Just some 98 km southwest of Barcelona - and your gaze appears Tarragona, a modern port and industrial city with a population of just over 140,000 people. The municipality is part of the province of the same name, which, in turn, belongs to Catalonia - the most famous autonomous region. Further, Tarragona, attractions that invariably attract tourists, will be described in more detail. In the article you can also see a photo of this interesting place.
A Brief History of Tarragona. ancient roman footprint
Around the 3rd century BC. e. The territory of modern Spain was inhabited by the Iberians. At the turn of the V-VI centuries. BC e. these people founded the settlement of Kesse. It was captured by the Romans under the command of the proconsul Publius Cornelius at the time. This event took place in 218 BC. e. On the site of a simple settlement, Scipio erected fortifications. Subsequently, a city grew up around the fortress, called Tarracon. For a long time it was the capital of the ancient Roman province of Near Spain. Subsequently, during the reign of Julius Caesar, the city was renamed Colonia Julia Urbis Triumphalis Tarraco. A little later, after the end of the Cantabrian War, here he waited out the winter cold, erecting a huge number of buildings in honor of the great victory. The future emperor Septimius Severus gave several years of his life to this place as head of the Roman administration. The city received the status of the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon in the Middle Ages. 
sights
Tarragona (Spain) is known for its architectural ensemble. It consists of two magnificent, insanely interesting parts. One of them is related to the Ancient Roman era, the second - to the Middle Ages. In 2000, UNESCO declared Tarragona a cultural heritage site. Today it is one of the most attractive cities for tourists. What to see in Tarragona? More on this later in the article.
Cathedral of St. Mary
Tarragona, whose sights are interesting not only for their appearance, but also for their fascinating fate, annually attracts thousands of tourists. Most of the interesting places are located in the "old" part - Part Alta. The majestic beautiful building of the Cathedral of St. Mary was erected in the XII century. The main elements of the structure are the statues of the Archangel Michael. The first - the main sculpture - depicts him trampling the devil. The second composition is in the treasury of the cathedral and is made in a grotesque-satirical form: the rosy-cheeked chubby Archangel Michael tramples on a crazy horned demon. During the very long construction of the cathedral - about 150 years - architectural genres and images have undergone many changes. This left its mark on the decoration of the building. The cathedral turned out to be rather peculiar - the Romanesque style is combined here with the Gothic. The land on which this magnificent building is located has long been considered sacred. Since the time of Emperor Tiberius, temples have been built on this site. At first it was the temple of Jupiter, a little later the church of the Visigoths, then the Muslim mosque. In the XII century, Tarragona was erected on this holy land, which, by the way, is still in effect. It hosts daily services and festive services. 
Amphitheater
What else is Tarragona famous for? The sights located here have been preserved since ancient times. So, in the II century BC. e., not far from the Mediterranean coast, an amphitheater was erected. A lot of blood, pain and suffering saw the stands of this majestic structure. The amphitheater accommodated 13,000 people. Here, in the terrible times of persecution, many of the first Christians were martyred, who were cruelly tortured and executed. On one of the winter days in 259, a huge fire was burning in this arena under the feet of Bishop Fructuos. In memory of this event and in honor of this saint, every year on January 21, Tarragona Christians light candles in churches. For a long time, the amphitheater was hidden under a layer of earth and sand, until one of the archaeological expeditions stumbled upon it in the middle of the 20th century. Thanks to such a long oblivion, the building seemed to be mothballed. The stands, the main gates, and the large arena of the amphitheater, which occupies almost 2500 m 2, have been perfectly preserved. 
Roman aqueduct
This is another interesting place that Tarragona is famous for. The sights of the city, by the way, almost all have their own legend. It is also connected with the Roman aqueduct. They say that in ancient times, Satan erected a bridge over the gorge, and in exchange he asked for the soul of the first inhabitant of Tarragona, who drank water in this place. The first "inhabitant" to quench his thirst was a donkey. Since that time, the aqueduct, with a height and length of 220 m, was called the Devil's Bridge. Initially, in the era of ancient Roman rule, two structures were built, through which water was brought to the city. One of the viaducts has survived and is well preserved to this day. Today it is recognized as one of the UNESCO heritage sites. Today, the vicinity of the aqueduct is a beautiful ecological and historical park. Extreme lovers have a great opportunity to tickle their nerves. To do this, you just need to go over the abyss along the narrow gutter of the drain. 
Building with fake facade
This is one of the most popular attractions in the center of Tarragona. In 1995, the wall of one of the houses in the city was painted in a special manner by the artist Carles Arola. If we look at the fake facade from afar, for example, from the center of the square, then a 3D effect is created, a kind of illusion of an animated image. It is only natural that this unusual fairy-tale side of a standard building attracts a huge number of tourists. The master of fine arts captured the classic facade of a 19th century Tarragona house on a blank wall. The world-famous characters of Spanish legends and fairy tales live on the painted balconies among the flowers. There is a Harlequin with his Columbine, the Captain and others. There was a place on the third floor for the artist himself and his beloved wife, whom he portrayed as busy watering flowers.
Modern Art Museum
This is another of the most popular places that Tarragona is famous for. Landmarks that combine the splendor of architecture and diverse content invariably attract visitors. Housed in three reconstructed 18th century mansions, the city's most entertaining museum dedicated to contemporary art. It opened its doors to visitors in 1976 and immediately became one of the most popular places in the city. Its halls are filled with masterpieces of contemporary Catalan masters of painting and sculpture. A worthy place is also occupied by pieces of furniture, jewelry, beautiful tapestries and a huge collection of ceramics of the XII-XVIII centuries. 
House Canals
A magnificent mansion that combines several eras in its architecture. The foundation of the house rests on the remains of an ancient wall dating back to the 2nd century BC. The first floor was erected on the ruins of a medieval house of the XIV century. The interiors of blue and pink bedrooms, stunning with their splendor, with old paintings hanging on the walls and mirrors in heavy frames, date back to the 19th century. The Canals house has a terrace with magnificent views of the whole of Tarragona.
Platja Llarga
This sandy strip is considered one of the best areas for sunbathing and swimming. Tarragona, whose beaches are clean and well-groomed, is not only magnificent architectural structures. It is also a resort with a high level of service. The coast of the city is considered the standard of cleanliness and well-groomed. One of the most famous beaches is "Long". The length of this sandy line is about 3 km. It is quite spacious and at the same time quite few people. This place attracts with its picturesque nature - oak groves with Spanish lynxes rise almost near the shore. These areas are considered protected areas. It is here that you can see the Mediterranean nature in all its glory. 
Shopping centers
Tourists, however, are attracted not only by historical sites or the virgin nature of the coast. Quite a lot of people visit shopping and entertainment centers. One of the most popular is "Park-Central". Tarragona is a city with a well-developed infrastructure. Parc Central shopping center is located just a 5-minute walk from the city bus station. The building has almost everything: cafes, cinemas, boutiques, shops, supermarkets, beauty salons, kiosks selling a map of Tarragona with attractions. In addition, there are tour desks in the shopping center, where you can buy a tour to any corner of the country.
