Roman Tarraco: Architectural Heritage and Landmarks

Urban Expansion and Public Spectacles

With the growth of the city, suburbs were constructed outside the walls. Two of the three buildings dedicated to spectacles in Tarraco were built outside the city limits: the theater and the amphitheater.

The Roman Theater

The theater (1st century AD) was located very close to the colony's forum. It utilized the natural slope of the land for the seating area and featured a frons scaenae decorated with columns and statues of deities. Alongside the structure, there was a garden with a fountain and a pond.

The Amphitheater

The amphitheater (early 2nd century AD), situated outside the walls near the beach, had an elliptical shape and a capacity for 14,000 spectators. The central area was the arena, and beneath it was the hypogeum, which housed the mechanisms needed for the spectacles, including those for animals and gladiators. The grandstand was separated from the arena by a 3.25-meter wall called the podium, which served as a safety barrier.

In the 6th century, a Christian church was built in the arena in memory of those condemned to be burned alive. In the 12th century, a Romanesque church was built and dedicated to the Virgin of the Miracle.

Water Infrastructure

To meet the water needs of the population, three aqueducts were built to transport water from the Francolí and Gaià rivers to the town.

Aqueduct of Ferreres

The Aqueduct of Ferreres, also known as the Devil's Bridge, is located 4 km from the city. Built of local stone, it features two levels of superimposed arches: 11 arches on the upper floor and 25 on the lower. It reaches a maximum height of 27 meters and a length of 217 meters.

Surrounding Monuments and Quarries

Several quarries surrounded the city, including the Mèdol quarry, located about 9 km away. Notable monuments in the vicinity of Tarraco include:

• Tower of the Scipios: A 1st-century AD tomb located 6 km from the city, consisting of three superimposed bodies.
• Arc de Berà: Located about 20 km north of Tarragona, this is a simple arch with a single opening and eight Corinthian pilasters, built at the end of the 1st century BC.
• Villa of Munts: A luxurious residence featuring numerous decorative items such as sculptures, mosaics, and capitals.
• Mausoleum of Centcelles: Originally a Roman villa, it later became a memorial. Its most spectacular feature is a 13-meter-high space with a dome covered in mosaics depicting hunting scenes, biblical scenes, and figures of the four seasons.

Museums of Tarragona

The city hosts three primary museums:

• National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona: Houses archaeological evidence of ancient Tarraco.
• Museum of the History of Tarragona: Collects the historical evolution of the city from the Roman era.
• Early-Christian Necropolis Museum: Exhibits funerary artifacts, including tile tombs, tombstones, and sarcophagi.