Always Want To Go

What a fascinating day trip to Tarragona and Sitges to see these Roman ruins. Did you know that Tarragona was founded in 218 BC as the first Roman city in Spain? Here is the story of our day trip to the coastal towns of Tarragona and Sitges.

Tarraco is the ancient name of the current city of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). It was the oldest Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula. It became the capital of the Roman province of Hispania Citerior during the period of the Roman Republic, and of Hispania Tarraconensis following the latter’s creation during the Roman Empire.

In 2000, the archaeological ensemble of Tarraco was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarraco

Statue of Caesar looking out at the Mediterranean sea

Tarraco is the first, but not the only, Roman city established in Spain and where you will find the best-preserved Roman archaeological sites in Spain! We were eager to see these Roman ruins and learn about this town’s history.

Our all-day tour also included a trip to the seaside village of Sitges, a delightful bonus.

GetYourGuide.com

GetYourGuide.com is the vendor we booked this adventure with. I can wholeheartedly recommend this tour company; this particular tour was one of the major highlights of our trip.

Our eight-person van tour included our guide, Louis, and tourists from Virginia, Puerto Rico, and Lithuania. Louis was amazingly adept at keeping us informed and engaged throughout the tour.

Roman quarry of El Mèdol

Our first stop of the day was at the Roman quarry of El Mèdol, the approximately 700-foot-wide quarry the Romans built and used to provide stone for many structures nearby Tarraco.

The untouched monolithic spire above is called the “agulla de Mèdol.”

The quarry stones were used to build many buildings near Tarraco and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage area that makes up the archaeological site of Tarraco.

Aqueduct Ferreres

Our second introduction to Roman ruins, two and a half miles from Tarragona, was at the Aqueduct Ferreres, also called the Devil’s Bridge. It was an incredible sight!

The Devil’s Bridge, over 2000 years old, was built by the Romans under the leadership of Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, to provide water from the River Francoli to the town of Tarraco.

The over 800-foot Aqueduct delivered water to the town of Tarragona until the 18th century. We were thrilled to walk across the entire span from one side to the other. What an incredible feat of engineering! How can a structure this old still be standing?

Roman Sundial

This large and ancient stone sundial is on the steps leading to the Amphitheater in Tarragona. The numbers on this sundial are carved using Roman numerals, and it is believed that the sundial dates to Roman times.

“Solem di texi te qve sol hic si manes,
tarraconis vrit amor”

“When the gods of the sun illuminate here creating a shadow,
the love flows in Tarraco.Roman Forum Tarragona

Latin inscription carved into stone of sundial

Tarragona Amphitheater

This preserved second-century Amphitheater is one of seven in Spain open to the public. At one time, this gigantic Amphitheater provided space for 12,000 spectators to watch the battles of the gladiators.

Through the centuries, other structures have been built over the Amphitheater, adding different layers of history so that only a tiny portion of the original site is visible today.

The ruins in the shape of a cross are the remains of the 12th-century church of Santa Maria del Miracle. This ruin also was built over yet another existing church ruin.

We visited the Colosseum in Rome not too long ago, and I am sure you can see that the arena in Tarragona is similar in construction and design. See Rome — Andrà tutto bene.

Roman Circus and Praetorian Tower

The Roman Circus and Praetorian Tower are within walking distance of the Amphitheater. It is easy, not difficult, for us to visualize chariot races occurring here years ago.

We were fortunate enough to go to the top of the tower and see the beautiful 360-degree view of the town. Thankfully, Louis arranged for us to take the elevator instead of climbing the many steps!

The City Wall

The original wall, built in the 3rd century B.C., is the oldest Roman structure outside Italy. At one time, it was over two miles long. Today, the Roman portion of the wall remaining in Tarragona extends no more than half a mile.

An outer wall was added during the 16th through 18th centuries to protect the town. The average height of the walls is 39 feet and, in some places, 20 feet thick. Incredible construction, right?

The Cathedral

This beautiful Cathedral, consecrated in 1331, was built where a Roman temple once stood and is considered one of the grandest cathedrals in Catalonia. Some archaeologists believe it sits over a portion of a temple to Emperor Augustus.

Sitges

On our way back to Barcelona, we stopped in the fishing town of Sitges. Sitges is also home to Playa de San Sebastian, often considered one of the best urban beaches in Europe.

We walked on the beach, dipped our toes in the chilly Mediterranean Sea, shopped, and enjoyed a cold drink at one of the many bars along the street.

Quaint little kiosks selling crafts, clothing, and gifts line the beach, making this an excellent spot for souvenirs.

We thoroughly enjoyed this tour with Louis. He related many historical stories and was able to quickly answer all our questions.

He selected an excellent restaurant in the middle of Tarragona’s Ramblas, where we had a great meal. I would return to it if I could. It was a terrific day!