it justice. Built between 1171 and 1331 on the site of a Roman temple, it combines Romanesque and Gothic features, as typified by the main facade on Pla de la Seu. The entrance is by the cloister on the northwest flank of the building.
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Amfiteatre Romà
The well-preserved Amfiteatre Romà is where gladiators battled either each other or wild animals to the death. In its arena are the remains of 6th- and 12th-century churches built to commemorate the martyrdom of the Christian bishop Fructuosus and two deacons, who, they say, were burnt alive here in AD 259.
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Museu del Port
Down by the waterfront, this curious museum is housed in a dockside shed. There’s not a lot to it; there are some displays tracing the history of the port from Roman times (in Catalan and Castilian only), a few model boats and one or two other seafaring items, but it will keep the children happy for a while.
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Aq
This is a bubbly designer haunt with stark colour contrasts (black, lemon and cream linen), slick lines and intriguing plays on traditional cooking, such as ventresca de tonyina amb ceba caramelitzada, tomàquet, formatge de cabra i olives (tuna belly meat with caramelised onion, tomato, goat’s cheese and olives).
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El Cau
Set in one of the vaults of the Roman circus, this is the best place for dancing in central Tarragona. Various DJs and acts perform on most nights (usually from midnight), ensuring that no two evenings are the same. Check the website for which maestro is on that particular night.
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Museum
Down by the waterfront, this curious museum is housed in a dockside shed. There's not a lot to it; there are some displays tracing the history of the port from Roman times (in Catalan and Castilian only), a few model boats and one or two other seafaring items.
reviewed
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Passeig Arqueològic
The Passeig Arqueològic is a peaceful walk around part of the perimeter of the old town between two lines of city walls; the inner ones are mainly Roman, while the outer ones were put up by the British during the War of the Spanish Succession.
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Quim Quima
This renovated medieval mansion makes a marvellous setting for a meal. Huddle up to the bare stone wall or opt for the shady little courtyard. The playful menu is wide-ranging, including sausage-and-cheese crêpes and lasagne.
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Pretori I Circ Romans
Explore the Pretori I Circ Romans, which includes part of the vaults of the Roman circus, where chariot races were once held. The circus, 300m long, stretched from here to beyond Plaça de la Font to the west.
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Necròpolis Paleocristians
This large Christian cemetery of late-Roman and Visigothic times is on Passeig de la Independència on the western edge of town and boasts some surprisingly elaborate tombs. Unfortunately only its small museum is open.
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L’ancora
The quintessential Tarragona seafood experience can be had in Serrallo, the town’s fishing port. A stand-out here is L’Ancora, which brims with mouth-watering seafood and opens late.
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El Palau del Baró
The Baron's palace, a centuries-old mansion, provides a romantic, sumptuous 19th-century setting. Dishes are served with aplomb, and range from paella and arròs negre to various fish options.
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Platja Llarga
Platja Llarga stretches for about 3km. Buses 1 and 9 from the Balcó stop on Via Augusta go to both. You can get the same buses from along Rambla Vella and Rambla Nova.
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Museu d'Art Modern
This modest art gallery has some interesting temporary exhibitions as well as an impressive display of sculptures, bronzes and modern art.
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Museum
This museum comprises four separate Roman sites (which since 2000 together have constituted a Unesco World Heritage site).
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Soho
At the marina, head for Soho, which spins a chilled-out jazzy selection of tunes and is the in-spot of the moment.
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Gioconda
Gioconda is one of the more popular clubs at the marina, bursting with fevered dancers on weekends especially.
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New Brooklyn
New Brooklyn is a popular club at the marina, bursting with fevered dancers on weekends especially.
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