Tarragona is a city located at the south of Cataluña (Spain) It is the capitol of the province that carries the same name, and of the Tarragonés region, located at the shore of the Mediterranean sea. It has a long historical and cultural tradition, and it is a tourist destiny, both by its warm water beaches as well as its artistic heritage. It is; along with 11 other Spanish cities; “World Heritage” from the UNESCO.

THE CITY

The archaeological area that form the roman ruins of Tarraco, was declared “human heritage”by the UNESCO in 2000, with 14 different places.

The Old Quarter. The high part of the city, matches with the old roman forum. It is surrounded by a roman wall which length by the 3rd century b.C. was around 4km. However, at present, only around 1 km is still conserved with only 1 original arched door. The Old Quarter, commonly know as the “Part Alta”is today one of the most visited areas from both tourist as local people, thanks to the vast gastronomic and leisure that is has.

The Tarraco Amphitheatre. From the 1st Century, it holds within, the remains of a basilica and a roman church.
The central market. Modern building from 1915, designed by the architecture Josep Maria Pujol de Barberá.

The Mediterranean Balcony. Lookout located over a cliff at the edge of the sea, at the end of the “Rambla Nova”. Its surrounded by an old handrail forged by Joan Miquel Guinart, at the beginning of the 20th Century. From it you can see part of the city, the port, the station, the amphitheatre, the beach and the “Punta del Milagro”, besides a fabulous sea scene, in which on a clear day you can appreciate earth’s curvature. The “Punta del Milagro”is also the place were each July, for a period of six nights the famous International Fire Cracker Contest of Tarragona is held, were a lot of important pyrotechnic companies, both Spanish and foreign, participate, which has become the reference contest of the Mediterranean.
The “circus”. Within the old quarter of the city, we can nowadays find the archaeological remains of what the tarraconensse circus was, which offered races. You can visit the different establishments in the city; as well as the area know as the “capçalera” the curve at the end of the road. The “carceres” were the exit was, are now beneath the town hall of Tarragona, in the "Plaça de la Font".

LOCAL FESTIVALS

Tarragona carnival, one of the most emblematic carnivals in Cataluña.

The International Dixieland Festival of Tarragona, one week before Easter.

Tarraco Viva is an event that is held during the last two weeks of May, in which the city goes back to the classic times, with roman legionaries, food, etc.
International Fire Cracker Castles Festival of Tarragona, the first week of July.

Santa Tecla Festivals, the big party of the city, held between the 15 and the 24th of September, declared of national interest by the Government of Spain and traditional festival of the Catalonian Generalitat.

Sant Magí Festival, the small city festival, between the 16 and the 19th of August.

”Castells” competition, held the first sunday of October on the pair years.
The Holy burial process during Holy Week.