Travel Blog » Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona

Tarragona Travel Blogs

Background: Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). In the second half of the 20th century, Spain has played a catch-up role in the western international community; it joined the EU in 1986. Continuing challenges include Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorism and further reductions in unemployment.

Spain

Map of Spain

Spain's Flag

Hostels in Spain
Latest Tarragona Blog Entries
Tarragona Photos

By kifandpeter
August 21st 2009

Roman Spain (or why I learned not to run at noon in the Spanish sun) Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona

The Amphitheatre

Ola, I arrived in Tarragona around 830 or so, and not much was open yet. The city was founded in 217 BC by the Romans, and it was one of the most significant Roman cities in Spain. I wandered over to the Forum and took some photos before heading along the waterfront to the well-preserved Amphitheatre. I enjoyed wandering around the site because there was no one there and I had it all to myself. I then walked past some of the Roman walls and up into the tower that used to be part of the Hippodrome where races were held. [View Full Entry]

By Trabern
June 10th 2009

A day in Tarragona Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona

Barrel vaults at The City Forum

Rosemary rang at 6.00am this morning to let Bernie know that the email has now been sent???!! We thought that was what she rang to tell us at about 4.00am on Tuesday morning?! Anyway, when Bernie logged on he found that he does now have the link. Now he just has to make the time to do the test before the end of the week. It is a nuisance really as it would have suited us for him to do the test yesterday morning while we were killing time waiting for the welcome session! Ah well, c’est la vie, I am [View Full Entry]

Longitudinal vault at The Circus Praetorium

By Dr Rob
December 28th 2008

The Story So Far... Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona

Me on the Beach!

New Zealand Immigration have turned down my work visa application, resulting in me loosing my job in Wellington. Why? Because of slightly raised liver enzymes on my blood tests. I think it just shows that my liver is working, more work = more enzymes. Anyway I'm now on a strict(ish) weight loss regime and drinking only minimal quantities of ale. So i headed off to Spain cause Ellie was there for Xmas and new Year and I wanted to take a break from sitting at home in damp boring suburban Hampton and do something fun. We went to the bar on [View Full Entry]

By Hanz
August 22nd 2008

Tarragona, Salou & The Spanish Sun Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona

Vilafortuny Beach

What a holiday! Coming within a hair-width of our lives, Leo and I needed the rest of the holiday just to recover from the flight there. Meanwhile if I was going to be in recovery mode anywhere, what better than your own apartment within a minutes walk of the beach under the warm Spanish sun? The flight started well, and Leo and I were doing our usual banter about flying in cheap plastic planes, no doubt putting off most of the other patrons, rather than ourselves. Which was all very funny until about an hour into the flight when we hit [View Full Entry]

By Melissa Andrea
August 9th 2008

Road trip to Mas de Barbarans Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona

beach babes

Gaia first camping road trip. We drove the trusty Volvo down across France to spend a sun soaked week at our wee finca. [View Full Entry]

By AnnaAdventuring
August 3rd 2008

Cats in the forum Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona

Tarragona Cathedral

We began our second sightseeing trip with a visit to the beautiful cathedral. The Cathedral’s construction began in the 12th century, when the old Romanesque Cathedral was begun. The five original naves were reduced to three during the Gothic redesign while in the 14th century the central sculptures of the facade, depicting the apostles and the madonna, were added. The statues were all completed in Jaume Cascalls’ studio in 1375. Outside the cathedral was a second hand sale - many of the locals had spread blankets on the ground and were selling everything from beautiful antiques to [View Full Entry]

By AnnaAdventuring
August 2nd 2008

Roman Ruins of Tarragona Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona

View of the ampitheatre

We arrived in Tarragona today, the ancient Roman city on the coast. We checked into our hostel which was quite fun. The downstairs is a (very smoky) bar and the lift to the rooms upstairs starts on the first floor so we had to squeeze up the first flight of narrow steps with our suitcases. Our room we discovered at the end of a long narrow corridor that was literally only wide enough for one person at a time - the only way to pass people coming in the other direction is to all flatten yourselves against the wall and walk [View Full Entry]

By SarahBartlett
January 28th 2008

Daytrip to Tarragona Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona

Our tourgide Nacho

Saturday was our first daytrip! I went to Tarragona, Spain, which is in Northern Spain, but about an hour and a half south of Barcelona. It is also right on the Mediterranean. In 218 BC the Romans strategically settled this town and made it the capital of that province of the Roman Empire. Tarragona even replaced Rome for 3 years when Emperor Augustus lived there. So this city is steeped in history, and actually has the most Roman ruins outside of Rome. The bus to Tarragona was scheduled to leave at 9:30, so we got up around 8, got dressed, and [View Full Entry]

The coloseum with the ruins of a church inside

By Jose blog
November 6th 2007

Muntanyas de Prades - Catalunya Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona

Morning Coming Through

La Mussara Sixty kilometres north of Tarragona, Catalonia. The mountains of Prades: an amazing, vast, green and rocky landscape with small villages perched on top of hills and cliffs. Over a thousand metres of altitude. I stayed in the friendly refugio La Mussara, which is also the name of an area marked with several houses in my climbing guidebook. I quickily offloaded my bike and took the way to the village hoping to find an open market, maybe also a bakery... To my surprise La Mussara is a ghost town! Judging by the size of its ruins, a church and several [View Full Entry]

By Jason and Kate
October 17th 2006

Be prepared to be jealous... Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona

Casa Marina Entrance

Yeah, sorry. But be prepared. I mean, how many of you are lounging poolside on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea? With a glass of Spanish wine? As the sun sets perfectly over the sea and a hazy mountainside, slipping into a warm bath of reds, purples and coppers? Well…we are. And this is where we’ll be living for the next two weeks. Tonight is night three, and each sunset so far has been equally perfect. So has the weather. Jason described it as being like the first few days of Spring in Florida, with a slightly cool, sweater-worthy breeze in [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Europe » Spain » Catalonia » Tarragona