In a Barcelona TI we'd seen posters of a beautiful Roman amphitheater by the sea, in Tarragona, an hour down the coast. Other things we'd read suggested Tarragona, the ancient Augusto Tarraco, was well worth a stop. Spain's second largest concentration of Roman ruins. Between the beautiful campground and the beautiful city, we ended up spending a couple nights there. Augusto Tarraco began as a military center for Augustus, later his capital of the province of Spain. The place is littered with Roman remains.
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Beginning with this triumphal arch, built 15-5 BC as a tribute
to the emperor, on the Via Augustus, 12 miles out of town |
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We checked into Camping Las Palmeras, a very large resort
campground right on the beach |
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| Nice beach too |
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Nice site; after a long walk on the beach we decided to spend an
extra night |
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We took the municipal bus into the city; here, looking at the
Torre del Pretori, originally a Roman building |
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| A young Augustus? |
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| First glimpse of the amphitheater |
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In the adjoining garden; a sign said the rose was the Romans'
favorite flower |
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More pix of the anfiteatro, including the underground bits used
for housing beasts, gladiators, vending machines, vomitoria, et
cetera |
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We've seen our share of Roman amphitheaters, circuses, odeons,
etc., but never one with as scenic a setting as this; the Greeks
were uncannily good at siting their theaters, always with a view,
but then their performances were boring |
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| More Roman bits, walls, towers |
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Interestingly (to me), the upper floors are
plastered over, but the lower story or so is
left uncovered, presumably to show its very
old construction...some Roman-style bricks
plainly visible |
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| Street scene |
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| Entry to the Torre del Pretori |
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| More Roman bits in a forum |
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| Street scene |
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So we have traveled 5,000 miles to see a carneceria advertising
Black Angus? From Nebraska? Yeah, but it's not CBA (Certified
Black Angus) |
1 comment:
Interesting ruins. Nebraska beef?
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