View source for Tarragona

{{Other uses}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                     = Tarragona
 | native_name              = 
 | other_name               = 
 | translit_lang1_type      = Catalan
 | translit_lang1_info      = Tarragona
 | settlement_type          = [[Municipalities of Catalonia|Municipality]]
 | image_skyline            = {{Multiple image
  | perrow = 1/2/2
  | border = infobox
  | total_width = 280 
  | caption_align = center
  | image1 = Roman circus of Tarraco 01.jpg
  | caption1 = Panoramic view
  | image2 = Tarragona - Amfiteatre 04 2016-08-31.jpg
  | caption2 = [[Tarragona Amphitheatre|Amphitheatre]]
  | image3 = Tarragona Ponte del Diablo.jpg
  | caption3 = [[Les Ferreres Aqueduct]]
  | image4 = Catedral de Santa Maria (Tarragona) - 17.jpg
  | caption4 = [[Tarragona Cathedral|Cathedral]]
  | image5 = Rambla Nova - Tarragona.jpg
  | caption5 = Rambla Nova
}}
 | image_flag               = Bandera de Tarragona.svg
 | flag_alt                 = 
 | image_shield             = Escudo de Tarragona.svg
 | shield_alt               = 
 | nickname                 = 
 | motto                    = 
 | image_map                = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=285|frame-height=180|frame-align=center|frame-coordinates = {{Coord|39.5|N|3.7|W}}|zoom=4|type=point|title=Tarragona|marker=city|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|text=Interactive map of Tarragona.}}
 | map_caption              = Location of Tarragona
 | image_map1               = Localització de Tarragona respecte del Tarragonès.svg
 | map_caption1             = Location in Tarragonès county
 | pushpin_map              = Spain Catalonia vegueries#Spain
 | pushpin_map_caption      = Location within Catalonia##Location within Spain
 | coordinates              = {{Coord|41|07|03|N|01|15|10|E|display=inline,title}}
 | subdivision_type         = [[Sovereign state]]
 | subdivision_name         = [[Spain]]
 | subdivision_type1        = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Community]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Catalonia]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[Vegueries of Catalonia|Region]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Camp de Tarragona]]
 | subdivision_type3        = [[Comarques of Catalonia|County]]
 | subdivision_name3        = [[Tarragonès]]
 | subdivision_type4        = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
 | subdivision_name4        = [[Province of Tarragona|Tarragona]]
 | established_title        = Founded
 | established_date         = 5th century BC
 | leader_party             = [[Socialists’ Party of Catalonia|PSC]]
 | leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
 | leader_name              = [[Rubén Viñuales]] (2023)
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name=idescat>{{cite web |url=http://www.idescat.cat/emex/?lang=en&id=431482 |title=El municipi en xifres: Tarragona |publisher=[[Statistical Institute of Catalonia]] |access-date=23 November 2015 |archive-date=3 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503163503/http://www.idescat.cat/emex/?id=431482&lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
 | area_total_km2           = 57.9
 | elevation_footnotes      = &nbsp;([[Sea level#AMSL|AMSL]])
 | elevation_m              = 68
 | population_as_of         = 2021
 | population_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Estadístiques de població |url=https://www.tarragona.cat/la-ciutat/poblacio/estadistiques-de-poblacio |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=www.tarragona.cat |language=ca}}</ref>
 | population_total         = 141,542
 | population_rank          = 
 | population_density_km2   = auto
 | population_demonym       = 
 | postal_code_type         = [[Postal code]]
 | postal_code              = 43001–43008
 | area_code                = [[+34]] ([[Spain|E]]) + 977 ([[Province of Tarragona|T]])
 | twin1                    = 
 | twin1_country            = 
 | blank1_name_sec1         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
 | blank1_info_sec1         = [[Hot-summer mediterranean climate|Csa]]
 | website                  = {{URL|www.tarragona.cat}}
 | official_name            = 
 | module                   = 
 | footnotes                = 
}}
'''Tarragona''' ({{IPA|ca|tərəˈɣonə|lang}}; {{IPA|es|taraˈɣona|lang|Pronunciation_of_Tarragona_in_Spanish.ogg}}; {{langx|la|Tarraco}}) is a [[coast]]al city and municipality in [[Catalonia]] ([[Spain]]). It is the capital and largest town of [[Tarragonès]] county, the [[Camp de Tarragona]] region and the [[province of Tarragona]]. Geographically, it is located on the [[Costa Daurada]] area on the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] shore.

During the period of the Roman Empire, [[Tarraco]] was one of the most prominent cities of [[Hispania]], as the capital, successively, of the Roman provinces of [[Hispania Citerior]] and [[Hispania Tarraconensis]].

The [[Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco|Archaeological Complex of Tàrraco]] is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].

==History==
{{Main article|Tarraco}}
===Punic Etymology===
Ta-Aragona in [[Phoenician language]] means "the Aragona", the native Iberian term for the [[Ebro Valley]].

