Tarragona

A great day trip from Cal Mestre is to the coastal city of Tarragona.

65 kilometers and an hour's drive away lies one of the oldest cities in Spain.

Tarragona is smaller than the capital, Barcelona, ​​and much less touristy. In this coastal city, you can walk, so to speak, through the history of Catalonia.

More than two thousand years ago, the Romans saw a future in this place—or rather, the Romans saw the advantages of this location. They built a solid port city, which still stands today.

In ancient times, Tarragona was a great city and a melting pot of races, cultures, and businesses. Tarraco was the springboard for Roman military dominance and the Romanization of Hispania.

The Roman legacy in Tarragona is due to the Roman Emperor Augustus (63 BC – 14 AD), founder of the Roman Empire. In the two years he lived here, he left his mark on Tarragona. And that is still visible.

Roman Monuments

The gigantic Roman hippodrome, where chariot races were held, and the amphitheater for gladiatorial games look as though they were built last week.

The Roman temple, which occupies a central location in the city, also looks new. The temple was transformed centuries ago into a gigantic cathedral with sumptuous statues of saints.

Medieval Alleyways

The sloping, cobbled medieval alleyways alternate with avenues lined with old, stately 18th-century merchant houses.

But Tarragona is more than an open-air museum. The city is young and bustling. Beautiful historic buildings serve as shops or trendy cafes.

Market Square

The heart of the city is the market square. Here, locals gather to shop and chat.

The goods on offer are tempting: from fresh fruits and vegetables and stalls with twenty different types of olives to stalls with perhaps hundreds of types of cheese and local cured meats.

Towards the port, terraces abound with delicious tapas that are considerably cheaper than in Barcelona itself.

Tomatoes drizzled with olive oil on a slice of baguette, spicy sausages, patatas bravas (fried potato chunks with sauce), freshly caught langoustines, and fried sardines.

A glass of Penedès wine and enjoy. The refreshing sea breeze is included in the price.