Tarragona history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of Tarragona is deeply rooted in antiquity. Initially, the Iberian settlement of Kesse was located in this territory. However, the official beginning of the city's chronicle is considered to be 218 BC, when Roman troops under the command of Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio landed here during the Second Punic War.

The Romans established a fortified military camp, which quickly expanded and was named Tarraco. It was the first Roman outpost outside the Italian Peninsula, becoming the starting point for the Romanisation of all of Spain.

Key Factors of Formation

Several strategic factors contributed to the transformation of a military camp into a thriving capital:

• Geography and Defence: The city was built on a natural elevation near the Mediterranean coast, providing excellent visibility and protection against attacks from both sea and land.
• Political Power: Julius Caesar granted Tarraco the status of a colony, and Emperor Augustus made it the capital of the province of Hispania Citerior. Augustus personally lived here for two years, governing the empire from Tarragona, which attracted the elite and investment to the city.
• Trade Routes: The Via Augusta — the main road of the Iberian Peninsula connecting Rome with Cadiz — passed through the city. This turned Tarragona into a key logistics hub.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

During its heyday, Tarraco was one of the wealthiest cities in the empire, referred to by contemporaries as "Little Rome". The economy was based on the export of wine, olive oil, and flax, which were highly valued in the metropolis. The city had the right to mint its own coins, indicating its high autonomy and significance.

The cultural landscape was shaped by metropolitan standards:

• Monumental structures were erected: a provincial forum, a circus for chariot races, and an amphitheatre overlooking the sea.
• The city was surrounded by powerful defensive walls, parts of which have survived to this day.
• A high level of engineering was confirmed by the presence of an aqueduct and a complex sewage system.

Major Historical Milestones

• 218 BC — Roman troops commanded by Scipio land on the coast, founding the military camp of Tarraco.
• 27 BC — Emperor Augustus makes the city the capital of the Hispania Citerior province, beginning an era of prosperity.
• 475 — The city is conquered by the Visigoths under King Euric, marking the end of Roman rule.
• 716 — Tarragona is captured by Moorish troops, followed by a long period of decline and the destruction of fortifications.
• 1129 — Count of Barcelona Ramon Berenguer III initiates the restoration of the city and its repopulation by Christians.
• 1321 — The solemn arrival of the relics of Saint Tecla, who became the city's main patroness.
• 1348 — The plague epidemic ("Black Death") claims the lives of a significant part of the population and slows the region's development.
• 1640s — During the Reapers' War, the city becomes a centre of Catalan resistance and suffers from sieges.
• 1811 — The tragic siege and looting of the city by the Napoleonic army during the Peninsular War.
• 1856 — The opening of railway communication, giving a powerful boost to the economy and the export of wine.
• 1971 — The launch of a major petrochemical complex, turning Tarragona into one of Spain's industrial centres.
• 2000 — The Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco is officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Key Stages of Development and Transformation

The history of Tarragona is a journey from an ancient metropolis to a modern industrial and tourist hub. Below are the main milestones that defined the modern appearance and economy of the city:

• Roman Urbanisation (1st–2nd centuries AD)
  The transformation of the military camp into the imperial capital of Tarraco was accompanied by massive construction. The erection of the forum, circus, amphitheatre, and aqueduct not only demonstrated the power of Rome but also established the unique layout of the Upper Town (Part Alta), which remains to this day.
• Medieval Repopulation (12th century)
  After a period of desolation, the restoration of the archbishop's seat returned the city to its status as the spiritual centre of Catalonia. The construction of the grand Cathedral on the site of the Roman Temple of Jupiter became a symbol of cultural and urban revival, forming the medieval core of the city.
• Trade Boom of the 18th Century
  The liberalisation of trade with the American colonies gave a powerful impetus to the local economy. The reconstruction and expansion of the port allowed for the mass export of wine and brandy, which led to the growth of the merchant class and the appearance of wealthy urban architecture.
• Birth of "New Tarragona" (Mid-19th Century)
  The demolition of the old city walls and the approval of the city expansion plan allowed the historic centre to be connected with the port district. The main result was the creation of Rambla Nova — the central promenade that became the axis of social and commercial life.
• Industrialisation and Petrochemicals (1960s–1970s)
  The construction of one of the largest petrochemical complexes in Southern Europe radically changed the economic profile of the region. This led to a demographic boom, the appearance of new working-class neighbourhoods, and the development of transport infrastructure.
• Campus of Knowledge (1991)
  The founding of the Rovira i Virgili University (URV) turned Tarragona into an important educational and scientific centre. The university became a driver of innovation and attracted young people to the city, revitalising the cultural environment.
• World Heritage Status (2000)
  The inclusion of the Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco in the UNESCO list reoriented the city's strategy towards cultural tourism. This stimulated the restoration of monuments, the improvement of pedestrian zones, and the hosting of international historical reconstruction festivals.