===Mythical Origins===
One Catalan legend holds that Tarragona was named for ''Tarraho'', eldest son of [[Tubal]] in c. 2407 BC; another (derived from Strabo and [[Megasthenes]]) attributes the name to '[[Taharqa|Tearcon]] the Ethiopian', a seventh-century BC pharaoh who campaigned in Spain.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/bub_gb_ya_kSC4IsiEC#page/n137/mode/2up/search/taraco |title=Los cinco libros primeros dela Coronica general de España, que recopilaua el maestro Florian de Ocampo |year=1578 |publisher=en casa de Iuan Iñiguez de Lequerica}}</ref> The real founding date of Tarragona is unknown.

===Theories of Origin===
The city's origins trace back to a possible Iberian settlement known as Kesse or Kosse, named after the local Iberian tribe, the Cossetans. However, the exact connection of Tarragona to Kesse remains uncertain.<ref>{{cite book |author=Silvia Orvietani Busch |title=Medieval Mediterranean Ports: The Catalan and Tuscan Coasts, 1100 to 1235 |publisher=BRILL |year=2001 |isbn=90-04-12069-6 |page=53}}</ref> Scholars such as [[William Smith (lexicographer)|William Smith]] suggest that the city may have been established by the [[Phoenicia]]ns, who referred to it as {{lang|phn|Tarchon}}. According to [[Samuel Bochart]], signifies a citadel. The moniker likely stemmed from its location atop a high rock, approximately {{cvt|75|-|90|m|-1}} above sea level; earning it the epithet {{lang|la|arce potens Tarraco}}.<ref>Ausonius ''Class. Urb.'' 9; cf. ''Mart''. x. 104.</ref> It was seated on the river Sulcis or Tulcis (modern [[Francolí (river)|Francolí]]), on a bay of the Mare Internum (Mediterranean), between the Pyrenees and the River Iberus (modern [[Ebro]]).<ref>[[Pomponius Mela]], ii. 6; [[Pliny the Elder]] iii. 3. s. 4.</ref> [[Livy]] mentions a {{lang|la|portus Tarraconis}};<ref>xxii. 22</ref> and according to [[Eratosthenes]] it had a naval station or roads ({{lang|grc|Ναύσταθμον}});<ref>''ap.'' [[Strabo]] iii. p. 159</ref> but [[Artemidorus Ephesius]] says with more probability that it had none, and scarcely even an anchoring place; and Strabo himself refers to it as "harbourless" ({{lang|grc|ἀλίμενος}}).<ref>''ap.'' Strab. ''l. c.''; [[Polybius]] iii. 76</ref><ref>Ford's Handbook of Spain, p. 222.</ref>

===Rome===
Tarraco lies on the main road along the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.<ref name=AntIt>[[Antonine Itinerary]] pp. 391, 396, 399, 448, 452.</ref> During the [[Roman Republic]], the city was fortified and much enlarged as a Roman colony by the brothers [[Publius Cornelius Scipio (consul 218 BC)|Publius Cornelius Scipio]] and [[Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus]], who converted it into a fortress and arsenal against the [[ancient Carthage|Carthaginians]]. The city was first named [[Tarraco|Colonia Iulia Urbs Triumphalis Tarraco]] and was capital of the province of [[Hispania Citerior]]. Subsequently, it became the capital (''[[conventus iuridicus]]''<ref>Pliny ''l. c.''; [[Tacitus]] ''Ann''. i. 78; [[Gaius Julius Solinus]] 23, 26; Polybius x. 34; Livy xxi. 61; [[Stephanus of Byzantium]] p. 637.</ref>) of the province named after it, [[Hispania Tarraconensis]].<ref>[[Ptolemy]], ii. 6. § 17</ref>

[[Augustus]] wintered at Tarraco after his Cantabrian campaign, and bestowed many marks of honour on the city, among which were its honorary titles of ''Colonia Victrix Togata'' and ''Colonia Julia Victrix Tarraconensis''.

According to Mela, it was the richest town on the coast,<ref name="l. c">''l. c.''</ref> and Strabo represents its population as equal to that of Carthago Nova (now [[Cartagena, Spain|Cartagena]]).<ref name="l. c"/> Its fertile plain and sunny shores are celebrated by [[Martial]] and other poets; and its neighbourhood is described as producing good wine and [[flax]].<ref>Mart. x. 104, xiii. 118; Sil. Ital. iii. 369, xv. 177; Plin. xiv. 6. s. 8, xix. 1. s. 2.</ref> The city also minted coins.<ref>Grut. ''Inscr''. p. 382; Orelli, no. 3127; coins in Eckhel, i. p. 27; [[Enrique Flórez]], ''Med.'' ii. p. 579; Théodore Edme Mionnet, i. p. 51, Suppl. i. p. 104; Sestini, p. 202.</ref>

An inscribed stone base for a now lost statue of [[Tiberius Claudius Candidus]] was found in Tarragona during the nineteenth century. The 24-line Latin inscription describes the governor and senator's career as an ally of the future Roman emperor [[Septimius Severus]], who fought in the civil war following the assassination of [[Commodus]] in 192 AD. This important marble block was purchased by the [[British Museum]] in 1994.<ref>{{CIL|2|4114}}; [https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=443817&partId=1&searchText=Tarragona&page=2 British Museum Collection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326124011/http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=443817&partId=1&searchText=Tarragona&page=2 |date=26 March 2017 }}</ref>

