Ancient Roman Heritage in Catalonia: Tarragona & Empúries

Ancient Roman Heritage in Catalonia

In 218 BC, the Romans landed in the Greek colony of Empúries and, almost simultaneously, founded a military camp in Tarraco. The Romans chose this location because it offered a natural port and a rocky hill that provided a perfect defensive position. This hill was transformed into a fortress, serving as military protection.

Tarraco: Imperial Roman Capital

Tarraco was a central hub of the Roman Empire during its golden age, and its finest monuments date from that period. Some of these monuments are unique pieces of world heritage. Among the Roman ruins that can be visited in Tarragona are the following:

• The Roman Wall

  This wall was reinforced by rectangular towers, three of which are known: the Minerva, the Cabiscol, and the Archbishop's Tower. It is the oldest Roman building in Tarragona. In the 2nd century AD, it had a length of 4 km, but now only 1 km is preserved.

• The Circus

  This building was where chariot races were held. It retains much of the vaults of its original structure. It was the most popular entertainment building of the Roman era.

• The Amphitheater

  Located outside the city walls, this building was dedicated to spectacles where combat was the principal element.

• Two Forums

  The Provincial Forum and the Colonial Forum.

• The Theatre

  Located in the port area, it preserved three essential elements: the cavea (seating area), the orchestra, and the scaena (stage building).

Empúries: Roman Arrival in Catalonia

The Romans arrived in Catalonia through Emporion (Empúries), a Greek colony founded around 600 BC, which became an ally in their fight against the Carthaginians. Later in the 2nd century BC, the Romans established a permanent military camp near the Greek city to control the port and surrounding territory. The Roman city of Empúries (Neapolis) was largely designed ex novo (anew), following the urban planning principles of Roman colonies.

The wall was then built, followed by the Forum. The wall, preserved mainly in the south, was constructed using a double technique: the lower part with polygonal stone blocks and the upper part with concrete.

The Forum occupied four insulae (city blocks) and was divided into two parts by a decumanus (east-west street). The cardo maximus (north-south street) was presided over by the temple, of which only the podium remains. Behind it, the forum was preceded by a nymphaeum (fountain). During the Augustan period, the Forum underwent a complete reform, reflecting its new status as a municipium. In the northern part of the forum were a market and public baths.

The amphitheater was a very modest oval-shaped building. The palaestra (arena building for physical activities) is only evidenced by its rectangular portico, which surrounded the arena. A wide extension of the residential area has been excavated, though only a small part. However, it has been calculated that it had 4,000 inhabitants.

From the 3rd century AD, Empúries suffered a slow decline, evidenced by the humble nature of new public buildings. Both the Roman city (Neapolis) and the Greek city were eventually deserted, and the settlement retreated to the small promontory of the current Sant Martí d'Empúries.