Architectural Chronicle and Urban Planning

The architectural appearance of Tarragona is a unique palimpsest, where eras are literally layered one upon another. The urban structure is clearly divided into two parts: the historic Upper Town (Part Alta), located on a hill within the ancient walls, and the Lower Town (Eixample), stretching towards the sea and the port.

Antiquity: Roman Foundation

The Roman era set the basic layout of the historic centre. Ancient Tarraco was built on terraces, utilising the natural relief of the terrain.

• Style: Roman classical architecture.
• Features: The use of gigantic stone blocks (cyclopean masonry) in defensive walls and the monumentality of public buildings.
• Landmarks:
  • Roman Walls: The oldest Roman fortifications outside Italy, defining the perimeter of the Old Town.
  • Roman Circus: Unique in that during the Middle Ages it was integrated into residential buildings. Today, its vaults can be found inside many restaurants and shops on the square Plaça de la Font.
  • Amphitheatre: An example of an entertainment structure harmoniously integrated into the coastline.

Middle Ages: Romanesque and Gothic

In the 12th–14th centuries, the city was rebuilt on the ruins of Roman structures. Streets became narrower and winding, forming the labyrinth of the Upper Town.

• Style: Transition from Romanesque to Gothic.
• Features: Secondary use of Roman stone. Tarragona's Gothic style is characterised by restraint and powerful proportions, typical of the Catalan school.
• Landmarks:
  • Cathedral of Saint Tecla: The main dominant feature of the city. Begun in the Romanesque style (massive walls, semi-circular arches), it was completed with a magnificent Gothic façade featuring a huge rose window.
  • Jewish Quarter (El Call): A network of narrow alleys near the King's Castle (Suda), preserving the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.

19th–20th Centuries: Modernism and Eclecticism

The demolition of part of the defensive walls and the laying of Rambla Nova in 1854 marked the city's expansion beyond its medieval limits. This was the heyday of Catalan Modernism (Art Nouveau).

• Style: Modernism (Modernisme).
• Features: Use of wrought iron, ceramics, floral ornaments, and flowing lines. Disciples and associates of Antoni Gaudí worked in Tarragona, particularly Josep Maria Jujol.
• Landmarks:
  • Metropol Theatre (Teatre Metropol): A masterpiece by Jujol, hidden in the courtyard of an ordinary house, resembling a ship sailing on the waves of modernism.
  • Central Market (Mercat Central): A building with a cast-iron frame and decorative tiles, which became the centre of commercial life in the new district.
  • Casa Ripoll: A striking example of residential modernist architecture on the Rambla Nova promenade.

Modern Development

Today, Tarragona harmoniously combines industrial power with heritage preservation. The reconstruction of the port zone transformed former docks into promenades (Moll de Costa), where old warehouses have been adapted into museums and cultural spaces, demonstrating a successful example of industrial architecture revitalisation.

Historical Figures and Rulers

• Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus (3rd century BC) — Roman general and consul.
  Considered one of the founding fathers of the Roman presence on the Iberian Peninsula. It was he who landed at Emporion in 218 BC and set up the military camp that became the foundation of the future city of Tarraco.
• Augustus (63 BC – 14 AD) — First Roman Emperor.
  Turned Tarragona into the de facto capital of the Roman Empire, residing here in 26–25 BC during the Cantabrian Wars. His stay gave a powerful boost to urban planning and raised the city's political status.
• Ramon Berenguer III (1082–1131) — Count of Barcelona.
  Initiated the restoration of the city after a long period of desolation during the Moorish period. In 1129, he issued a charter for settlement, effectively restarting the history of Tarragona as a Christian centre.

Spiritual Leaders and Thinkers

• Saint Fructuosus (died 259) — First Bishop of Tarragona and Christian martyr.
  One of the key figures of early Christianity in Spain. His martyrdom in the amphitheatre of Tarragona (burning at the stake together with deacons Augurius and Eulogius) is documented in historical acts, making him the first historically confirmed bishop of the region.
• Lluís Pons d’Icart (1518/1520–1578) — Humanist, lawyer, and epigrapher.
  Author of the famous "Book of the Grandeur of Tarragona". He was one of the first to systematically study and describe the city's Roman antiquities, preserving information about many now-lost monuments for posterity.

Figures of Culture and Art

• Josep Maria Jujol (1879–1949) — Modernist Architect.
  A native of Tarragona and a close associate of Antoni Gaudí. His contribution to the city's appearance is invaluable: he designed the unique Metropol Theatre and many other objects, bringing the bright colours and plastic forms of Catalan Modernism to the urban environment.
• Antoni Rovira i Virgili (1882–1949) — Journalist, linguist, and politician.
  An outstanding public figure and ideologue of Catalanism. Born in Tarragona, he dedicated his life to the protection of the Catalan language and culture. The city's public university (Universitat Rovira i Virgili) is named in his honour.