===From the demise of the Roman empire to the Union of Spain===
{{unreferencedsect|date=February 2025}}
After the demise of the [[Western Roman Empire]], the city was captured by the [[Vandals]] and the [[Visigoths]]. The [[Visigothic Kingdom]]'s rule of Tarracona was ended by the [[Umayyad conquest of Hispania]] in 714. It was an important border city of the [[Caliphate of Córdoba]] between 750 and 1013. After the demise of the Caliphate, it was part of the [[Taifa of Zaragoza]] between 1013 and 1110 and under the control of the [[Almoravid dynasty]] between 1110 and 1117. It was taken by the [[County of Barcelona]] in 1117. From 1129 to 1173 Tarragona was the capital of the short lived [[Principality of Tarragona]], under the [[Normans|Norman]]-influence. After the dynastic union of [[Kingdom of Aragon|Aragon]] and [[County of Barcelona|Barcelona]], it was part of the [[Principality of Catalonia]] within the [[Crown of Aragon]] from 1164 to 1714. After dynastic union of [[Aragon]] and the [[Crown of Castile]], it remained a part of the Crown of Aragon until the foundation of the [[Spanish Empire]] in 1516.

During the [[Reapers' War]], Tarragona was captured by Catalan insurgents with French support in 1641, but it was retaken by Spanish troops in 1644. It was captured by allied Portuguese, Dutch, and British troops in 1705 during the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] and remained in their hands until the [[Treaty of Utrecht]] in 1713. During the war, the Catalans supported the unsuccessful claim of [[Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen]] against the victorious [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] [[Counts and dukes of Anjou#Dukes of Anjou|Duke of Anjou]], who became [[Philip V of Spain]]. He signed the [[Nueva Planta decrees]], which abolished the [[Crown of Aragon]], as well as the Catalan institutions and prohibited the administrative use of Catalan language on 16 January 1716.

===Jewish History===
The [[Jewish]] community in Tarragona was established during the Roman era, making it one of the most ancient Jewish communities in Spain. A ''laver'', possibly used by the Jews for [[ritual purification]] found in Tarragona bears the inscription "peace over Israel, over ourselves, and our children." Coins with [[Hebrew]] inscriptions have also been found, dating to the Visigoth period. During Muslim rule, Jews in Tarragona prospered; [[Muhammad al-Idrisi]] nicknamed Tarragona "the city of the Jews."

After the Christian reconquest, the Jews of Tarragona faced institutional persecution and anti-semitic restrictions until the community's destruction in 1492, during the [[expulsion of the Jews from Spain|expulsion of the Jews]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tarragona |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/tarragona |website=Jewish Virtual Library |access-date=1 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kayserling |first1=Meyer |last2=Gottheil |first2=Richard |title=TARRAGONA |url=https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/14251-tarragona |website=Jewish Encyclopedia |access-date=1 July 2024}}</ref>

===Peninsular War===
{{unreferencedsect|date=February 2025}}
During the [[Peninsular War]], in the first [[Siege of Tarragona (1811)|siege of Tarragona]] from 5 May to 29 June 1811, [[Louis-Gabriel Suchet]]'s Army of Aragon of the [[First French Empire]] laid siege to a Spanish garrison led by Lieutenant General [[Juan de Contreras]]. A British naval squadron commanded by Admiral [[Edward Codrington]] harassed the French besiegers with cannon fire and transported large numbers of reinforcements into the city by sea. Nevertheless, Suchet's troops stormed into the defences and killed or captured almost all the defenders. It became a subprefecture centre in [[Bouches-de-l'Èbre]] department of French empire.

In the second [[Siege of Tarragona (1813)|siege of Tarragona]] (3–11 June 1813), an overwhelming Anglo-Spanish force under the command of Lieutenant general [[John Murray, 8th Baronet]] failed to wrest Tarragona from a small Franco-Italian garrison led by Brigadier general [[Antoine Marc Augustin Bertoletti]]. Murray was subsequently removed from command for his indecisive and contradictory leadership. The Anglo-Spanish forces finally captured Tarragona on 19 August.

===Spanish Civil War===

During the [[Spanish Civil War]], Tarragona was in the hands of the [[Second Spanish Republic]] until captured by [[Francoist Spain|Franco's Nationalist troops]] on 15 January 1939 during the [[Catalonia Offensive]].

==Main sights==

===Ancient remains===
[[File:Amphithéâtre de Tarragona.jpg|thumb|Amphitheatre of Tarragona and the Mediterranean Sea]]

The Roman ruins of Tarraco have been designated a [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]].

Part of the bases of large [[Cyclopean masonry|Cyclopean]] walls near the Cuartel de Pilatos are thought to pre-date the Romans. The building just mentioned, a prison in the 19th century, is said to have been the palace of Augustus. The second century [[Tarragona Amphitheatre]] near the seashore was extensively used as a quarry after the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]], and but few vestiges of it now remain. A circus c. {{cvt|450|m}} long, was built over in the area now called ''Plaça de la Font'', though portions of it are still to be traced. Throughout the town [[Latin]], and even apparently [[Phoenician language|Phoenician]], inscriptions on the stones of the houses mark the material used for buildings in the town.

