Tarragona is a small city located in Catalonia, Spain. It occupies a favoured position along the Costa Dorado, or Gold Coast. There has been a city here since the time of the Roman occupation of the area and some remnants of this beginning.
A major example of this is the well preserved 2nd century AD Roman Amphitheatre which is found at the Parque del Miracle. The amphitheatre measures 130 x 102 m and could hold 15,000 spectators. There are many other Roman sites in the area including the Pretori Roma which is a tall tower built within what used to be the forum. There are underground tunnels connecting the tower to other parts of the city. You can go to the top of the tower for the view and you can also tour the underground passages.
An interesting visit is to the 12th century Cathedral of Tarragona, which was built over the ruins of a Roman temple. The Museo Diocesa, with its display of Catalan art, is located within the cathedral.
Tarragona has a number of sandy beaches, many of which have been awarded the European Blue Flag for cleanliness and activities. Some of the beaches have volleyball nets.
Compared with some of the other resorts of the Costa Dorada, Tarragona has a more modest and quieter night life. There are, however, plenty of restaurants and bars located in the main square with seating both inside and out. Local specialities include seafood and paella. The port area of the city is where most of the nightclubs are located, many of them staying open until 5 am.
An unusual festival which usually takes place in October is the Festival of the Castells. This takes the form of a competition between groups to see who can produce the highest human pyramid. In some cases the pyramid can be as much as nine storeys (people) high.
Tarragona combines the typical Costa Dorada beach type of holiday with the more cultural sightseeing variety.
