Tarragona

Tarragona, the 'Rome of Spain' as it was billed, but it was also a great place to finally be camped up on the beach front!

Unfortunately along with beach and coastal towns comes a few security problems. Such easy access to the beach means that any one can wander into the camping off the sand. A few dodgy people were around and an English couple next door had someone try to break into their tent the first night we were there! While we didn't have any problems it was a reminder to be vigilant after the quieter small towns we'd previously been in.

Location, location location! Our beachfront home for the night

We headed in to the city to view the medieval old town which is built on the remains of an important roman city founded in 218BC, the remains of which are being extensively excavated. The plan of modern Tarragona is arranged in the same way as it was in Roman times, split over three levels each leading higher up a hill. Firstly the Roman Circus, where chariot races and other such entertainment took place. Here the stands which surrounded it later became the bases for the fortifying walls around the city and a medieval market town. They have recently had a go at excavating right below the city to gain access to the Roman remains, giving a great picture of what once stood there. The next level up was the Forum and further up the Temple Of Apollo. Conviently, and as in many other such cities, this is now the exact space where the current cathedral complex stands!

Ok a bit of imagination needed here, this is the edge of the Roman Circus ;)

Nice spot for an amphitheatre!

Looking accross the medieval old town

More imagination needed here to see what the Roman Circus main stands looked like

A good set of museums around town explained it all well and we even managed to catch it during an "open doors" arts festival allowing us free access to them all ;)