Two ancient monuments, at some little distance from the town, have, however, fared rather better. The first of these is [[Les Ferreres Aqueduct]], which spans a valley about {{cvt|4|km|0|abbr=off}} north of the city. It is {{cvt|217|m|0}} in length, and the loftiest arches, of which there are two tiers, are {{cvt|26|m|0}} high. There is a monument about {{cvt|6|km|0}} along the coast road east of the city, commonly called the "Tower of the Scipios"; but there is no authority for assuming that they were buried here.<ref>(''Cf.'' Ford, ''Handbook'', p. 219, ''seq''.; Florez, ''Esp. Sagr.'' xxix. p. 68, ''seq.''; Miñano, ''Diccion.'' viii. p. 398.)
</ref>

Other Roman buildings include:
*[[Wall of Tarragona|The Roman walls]]
*The capitol, or citadel
*The Amphitheatre
*The Roman circus
*The Pretorium – Tower
*The [[Provincial forum of Tarraco|Provincial]] and [[Colonial forum of Tarraco|Colonial fora]]
*The Necropolis 
*The palace of Augustus, called the house of Pilate
*The so-called tower, or sepulchre, of the Scipios
*Arch of Sura, or of Bara
*The Aurelian Way.

The city is also home to the [[National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona]].

===Religious buildings===
[[File:Cathedral of Tarragona 01.jpg|thumb|upright|Tarragona Cathedral]]
*The [[Tarragona Cathedral]], dating to the 12th–13th centuries, combining Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements.
*The convent of the [[Poor Clares]], near the walls
*The convent of ''Santa Teresa''
*The church of the [[Order of Friars Minor Capuchin]], the parish church of the port
*The former convent of ''Sant Francesc''
*The [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] college was turned into barracks; their church, however, has been restored to them
*The convent of the [[Dominican Order]], now the town hall
*The archiepiscopal palace, situated on the site of the ancient capitol, one tower of which still remains. It was rebuilt in the 19th century.
*Near the sea, in the Roman amphitheatre, are the remains of a church called ''Santa Maria del Miracle'' (Holy Mary of the Miracle), which belonged to the [[Knights Templar]]. It was afterwards used by the [[Trinitarian Order]] and was later converted into a penitentiary. It was demolished around 1915.<ref>Comisión de Antigüedades de la Real Academia de la Historia: catálogo e índices, Cataluña. Page 256. Published in Spanish, 2000.</ref>

The seminary of Sant Pau and Santa Tecla was founded in 1570 by the cardinal archbishop, [[Gaspar Cervantes de Gaeta]], and was the first to comply with the decrees of the [[Council of Trent]]. In 1858 Archbishop [[José Domingo Costa y Borrás]] built a fourth wing. [[Benito Villamitjana]] built a new seminary behind the cathedral in 1886, in the courtyard of which stands the old chapel of Sant Pau. [[Pope Leo XIII]] raised this to the rank of a pontifical university.

{{cvt|50|km|2}} north of the city is [[Poblet Monastery]], founded in 1151 by [[Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona]], which was used for sepultures of the [[List of Aragonese monarchs|kings]].

==Economy==
[[File:Plaza del Forum, Tarragona.jpg|thumb|Plaça del Fòrum.]]
Tarragona is home to one of the largest [[List of coastal settlements of the Mediterranean Sea|ports]] in Spain, which is an export hub for the Spanish car industry.<ref name=tank1>{{Cite web |title=Port of Tarragona Profile {{!}} Tank News International |url=https://tanknewsinternational.com/port-of-tarragona-profile/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Much of its economic activity comes from a number of chemical industries located west of the city. One quarter of all the chemical production in Spain is found in Tarragona. In 2025 this industry employed some 5,800 people. The industrial park is home to, amongst others, [[Ercros]].<ref name="min1">{{cite news |url=https://planderecuperacion.gob.es/noticias/Jordi-Hereu-visita-ercros-obtenido-14-millones-euros-perte-descarbonizacion-Industrial-prtr |title=Jordi Hereu visita Ercros, que ha obtenido 14,6 M€ del PERTE de Descarbonización Industrial &#124; Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia Gobierno de España }}</ref>

[[Rovira i Virgili University]] is here.

The most significant living heritage is the Popular Retinue, a great parade of dances, bestiary and spoken dances, as well as the building of human towers called [[Castell|castells]]. These cultural traditional are especially visible during the [[Santa Tecla Festival]], and are so popular in Tarragona that they have their own home called the "Casa de la Festa", Festivities House, which can be visited all year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tarragona.cat/cultura/festes-i-cultura-popular/santa-tecla/fans-tecla/casa-de-la-festa|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115160343/http://casafesta.tarragona.cat/|url-status=dead|title=Casa de la Festa|archive-date=15 January 2013|website=www.tarragona.cat}}</ref>

A number of beaches, some awarded a [[Blue Flag beach|Blue Flag]] designation, line the Mediterranean coast near the city.

Tarragona is located near the [[resort]] of [[Salou]] and the [[PortAventura World]] ([[PortAventura Park]], the most visited theme park in Spain,<ref>{{cite journal |author=Themed Entertainment Association |author-link=Themed Entertainment Association |author2=Economics Research Associates |title=Global Attractions Attendance Report |publisher=AECOM |year=2013 |url=http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/ThemeMuseumIndex_2013.pdf |access-date=4 October 2015 |archive-date=30 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030020018/http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/ThemeMuseumIndex_2013.pdf |url-status=live |journal=AECOM }}</ref> [[Ferrari Land]] and also the [[PortAventura World#PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park|PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park]]).

