Roman ruins scattered nonchalantly around every corner, the radiant blue Mediterranean Sea gleaming through the narrow cobblestone roads. Tarragona is an effortless handshake between ancient history and sheer beauty.
The Iberians settled in this quaint city in 500 BC until the third century BC when the Romans swept in to take over in . Previously known in its days as Tarraco, this city marked the Roman capital of the entire Iberian Peninsula.
Take a walk-through time: Rambla Nova
Starting your traverse near Placa Imperial Tarraco, you will be guided to a concrete runway lined perfectly by symmetrically placed trees and vintage streetlamps.
This is the lovely Rambla Nova. Originally built in in August of 1854, this 45-meter-wide walkway features a variety of charming statues that remind pedestrians of the history that lies right beneath their feet.
Mia Boria, a visitor from Valencia, shared her opinion about this street exclaiming that “ I was amazed as I kept walking along, as I had no idea how many different statues and pieces of history there would be along the way.”
These are all pieces you will come across on your stroll from the west ( coming from Placa Imperial Tarraco) to the East (with the end destination being the famous, Balcón del Mediterráneo) .
Monument als Castellers
A noteworthy stop on your tranquil trek is a dedication to Catalan culture . You can't t miss this giant bronze stature of a human tower called a castell. This tradition dates all the way back to the 18th century.
These 222 carefully sculpted figures gather to reach an impressive height of eleven meters. No one- not even locals- can walk past this proudly standing castle without taking a moment to admire this articulate work.
In the face of oppression, the people of Catalonia have always held a strong sense of identity. This practice is just one of the representations of the way that they proudly preserve their culture today.
Mia Boria, of Catalan descent, explained the significance of these towers sharing that many dedicate their whole lives to their teams.
"Some may even see their teams more than they see their mothers,” she surprisingly disclosed. She went on to say how it’s amazing to see “so many people from all different ages and social backgrounds coming together as one.”
When looking closely at this structure, you can see the strains in the strong men’s fingertips as they support the others weight, lifting their teammates closer to heaven.
The statues are so intricate that each persons’ unique personality and story peeks through the metal. All 222 people have varying moods depicted in their varying body language and facial expressions.
You detect the nervous yet exhilarated emotions in the man face as he calls out to the team from a safe distance away from the castle: far enough to not be stampeded if it happened to topple yet close enough that they could hear his instruction even despite the concentration needed for dangerous pyramid.
Above you can also see the western-most side of this piece displays a trio of musicians known as the gralles . The drums and flutes are played to excite the crowd and provide a traditional soundtrack. Additionally, this musical component is so crucial to the building of castell’s because it is coordinated with the building and the deconstruction. The progression of the music gives the concentrated people involved a way to determine the progress being made above them.
Strength. Value. Balance. Sense
.
The Catalonian tradition of castells represents how much can be accomplished when many people unite under a common effort. This piece of art along your way to the Balcón del Mediterráneo effectively showcases the way humans can push their limits to create something uniquely impressive.
Travel back in time with Tarragona’s Amphitheater
No need to fuss with your time machine, trying to set it all the way back to second century AD to see how it feels, instead simply make the worthwhile trip to Tarragona’s remarkable seaside Roman amphitheater.
Unfolding towards the radiant blue waters of the Mediterranean, this masterpiece was carved directly out of the underlying bedrock.
After paying the reasonable entrance fee of three euros, the opening arch welcomes you. It extending from front to back, making you feel more and more drawn in as you get closer.
However, snap out of your awe for a moment and notice a sharp right turn that will lead you into a pint- sized room. A small room that carries a copious amount of historical insight.
You don’t want to miss this knowledge. According to Pol Bernat, a three year amphitheater employee, “ many find themselves caught up in the amazing view, but the true beauty is in the story that plaques around the property tell you.”
After seeing the vast evolution of purposes for which this amphitheater was used for, you are now better off stepping through the entrance. Instantly, encapsulated by the stone walls, you feel as if you had just been transported back to roman times.
Each differently cut stone seems to whisper a story to you as you walk by in admiration.
Perhaps it whispers the story of the first- century cemetery that once situated here shoreside. Or it could be that the stones reveal to you the story of when they mournfully observed the public executions of Bishop Fructouoso and his deacons.
Or maybe you can hear the ancient cobblestones quietly mimic the cheers and cries of the second-century amphitheater, used for entertaining fights between gladiators and against wild beasts.
This remarkably well-preserved ancient arena once regularly held around 12,000 eager spectators. Now it holds the heart of many more, as visitors fall in love with this irrelplacebale piece of Roman architecture.
The stories and beauty that lie at the foundation of this ancient seaside town makes visiting an undeniably distinctive experience. Whether you are a history buff or not the Old Town of Tarragona will be sure to put you in a timeless trance.
- Bailey Daigle
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