The heart of the Costa Dorada and the capital of the province of the same name in the Kingdom of Spain is the city of Tarragona, which attracts tourists with its historical sights. In 2000, it was rightfully included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In addition to historical value, the city is the largest port, industrial and commercial center. Located 98 km from Barcelona, Tarragona attracts tourists who crave a touch of the history of the Roman Empire, as well as lovers of the sun and the beach.
Long ago, many centuries ago...
The first mention of inhabitants in the Tarragona lands comes at the end of the 6th century. In the hills of the current pearl of the Costa Dorada, an Iberian tribe lived in a settlement called Kesse. In 218 BC. e. the specified settlement was conquered by the Romans under the leadership of Publius Cornelius Scipio.
A fortification was built at the place of residence of the tribe, which was called Tarraco, which in Spanish means Fortress. In 45 BC. e. Julius Caesar awarded the city the status of the capital of the province of Near Spain, which already in 27 BC. e. called Tarraconian Spain.
National flag of Spain and the autonomous region of Catalonia
The period of revival of the city was 25-26 BC. e. This is the time when Octavian Augustus was in the capital of the Roman Empire. The industry of the former province went uphill. They erected defensive walls, an amphitheater, two forums and an aqueduct. The population of the city increased to 40 thousand inhabitants. The fall of Tarraco coincided with the fall of the Roman Empire.
More than one generation of modern Tarragona had to endure wars and battles. Today, the largest seaport is located there, and the tourism industry is developing.
View of Tarragona cruise port How to get to Tarragona
We will describe how you can get (several routes) to the historical center of the Costa Dorada - Tarragona.
From Barcelona
From Barcelona airport to Tarragona from terminal T1 there is an hourly direct bus. The fare is 14.95 euros. Travel time - 1 hour.
Direct buses depart to Tarragona and from the Barcelona bus station, they go a little longer - 1.5 hours. But the ticket price is lower - 10 euros. You can order travel receipts without leaving your home, on the official website busbud.com.
Barcelona North Bus Station Estació del Nord The most comfortable mode of transport that will take you to the historical center of the Costa Dorada is the train. It follows to Tarragona from Sants train station.
You can buy tickets at any time of the day using the service for selecting travel documents rodalies.gencat.cat. There are many flights on the schedule, which take from 62 to 89 minutes to travel. The ticket price will be approximately 8 euros.
Barcelona Sants / Sants Estació Train Station If you are not used to traveling by public transport, a taxi is at your service. The distance from Barcelona to Tarragona is 98 km. The car overcomes this path in about 1 hour 20 minutes. Payment - according to the meter and is approximately 132 euros.
The beaches of Tarragona
View from the Balcony of the Mediterranean (left): the city beach is located below The coastline of the city with a length of 15 km makes it possible to accommodate a huge number of beaches in Tarragona. You will learn about the ways to get to them and their features from the table:
|
Beach name |
Transport |
Beach Features |
| Platja Del Miracle / Comandancia | Bus number 10 ("Port Esportiu") | The length of the beach is 500 m, on the territory there are showers and toilets, as well as bars and cafes. |
| Cala Fonda | Bus number 19 or 97 (stop "Mas Rabassa" - Camping Las Palmeras) | Wild beach 200 m long, |
| Platja De L'arrabassada | Bus number 1, 19 or 97 | The length of the beach is 550 m. The standard set of services: toilets, showers, bars, cafes |
| Cala Romana O Dels Capellans | Bus number 1, 19 or 97 | The length of the beach is 60 m. The standard set on the territory: toilets, showers, bars, cafes |
| Cala De La Roca Plana for nudists | Bus number 19 or 97 | The length of the beach is 205 m. The standard set for vacationers: toilets, showers, bars, cafes. protected area |
| Platja De Tamarit | Bus number 97 | The length of the beach is 1750 m. The standard set for those who like to bask in the sun: toilets, showers, bars, cafes. protected area |
| Platja De La Mora | Bus number 97 | The length of the beach is 520 m. The standard set of tourists: toilets, showers, bars, cafes. protected area |
In order for a trip to Spain and a holiday in Tarragona to bring positive emotions, you need to study in advance so that the weather is sunny and warm without precipitation.
If you are lucky enough to be in Tarragona during the winter, we recommend visiting the world-famous carnival, which takes place from 14 to 21 February.
You can see an overview of the most popular resorts in Spain.
Cuisine and restaurants
The geographical location of the city makes it possible for the owners of restaurants and all kinds of cafes to offer tourists the gifts of the Mediterranean Sea, which are caught on the day of preparation.
If you decide to dine in the fishing district of El Serrallo, you will be able to enjoy the taste of
Meet in catering establishments and seasonal dishes. For example, calçotada is served from January to April. Such an exotic name bears sweet green onions cooked on an open fire with Romesco sauce.
Tarragona Hotels
In Tarragona, as in any other tourist center, the hotel business is developed. The owners offer accommodation for every taste and budget. 84 hotels in the city center, the rest are within a radius of 8.7 km. We present some of the Tarragona hotels in Spain in the table below:
|
The name of the hotel |
Services/service |
Room rates |
Location |
| Husa Imperial Tarraco 4* | 24/7 Front Desk, press delivery, express check-in/out, safe, luggage office, laundry, breakfast in the room currency exchange, car rental, tour agency, Internet, paid parking |
The most economical double room will cost from 3800 rubles. Suite room for two will cost within 7700 rubles |
Centre |
| SB Express Tarragona 3* | Elevator, Safe, car rental, laundry, tour agency, fax machine, photocopying |
The cost of a standard double room is about 3100 rubles | Not far from the center |
| Mercure Atenea Aventura | Facilities for disabled guests, 24 hour front desk, smoking is prohibited on the territory and in the hotel, elevator, smoking areas, non-smoking rooms, currency exchange, room service, organization of excursions, parking |
The cost of a standard room - from 2800 rubles | 8.6 km from the center |
| Hostal Noria 2* | Internet, room service |
The cost of a single room from 1500 rubles | 553 m from the center |
Tarragona hotels are famous for their good service at a relatively low price. In general, the cost of rooms is kept almost at the same level.
Significantly raise prices in March, and vice versa, reduce - in October. 40 days before the trip, you can book a hotel room with a 37% discount.
shopping
The central part of the city is built up with various shops and various shops. It sells clothes, shoes and accessories from European and American manufacturers.
Along with everyone else, Spanish manufacturers present a range of the most famous clothing brands such as Roberto Verino, Armand Basi, Massimo Dutti, Pikolinos, MIRTO, Mayoral and many others. Spanish goods under the brand names Bershka, Zara, Mango, Springfield, Oysho, Stradivarius are rightfully considered the most affordable..
The most favorable time for - the second half of the day, when the sun is no longer so bright. The main shopping centers are Park Central and El Corte Inglés. They are located in the center, 5 minutes walk from the bus station. Prices in stores are acceptable for almost all income levels. 
Discounts (rebajas) in the country are both summer and winter. The peak of discounts falls on summer time, when goods can be purchased at 70-80% cheaper.
conclusions
Going to Spain, do not forget to include the city of Tarragona in your itinerary. After all, it was here that 2 currents managed to intertwine: modernity and antiquity. The atmosphere filled with historical spirit and a variety of panoramic landscapes will not leave you indifferent.
Holidays in Tarragona will be remembered for a lot of positive emotions, a beautiful tan and hundreds of colorful photos.
You can get acquainted with the impressions of experienced tourists about the rest and sights of Tarragona in the reviews of tourists.
