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Mas de la Creu

The history of Mas d’en Sorder is best understood through the people who lived there. The first documented owners belonged to the Juncosa family, one of the lineages that, in the middle of the Middle Ages, promoted the repopulation and cultivation of the territory. Their life revolved around the farmhouse and the defensive tower that guaranteed safety against the dangers of the coast. Over time, new families took over. In the 17th century, the farmhouse appears registered in the name of Pere Puig Roig, representative of generations of farmers who worked these lands, took care of the crops and kept the agricultural activity of the area alive. At the beginning of the 20th century, Mas d’en Sorder changed hands and also its destiny: a new family, with greater economic power, converted the old farmhouse into an elegant summer residence. The commission fell to the architect Josep Maria Pujol de Barberà, who designed a spectacular modernist extension with a dome, porticoed gallery and refined decoration. Today, although the building is in disrepair, the memory of all these families remains present.

Pont del Diable (Devil's Bridge)

Mèdol Quarry

The Mèdol quarry was the main source of stone for the great constructions of Tarraco in Roman times. Its most emblematic element is the Clot, a large cavity about 200 meters long and 20 meters deep, marked by the central needle that indicates the ancient extraction level. The Mèdol stone, easy to work, was used in important buildings such as the wall, the theater, the circus, the amphitheater and the provincial forum. There is abundant evidence of the exploitation techniques and organization of work. After ancient abandonment, the site aroused interest especially from the 19th century, when it was valued as a natural landscape and archaeological heritage. In the 20th century, several cultural initiatives were proposed and protection and restoration actions were undertaken, with itineraries and visitor spaces. The 2010 fire revealed new extraction fronts. Today, declared a Historical-Artistic Monument, BCIN and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mèdol is an archaeological and geological site of great relevance within the whole of Tarraco.

Tamarit beach

Punta de la Creueta

The Roman quarry of Punta de la Creueta is an old stone quarry located next to the sea, north of Platja Llarga, which supplied blocks for construction in the area around Tarraco, taking advantage of the same bioclastic limestone vein as that of Mèdol. Its stone, with golden and reddish tones, with visible fossils, was particularly suitable for ashlars and building blocks. The extraction activity dates back to the beginning of the 1st century AD and is linked, among others, to the Scipio Tower, located about 580 meters away. The marks of Roman work can still be seen on the rock: stepped fronts, grooves cut into the rock, wedge-shaped inserts, negative molds of the extracted blocks and pieces abandoned due to internal fissures. Part of the quarry is submerged, which makes it difficult to calculate its exact size, estimated at about 1,500 m³. There is no evidence of subsequent exploitation, although during the Civil War a Republican watchtower with trenches was established there, still visible. Today, the quarry is a site of geological and historical interest that exceptionally preserves the direct footprint of Roman stonemasons in a very well-preserved coastal environment, offering valuable information on extraction techniques and the ancient landscape of Tarraco.

Sant Simplici

The hill of Sant Simplici, 111 meters high, is a strategic point between Tarragona, La Móra and El Gaià, standing out for its visibility over the coastline and control of the natural corridor of the Via Augusta. This space combines natural landscape and cultural heritage, with old roads and historic farmhouses that show a long use and surveillance of the territory over the centuries. At the top are the remains of a watchtower from the High Middle Ages, probably linked to the first moments of territorial organization of al-Andalus. The tower, with a circular plan, thick walls and simple construction, allowed immediate surveillance of the surroundings. Although it has often been attributed to later defensive uses, there is not sufficient documentary evidence. The toponym Sant Simplici, documented since modern times, has been related to hagiographic traditions, although its exact origin is unknown. Today, the hill constitutes a natural viewpoint within the Green Ring of Tarragona, preserving the memory of an old surveillance system and forming part of the historical and landscape mosaic of the Tarragona coastline.

Santuari del Llorito (Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto)

The Sanctuary of the Llorito, or Hermitage of Our Lady of Loreto, is located on the Morisques mountain, northeast of Tarragona, in a wooded area near the city. Founded around 1552 by the priest Pere Mir after a trip to Italy, it became established as a center of Marian worship, with processions and rogatives, especially to ask for rain. Over the centuries, the sanctuary suffered destruction during the Reapers' War and the French War, and was rebuilt several times, with significant renovations in the 18th and after the 19th centuries. The modern reconstruction begun in 1957 and blessed in 1964 gave it its current appearance: central nave with semicircular apse, parabolic arch and 26-meter lighthouse tower, with contemporary influences and inspiration from the patron saint of aeronauts. Since 1970, the Rogationist Fathers have guarded the sanctuary and manage religious, spiritual and social activities. The area also stands out for its integration into the Tarragona Green Belt, with recreational areas, reforestation areas and historic paths. In addition, the area preserves quarries with Roman, medieval and modern exploitation, providing an archaeological and heritage value that combines religious, cultural and historical significance within the urban and natural landscape.