The city is served by [[Camp de Tarragona railway station|Camp de Tarragona high-speed railway station]], and is located a few kilometres away from [[Reus Airport]], which offers low-cost charter-flights (over a million passengers per year).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://automotivelogistics.media/home-page/tarragona-ports-five-year-high-means-room-berge |title=Tarragona port's five-year high means more room for Bergé |work=Automotive Logistics |date=24 February 2017 |access-date=24 February 2017 |archive-date=25 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225132659/http://automotivelogistics.media/home-page/tarragona-ports-five-year-high-means-room-berge |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Reus]] is the second city of the Tarragona area (101,767 inhabitants in 2006), known by its commercial activity and for being the place where the architect [[Antoni Gaudí]] was born.

The city hosted the [[2018 Mediterranean Games]], one year later than planned, because of political and economical instability.<ref>{{cite news |title=Confirmat l'ajornament dels Jocs Mediterranis de Tarragona fins al 2018 |url=http://www.ara.cat/societat/Confirmat-ajornament-jocs-mediterranis-tarragona-2017-2018_0_1681632064.html |access-date=11 December 2016 |agency=Agència Catalan de Notícies |publisher=Diari Ara |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220121201/http://www.ara.cat/societat/Confirmat-ajornament-jocs-mediterranis-tarragona-2017-2018_0_1681632064.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Tourism ==
Tarragona is one of the World Heritage Journeys in the European Union.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-11 |title=The World Heritage Journeys in the European Union |url=https://www.tarragonaturisme.cat/en/world-heritage-journeys-european-union |access-date=2022-01-02 |website=Tarragona Turisme |language=en |archive-date=2 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102112837/https://www.tarragonaturisme.cat/en/world-heritage-journeys-european-union |url-status=live }}</ref> Tourism is focused on the main sites of Mercat Central de Tarragona (Central Market of Tarragona), La Rambla Nova (the main shopping street), El Serrallo fishing village, the surrounding beaches of the golden coast, the key plazas (Plaça de la Font, Plaça del Fòrum, Plaça del Rei), Balcó del Mediterrani, Praetorium and Roman Circus, Roman Amphitheatre, Model of Roman Tarraco, and the cathedral.<ref>{{Cite web |title=10 essential visits in Tarragona |url=https://www.tarragonaturisme.cat/en/10-essential-visits-tarragona |access-date=2022-01-02 |website=Tarragona Turisme |language=en |archive-date=2 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102112837/https://www.tarragonaturisme.cat/en/10-essential-visits-tarragona |url-status=live }}</ref> [[PortAventura World]] theme park resort complex is nearby.<ref name=telegraph-20251027>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/spain/tarragona-perfect-uncrowded-alternative-to-barcelona-spain/ |title=After decades exploring Spain, I've found the perfect uncrowded alternative to Barcelona |last=Bennett |first=Annie |website=The Telegraph |location=London |url-access=subscription |date=27 October 2025 |access-date=29 October 2025}}</ref>

The [[GR 92]] long-distance footpath, which roughly follows the length of the Mediterranean coast of Spain, has a staging point at Tarragona. Stage 25 links northwards to [[Torredembarra]], a distance of {{cvt|20.0|km}}, whilst stage 26 links southwards to [[Cambrils]], a distance of {{cvt|28.1|km}}.<ref name=catalunya>{{cite web |url=https://www.catalunya.com/gr-92-sender-mediterrani-24-1-44?language=ca |title=GR 92: Sender de la Mediterrània |language=ca |trans-title=GR 92: Mediterranean Path |website=www.catalunya.com |access-date=7 November 2022 |archive-date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107121507/https://www.catalunya.com/gr-92-sender-mediterrani-24-1-44?language=ca |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Cuisine ==
[[File:Building_of_historical_Chartreuse_factory_in_Tarragona.jpg|thumb|Historical building of early 20th century factory of Chartreuse liqueur in Tarragona]]
Tarragona contains a number of small bars, restaurants, and cafes serving tapas and sandwiches, and local seafood and Catalan dishes like "[[pa amb tomàquet]]" or "neules i torrons". Many such outlets are found in the historic centre, including those at the Plaça de la Font, Plaça del Rei and Plaça del Fòrum. The neighborhood of El Serrallo, at the harbour, specialises in seafood cuisine.

[[Chartreuse (liqueur)|Chartreuse liqueur]] is a famous local drink of Tarragona. Originally created in 1605, it was considered by monks to be an "elixir for long life". It is produced in yellow, with an alcohol content of 40º, as well as green, with a content of 55º. Between 1903 and 1989, the Chartreuse liqueur made by the French [[Carthusians|Carthusian Monks]] was distilled in Tarragona, following the monks' expulsion from France.<ref>[https://www.chartreuse.fr/en/histoire/the-chartreuse-distilleries/ Chartreuse distilleries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303073809/https://www.chartreuse.fr/en/histoire/the-chartreuse-distilleries/ |date=3 March 2016 }}</ref> Chartreuse is now a key part of the Feast of Santa Tecla.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-10 |title=Santa Tecla, Tarragona y Chartreuse |url=http://otcgroup.es/santa-tecla-chartreuse/ |access-date=2022-01-02 |website=OTC Group |language=es-ES |archive-date=2 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102112018/http://otcgroup.es/santa-tecla-chartreuse/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This traditional festival of national interest celebrates the patroness saint of the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tarragona.cat/cultura/festes-i-cultura-popular/santa-tecla/santa-tecla-tarragona|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102112018/https://www.tarragona.cat/cultura/festes-i-cultura-popular/santa-tecla|url-status=dead|title=Santa Tecla Tarragona|archive-date=2 January 2022|website=www.tarragona.cat}}</ref>

