Legend has it that Jupiter, the God, left his wife, the mortal Tiria, when he fell in love with Tarragona, a city which captivated him. History tells that in 218 B.C. the Romans strategically settled in this place and that it became the capital of Hispania Citerior as time went on. From that magnificence there still survives a very rich monumental heritage that allows us to admire some remains from the Roman Empire such as "La Muralla" (The Wall), which surrounds the old part of the city, "El Forum", "L'Amfiteatre", "L'Aqüeducte", "La Torre dels Escipions" (The Scipios' Tower) and "L'Arc de Berà" (Bera's Arch).
The festivities in Tarragona begin in January with "Els tres tombs", a horse exhibition. Carnival gives way to the Holy Week, which includes a solemn religious procession on Good Friday. Sant Jordi (St. George's day, 23rd of April) and the Feast of Corpus Christi are the prelude to summer festivities such as Sant Joan (St. John's day, 24th of June), Sant Pere (St. Peter's day, 29th of June) in El Serrallo (the fishermen's neighbourhood) and Mare de Déu del Carme (in honor of the Virgin Mary, 16th of July), together with the Fireworks Contest (in July) and the Summer Festivals in the Camp de Mart Auditorium next to the Roman Walls. On the 19th of August, Sant Magí's day (the minor patron saint of Tarragona) is celebrated, but it is on the 23rd of September when the city celebrates its major saint's day, Santa Tecla. On these days everybody gathers in the street to enjoy the traditional characters of the town's festival: Diables -people disguised as devils dancing with big sparklers and firecrackers-, the Medieval Beasts, Nans i Gegants, Colles Castelleres, as well as the Ball de Bastons and Dames i Vells, both traditional regional dances from among others.
Tarragona is the main city on the Costa Dorada, and has a notable fishing and yachting port. Its 15 km of coastline give rise to long gently sloping beaches of thin sand. This coast also has wonderful small coves that are protected by rocky settings full of green pine groves.
Tarragona is a city with a clearly maritime vocation and mild climate; for this reason, it is appropriate for practising any sport, especially the aquatic ones, such as sailing, windsurfing, rowing, water-skiing and diving. In Tarragona, you can find many sorts of sports facilities to enjoy your leisure in a sporting way.
Famous for fishing and its good wine, Tarragona offers traditional cuisine mainly consisting of Mediterranean seafood. It is recommended to try typical seafood dishes, such as Romesco sauce or Arrossejat (rice made with fish broth). You will also find a large modern shopping centre, called the Parc Central, which is full of shops ranging from fashion names such as Zara, H&M and Mango to cosmetics brands such as The Body Shop. Within the old city centre, shopping becomes a charming stroll in the spacious pedestrian areas, and you can find small shops selling everything from sunglasses and shoes to jewellery items such as diamond eternity rings and diamond engagement rings.
For food and culture lovers, a trip to the Mercat Central is a must. This is the brightly coloured city market, where you can find the freshest produce, including local fish & seafood, cava, fruit and vegetables, as well as non-food items such as fabuluos leather accessories.