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Tomb de l'Anella Verda

La Móra Tower

La Móra Tower, built in 1562 by order of the University of Tamarit following a corsair attack documented the previous year, is part of the network of watchtowers that monitored the Tarragona coastline in modern times. From its promontory, it controlled a steep and sparsely inhabited coast, and allowed the population to be quickly warned with smoke and fire signals. The structure, with a circular plan and very thick walls, follows the usual model of the 16th century, with loopholes, a high gate and a height of about twelve meters. With the gradual disappearance of piracy during the 18th century, the tower was left without a defensive function, but the natural environment has preserved its isolated character. In the 20th century, the area once again had strategic interest during the Civil War, and a notable Roman sarcophagus in Attic style was recovered near the tower, today in the MNAT. Today the Torre de la Móra is a prominent heritage element within the Natural Interest Area of Tamarit.

Tower of the Scipions

Six kilometers from the city, alongside the ancient Via Augusta, stands the Tower of the Scipios, a tower-shaped funerary monument from the early 1st century AD. Despite its popular name, resulting from an erroneous 16th-century attribution, it has no connection to the Scipio military family. Built with Mèdol stone, the tower features reliefs of the Eastern deity Attis in a mourning posture. Its strategic location allowed travelers to remember the deceased members of the family that funded it, fulfilling the Roman duty of keeping memory alive. Originally polychromed and topped by a now-lost element, it remains one of the most iconic images of Roman heritage in Tarraco.

Pont del diable (Devil's Bridge)

Villa Mausoleum of Centcelles

The monument of Centcelles (Constantí) is one of the most enigmatic complexes from the 4th century AD. It is renowned for its dome, which preserves the oldest and most exceptional Christian mosaic in the Roman world, featuring hunting scenes and biblical themes. Despite the debate over whether it was a luxury villa or the imperial mausoleum of Constans, its intact architecture and decorative richness make it a unique witness to the history of Tarraco and Roman Hispania.

Old hospital of Santa Tecla

Founded in the 12th century by Archbishop Hug de Cervelló, the Hospital of Santa Tecla (or of the See) is a gem of civil Romanesque architecture. Located on Carrer de les Coques, it is notable for its semicircular arches and its historical mission of charity and caring for the poor. Renovated over the centuries with Gothic and Renaissance elements, it was restored in 1992 to become the headquarters of the Consell Comarcal del Tarragonès, preserving the elegance of its original medieval facade.

Arch of Berà

The Arch of Berà is an honorary arch located on the Via Augusta, 20 km from Tarraco. Built in the late 1st century BC following the will of Lucius Licinius Sura, the arch marked territorial boundaries and symbolized Roman power and order in honor of Emperor Augustus. It is a spectacular single-body structure made of local stone blocks, serving as a visual landmark for all travelers heading to the provincial capital.

Roman Theater

Built during the time of Emperor Augustus (1st century BC), the Roman Theatre stands in the harbor area, utilizing the natural slope of the ground for its seating (cavea). Beyond entertainment, the theatre served as a stage for political propaganda, where the imperial figure was exalted through magnificent statuary. Despite severe industrial degradation in the area over time, the surviving remains of the orchestra and proscaenium demonstrate its urban connection with the Colonial Forum. It was a venue for tragedies, comedies, and popular pantomimes, acting as a link between the emperor and the local elites in a city rising as a provincial capital.

Paloecristiana Necropolis

Discovered in 1923 during the construction of the Tabacalera, the Paleochristian Necropolis is one of the most important Christian cemeteries in the Roman West. With over 2,050 burials dating from the 3rd to 5th centuries AD, the site was structured around the tomb of Bishop Fructuosus. It features a wide variety of funerary typologies, from simple amphorae to sumptuous carved sarcophagi and mosaics, reflecting the strength of a Christian community that flourished in the city's suburban areas. Photography by: Manel Antolí / Tarragona Turisme

Roman Villa of the Munts

Located in Altafulla, the Villa of Els Munts is an exceptional example of a Roman aristocratic residence. Built in the 1st century AD, it reached its peak in the 2nd century as the home of high official Caius Valerius Avitus. The site stands out for its luxurious baths (balnea), mosaics, and wall paintings, as well as an agricultural production area (pars rustica). Recently, a Mithraeum (a space for the cult of Mithras) was identified, making it one of the most sumptuous villas in Tarraconensis.

Colonial Forum

As the beating heart of daily life, the Colonial Forum or Local Forum was the political, administrative, and commercial center for the inhabitants of Tarraco. Built around the first half of the 1st century BC, this space served as a large public square housing the market, temples, and the basilica (60 x 15 meters), where justice was administered and business deals were struck. The remains preserved today allow visitors to see part of this monumental basilica, including its columns and adjacent shops or tabernae. Its location, strategically close to the harbor district, facilitated the city's connection with the Via Augusta. Walking through this area, surrounded by statue pedestals and original pavements, transports us to the bustling activity of a city that already in the Republican era began to project itself as a great metropolis. Photography by: Alberich fotògrafs / Tarragona Turisme