==Climate==
The climate of Tarragona can be described as a [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csa'') bordering on a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa''). Despite its location in the Mediterranean region, August tends to have more precipitation than February, which is unusual for the Mediterranean climate. Winters are mildly cool and summers are warm and sultry, while the wettest seasons are spring and autumn, which receive around {{convert|54|to|77|mm|abbr=on}} in May and September.

{{Weather box
| location = [[Vila-seca]] (1971–2000) <small> town in Tarragona province, ({{cvt|14|km|2}} south-west of Tarragona</small>
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 20.8
| Feb record high C = 24.0
| Mar record high C = 28.2
| Apr record high C = 29.1
| May record high C = 30.6
| Jun record high C = 31.3
| Jul record high C = 34.5
| Aug record high C = 35.2
| Sep record high C = 33.3
| Oct record high C = 30.7
| Nov record high C = 25.5
| Dec record high C = 25.0
| year record high C = 35.2
| Jan high C = 12.4
| Feb high C = 15.2
| Mar high C = 17.8
| Apr high C = 19.5
| May high C = 22.1
| Jun high C = 25.6
| Jul high C = 29.3
| Aug high C = 30.2
| Sep high C = 27.6
| Oct high C = 22.4
| Nov high C = 16.4
| Dec high C = 12.7
| year high C = 21.0
| Jan mean C = 10.0
| Feb mean C = 11.9
| Mar mean C = 14.1
| Apr mean C = 15.9
| May mean C = 18.8
| Jun mean C = 22.5
| Jul mean C = 25.9
| Aug mean C = 26.7
| Sep mean C = 24.0
| Oct mean C = 19.1
| Nov mean C = 13.9
| Dec mean C = 10.7
| year mean C = 17.8
| Jan low C = 7.5
| Feb low C = 8.7
| Mar low C = 10.4
| Apr low C = 12.2
| May low C = 15.5
| Jun low C = 19.4
| Jul low C = 22.5
| Aug low C = 23.2
| Sep low C = 20.3
| Oct low C = 15.8
| Nov low C = 11.3
| Dec low C = 8.7
| year low C = 14.7
| Jan record low C = -1.6
| Feb record low C = -1.0
| Mar record low C = 0.6
| Apr record low C = 4.5
| May record low C = 9.0
| Jun record low C = 12.6
| Jul record low C = 16.0
| Aug record low C = 14.3
| Sep record low C = 13.0
| Oct record low C = 7.3
| Nov record low C = 2.7
| Dec record low C = -1.0
| year record low C = -1.6
| Jan precipitation mm = 37.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 19.1
| Mar precipitation mm = 36.6
| Apr precipitation mm = 38.2
| May precipitation mm = 53.2
| Jun precipitation mm = 33.3
| Jul precipitation mm = 15.7
| Aug precipitation mm = 52.8
| Sep precipitation mm = 68.2
| Oct precipitation mm = 63.7
| Nov precipitation mm = 46.9
| Dec precipitation mm = 44.7
| year precipitation mm = 509.0
| Jan precipitation days = 5.0
| Feb precipitation days = 3.5
| Mar precipitation days = 4.8
| Apr precipitation days = 5.8
| May precipitation days = 6.1
| Jun precipitation days = 3.9
| Jul precipitation days = 2.7
| Aug precipitation days = 4.3
| Sep precipitation days = 4.8
| Oct precipitation days = 5.8
| Nov precipitation days = 5.0
| Dec precipitation days = 5.1
| unit precipitation days = 1&nbsp;mm
| year precipitation days = 56.8
| source 1 = Servei Meteorològic de Catalunya<ref>{{cite web |url=http://static-m.meteo.cat/wordpressweb/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/13083422/Tarragones.pdf |title=Climatologica. El Tarragones. 1971–2000 |access-date=5 December 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073736/http://static-m.meteo.cat/wordpressweb/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/13083422/Tarragones.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| date = December 2015
| source = 
}}

