The origin of the name is not clearly defined as there are several origins. For some it comes from a derivation of the latin word that designated the prisoners, and it was at the beginning, a roman prison.

At present, the most accepted theory is that its name has a Celtic origin, with its root on the word red, that originated the name redis (or reddis) that means “in the roads”, meaning, an inhabit place in a crossroads.

THE CITY

Downtown of the city is the “Plaza Prim”. The City may is in the other central plaza: “Plaza del Mercadal” (previously “Plaza España”). The “Plaza de la Llibertat” (previously “Plaza de los Mártires”), even if it was remodelled in 2003, does not have the “looks”of the first original.

The old area is in the “Ravales de Robuster, de Sant Pere, deJesús, de Martí Folguera, del Pallol y de Santa Anna”, area know as "Tomb de Ravals". The two pedestrian streets that join the “Plaza Prim”with the “Plaza Mercadal” form the comercial axis of the town: Between Monterols street and Llovera street give Reus a great commercial value. Recently a new commercial center called “Pallol” was opened and is located in the centre of the old area

A more modern area is located within the perimeter of the Riera Miró , Avinguda Sant Jordi, Carrer Dr. Robert, Passeig Mata, Passeig Sunyer, Plaça les Oques, Passeig Prim, Plaça Pastoreta, Avinguda La Salle, Avinguda Pere the Cerimoniós and Riera Aragó. Beyond those limits the city is still in expansion.

The City Hall is located in Plaza del Mercadal. The National Police is located on Dr. Robert Street, close to the Plaza Llibertat; the courts close to the shopping center Carrefour (were there is a NH hotel and several offices), on the Marià Fortuny Avenue, y la Local Police (or “Guardia Urbana”) also on the Marià Fortuny Avenue, next to the Swimming club “Club Natación Reus Ploms”.
There are parking lots on the Plaza de Les Oques, Plaza de la Llibertat, Plaza Prim, Plaza Pastoreta, Palau de Fires (ExpoReus) and Plaza del Baluard.

At Sant Jordi park we can find a great building with exhibitions called “Fira de Reus (ExproReus)”. There is a plan to move the Fair to the outskirts of the city and in its place build a large shopping mall.

LOCAL FESTIVALS

The mayor festival of Reus is “Sant Pere” (Saint Peter) named National Turist Festival [June 29th]. On [September 25th] the “Mare de Déu de la Misericordia” is celebrated . The main attraction of the mayor festival is called "tronada", it consists in a series of 29 small “masclets” along with strong bangs (from big fire crackers) set up in a line distributed along the Plaça del Mercadal, joined by a powder line. At the very end of the line, just in front of the City Hall, it makes a powder drawing, more fire crackers and 4 more “masclets”

Some other festivals are the Carnaval and the “Festa de l’Anada a l’antiga a Salou”. Many neighbourhood have their own local festivities.

Besides the local festivities in Reus, there is always a lot of recreational activities with festivals like the “Cos”or the Trapezi.