{{Weather box
|location = [[Reus Airport]] <small>([[Reus]] city in Tarragona province)</small> (1991–2010), extremes (1952-present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 24.7
|Feb record high C = 25.0
|Mar record high C = 27.7
|Apr record high C = 30.2
|May record high C = 33.4
|Jun record high C = 36.8
|Jul record high C = 38.8
|Aug record high C = 39.8
|Sep record high C = 34.5
|Oct record high C = 32.5
|Nov record high C = 28.8
|Dec record high C = 23.7
|year record high C = 
|Jan high C = 14.5
|Feb high C = 15.4
|Mar high C = 17.7
|Apr high C = 19.7
|May high C = 23.1
|Jun high C = 27.1
|Jul high C = 29.8
|Aug high C = 30.2
|Sep high C = 26.7
|Oct high C = 22.9
|Nov high C = 18.0
|Dec high C = 15.0
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 9.2
|Feb mean C = 9.9
|Mar mean C = 12.2
|Apr mean C = 14.3
|May mean C = 17.8
|Jun mean C = 21.8
|Jul mean C = 24.7
|Aug mean C = 25.2
|Sep mean C = 21.7
|Oct mean C = 17.9
|Nov mean C = 12.8
|Dec mean C = 9.8
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 3.8
|Feb low C = 4.3
|Mar low C = 6.6
|Apr low C = 8.9
|May low C = 12.4
|Jun low C = 16.5
|Jul low C = 19.6
|Aug low C = 20.1
|Sep low C = 16.7
|Oct low C = 12.8
|Nov low C = 7.6
|Dec low C = 4.6
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = -7.6
|Feb record low C = -8.0
|Mar record low C = -5.4
|Apr record low C = -2.5
|May record low C = 3.6
|Jun record low C = 7.4
|Jul record low C = 10.5
|Aug record low C = 10.8
|Sep record low C = 5.5
|Oct record low C = 0.2
|Nov record low C = -4.0
|Dec record low C = -7.5
|year record low C = 
|Jan precipitation mm = 29
|Feb precipitation mm = 24
|Mar precipitation mm = 34
|Apr precipitation mm = 41
|May precipitation mm = 45
|Jun precipitation mm = 22
|Jul precipitation mm = 15
|Aug precipitation mm = 37
|Sep precipitation mm = 73
|Oct precipitation mm = 73
|Nov precipitation mm = 48
|Dec precipitation mm = 34
|year precipitation mm = 
|precipitation color = green
|Jan precipitation days = 3.7
|Feb precipitation days = 3.1
|Mar precipitation days = 3.9
|Apr precipitation days = 5.0
|May precipitation days = 4.8
|Jun precipitation days = 2.9
|Jul precipitation days = 2.1
|Aug precipitation days = 3.1
|Sep precipitation days = 4.9
|Oct precipitation days = 5.6
|Nov precipitation days = 4.6
|Dec precipitation days = 3.8
|unit precipitation days = 1&nbsp;mm
|year precipitation days = 
| Jan snow days  =0.1
| Feb snow days  =0.1
| Mar snow days  =0.1
| Apr snow days  =0
| May snow days  =0
| Jun snow days  =0
| Jul snow days  =0
| Aug snow days  =0
| Sep snow days  =0
| Oct snow days  =0
| Nov snow days  =0
| Dec snow days  =0
| year snow days =
| Jan humidity    =68
| Feb humidity    =66
| Mar humidity    =65
| Apr humidity    =65
| May humidity    =63
| Jun humidity    =60
| Jul humidity    =60
| Aug humidity    =63
| Sep humidity    =67
| Oct humidity    =72
| Nov humidity    =70
| Dec humidity    =70
| year humidity   = 
|Jan sun = 167
|Feb sun = 178
|Mar sun = 211
|Apr sun = 231
|May sun = 264
|Jun sun = 294
|Jul sun = 319
|Aug sun = 276
|Sep sun = 222
|Oct sun = 189
|Nov sun = 165
|Dec sun = 158
|year sun = 
|source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aemet.es/es/datos_abiertos/AEMET_OpenData|title=AEMET OpenData|publisher=Aemet.es|access-date = 18 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos?w=0&k=cat&datos=det&l=0016A|title=Reus Aeropuerto - Valores Extremos|publisher=Aemet.es|access-date=18 December 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Events==
[[File:Carrer Major, Tarragona.jpg|thumb|upright|Carrer Major during Santa Tecla Festival]]
[[File:TarragonaTorreScipioni.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Torre dels Escipions]]]]
*The [[Carnival]]
*[[Tarragona International Dixieland Festival]]. Houses 25 bands and 100 concerts and activities the week before Holy Week.
*''Tarraco Viva''. An international cultural festival dedicated to the history of the Roman period, with musical concerts, exhibitions, workshops and conferences.
*[[Tarragona International Fireworks Displays Competition]]. The competition selects six international pyrotechnic companies every year. [http://www.tarragona.feuerwerk.net Official website1]
*''Sant Magí'' Festival, held between 15 and 19 August.
*[[Santa Tecla Festival]], held between 15 and 24 September. It has been celebrated since 1321 and it is considered of national touristic interest by the state.
*[[2018 Mediterranean Games|Tarragona 2018 XVIII Mediterranean Games]], an international multi-sport event held from 22 June to 1 July 2018.
Tarragona was also a candidate to be the Spanish representative as European Capital of Culture in 2016.

==Politics==
The local mayor is elected by the members of the plenary from among its members the day the new municipal corporation is formed after the local election. The officeholder has a mandate for the 4-year duration of the elected body. If the mayor leaves office ahead of time a new voting may take place among the plenary members in order to invest a new mayor (meanwhile, another local councillor, conventionally the first deputy mayor may act as acting mayor). Since 15 June 2019 the mayor is [[Pau Ricomà]].<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/tarragona/20190615/462878201057/pau-ricoma-alcalde-tarragona-coalicion-comu-podem.html |journal=[[La Vanguardia]] |title=Pau Ricomà, de ERC, pone fin a doce años de gobierno del socialista Ballesteros en Tarragona |date=2019-06-15 |first=Sara |last=Sans |access-date=18 July 2020 |archive-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808012208/https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/tarragona/20190615/462878201057/pau-ricoma-alcalde-tarragona-coalicion-comu-podem.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The opening session in which the mayor is invested is traditionally held at the ''Saló de Plens''.

;List of mayors
Since the first democratic election after the [[Francoist Spain|Francoist dictatorship]], Tarragona has had four democratically elected mayors:
*Josep Maria Recasens ([[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC]]): 1979–1989
*Joan Miquel Nadal ([[Convergence and Union|CiU]]): 1989–2007
*Josep Fèlix Ballesteros ([[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC]]): 2007–2019
*Pau Ricomà ([[Republican Left of Catalonia|ERC]]): 2019–2023
*Rubén Viñuales ([[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC]]): 2023–present

The local is the body formed by the elected councillors of the ''Ajuntament''. The plenary meetings (''Ple'') are held at the Saló de Plens. It is formed by the municipal councillors, elected through [[Closed list|closed party list]] [[proportional representation]] and 27 councillors are currently elected on the basis of the population of the municipality. Councillors are grouped in municipal groups on the basis of their political filiation. It has a government commission (''Comissió de Govern''; also ''Junta de Govern'' or ''Junta de Gobierno'') is formed by the mayor, the deputy mayors, and a number of appointed councillors.

==Twin towns and sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain}}

Tarragona is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{|class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Avignon]], France, since 1968<ref name="Avignon jumelages">{{cite web |url=http://www.avignon.fr/fr/pratique/jumelage/ville.php |title=Jumelages et Relations Internationales – Avignon |access-date=13 July 2013 |work=Avignon.fr |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130716104225/http://www.avignon.fr/fr/pratique/jumelage/ville.php |archive-date=16 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="Avignon Ministère">{{cite web |url=http://www.cncd.fr/frontoffice/bdd-recherche-resultat.asp?searchField=avignon&x=70&y=21 |title=Atlas français de la coopération décentralisée et des autres actions extérieures |access-date=13 July 2013 |work=Ministère des affaires étrangères |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226021826/http://www.cncd.fr/frontoffice/bdd-recherche-resultat.asp?searchField=avignon&x=70&y=21 |archive-date=26 February 2013}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Alghero]], Italy, since 1972
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Orléans]], France, since 1978
*{{flagicon|UK}} [[Stafford]], United Kingdom, since 1992
||

*{{flagicon|AUT}} [[Klagenfurt]], Austria, since 1996
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Pushkin (town)|Pushkin]], Russia, since 1997
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Pompei]], Italy, since 2006
|}

Tarragona had partnerships with:
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Voiron]], France<ref name="Voiron twinnings">{{cite web |url=http://www.voiron.fr/Villes-Jumelees_r465.html |title=45 ans de jumelage : Histoire de cités Le jumelage à Voiron |access-date=4 September 2013 |work=Voiron Hôtel de Ville [Voiron council] |language=fr|trans-title=45 years of twinning: The history of Voiron's twin towns |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603081058/http://www.voiron.fr/Villes-Jumelees_r465.html |archive-date=3 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="Voiron-Tarragona">{{cite web |url=http://www.voiron.fr/Tarragone_r2467.html |title=Tarragone (Espagne) : une ville amie Des liens noués autour de la Chartreuse |access-date=4 September 2013 |work=Voiron Hôtel de Ville [Voiron council] |language=fr|trans-title=Tarragona, Spain: Friendship town of Voiron |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904120921/http://www.voiron.fr/Tarragone_r2467.html |archive-date=4 September 2013}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Domènec Batet]] (1872–1937), military general
*[[Alejandro Cao de Benós]] (born 1974), political activist

==See also==
*[[Tarraco#Archaeological ensemble|Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco]]
*[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tarragona]]
*[[Royal Tarragona Yacht Club]]
*[[Gimnàstic de Tarragona]]

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

;Sources
*This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: [[William Smith (lexicographer)|Smith, William]], ed. (1854–1857). [https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofgree02smit/page/1104 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography]. London: John Murray.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Tarragona}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Tarragona}}
*[http://www.tarragona.cat/ Official Website of Tarragona] {{in lang|ca}}
* [https://www.tarragonaturisme.cat/en Tarragona's Official Tourist Website]
*[http://aplicacions.municat.gencat.cat/index.php?page=consulta&mostraEns=4314820002 Government data pages] {{in lang|ca}}

{{Navboxes
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{{Clear}}
{{Geographic location
|Centre = Tarragona
|N = [[Els Pallaresos]]<br />[[El Catllar]]
|NE = [[La Riera de Gaià]]
|E = [[Altafulla]]
|SE = 
|S = ''[[Balearic Sea]]''
|SW = [[Vila-seca]]
|W = [[La Canonja]]
|NW = [[Reus]]<br />[[Constantí]]
}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Spain}}
{{Tarragones}}
{{Municipalities in Tarragona|state=autocollapse}} 
{{Capitals of Provinces in Spain}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tarragona| ]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Spain]]
[[Category:Tourism in Spain]]
[[Category:Populated places in Tarragonès]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Spain]]