Thursday Doors: Tarragona, Spain
Posted on: February 28, 2025
- In: Doors | History | Spain | Travel
- 81 Comments
Tarragona is a city of contrasts located on the Spanish Costa Dorado. Roman ruins appear everywhere amongst more modern apartment blocks, restaurants, coffee shops and commercial buildings. During the period of the Roman Empire, it was one of the most prominent cities of the Iberian Peninsula. The entire city of Tarragona was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. I love this place!
A typical street with two-thousand-year-old Roman ruins between twentieth-century buildings
Amphitheatres always intrigue me and the one in Tarragona, built in the time of Augustus, is quite intact and overlooks the Mediterranean. It’s still used for plays, and reenactments of gladiator fights, and can be booked for weddings.
Note the doorway on the right where the gladiators would come out ready to fight.
The remains of the first-century Roman Circus used for horse and chariot races, stir the imagination and the excitement of such an event.
I came across the remains of the Forum, a Roman street and a basilica, in the middle of a residential area! It was like timelines had blurred together. And I had the place to myself to explore.
Part of a Roman home with doorways into the rooms.
The remains of a Roman street in between modern apartment buildings.
The old indoor market, Mercat Central, still sells fresh fish, meat, fruits and vegetables.
Many interesting buildings and fountains throughout the city exhibit the fabulous Spanish architecture.
Tarragona is definitely worth a visit if you happen to be in Spain.
Thursday Doors is a weekly challenge created by Dan Antion for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favourite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join us, simply create your own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week and then share a link to your post in the comments on Dan’s blog post. Check out all the other door posts too.
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81 Responses to "Thursday Doors: Tarragona, Spain"
February 28, 2025 at 5:40 am
What a great looking place, Darlene! I’ve not been to that bit of coast but I see that Reus airport is close by.
February 28, 2025 at 6:02 am
What a gorgeous spot! I can’t imagine anything that old, Darlene. Must be because I live in Central Illinois, and we weren’t settled anywhere near as far back as these old Roman ruins!
February 28, 2025 at 6:14 am
I was not aware o this city until now and it looks fascinating! Thanks for sharing so many doors of all ages!
February 28, 2025 at 8:00 am
Tarragona is south of Barcelona and I think you explored the area North of the city. I love the mix of old and new which you don’t get to see in North America.
February 28, 2025 at 6:19 am
What a fascinating place. Spain has so much history that many of us do not know enough about.
February 28, 2025 at 8:01 am
There is more amazing history than I was aware of before we moved here.
February 28, 2025 at 6:29 am
Tarragona is stunning. Thank you for taking us along, Darlene! 🥰
February 28, 2025 at 8:08 am
Happy to have you along, Victoria. So pleased you enjoyed the photos of this amazing place.
February 28, 2025 at 8:14 am
I did, I sure did! Looking forward to talking with you on Monday, too! Thanks, Darlene. 🥰
February 28, 2025 at 6:48 am
More beauty, Darlene. Thanks for sharing.
February 28, 2025 at 7:31 am
Great insights, Darlene! I also love the architecture there. Not to forget the warmer clima. 😉 Definitely a wonderful destination for holidays. Thanks for sharing these wonderful photographs. Have a nice rest of the week! xx Michael
February 28, 2025 at 8:03 am
Thanks, Michael. The climate certainly makes this an ideal spot to visit. The history is a nice bonus.
February 28, 2025 at 8:03 am
The Roman ruins are so cool!! (Not to play favorites or anything, but you have the best Thursday Doors.)
February 28, 2025 at 8:05 am
Thanks, Liz. I am having fun putting these together. Great memories. I’m always pleasantly surprised at how many door and door related pictures I have. xo
February 28, 2025 at 10:36 am
I love the mix of ancient and modern, Darlene. Your photos are amazing. It’s also good to see buildings and doors without snow.
February 28, 2025 at 5:55 pm
Thanks, Dan. In the ten years we’ve lived here we only had snow once and it only lasted a couple of hours. They do get snow in the mountains, occasionally. Glad you liked the juxtaposition of old and new in Tarragona.
February 28, 2025 at 12:08 pm
Great post showing some Roman remains, Darlene! The intact amphitheatre looks great and it’s wonderful that it’s being used actively.
February 28, 2025 at 6:00 pm
I found it fascinating to come across Roman ruins in the middle of town like that. And that amphitheatre is one of the best I’ve seen. Thanks for commenting, Miriam. xo
March 1, 2025 at 1:47 pm
You’re welcome , Darlene. I saw a Roman bridge in one of the cities we visited. It seems like the Roman was all over Spain.
March 1, 2025 at 5:58 pm
The Romans had a huge presence here in Spain. It’s good that their buildings last a long time and we can still see them.
March 2, 2025 at 5:24 am
“All roads lead to Rome.” Everywhere they went, they left amazing architecture and many are still standing.
February 28, 2025 at 12:13 pm
There are so many Roman ruins in Tarragona and many in such good condition. We visited Cartagena which only recently uncovered a number of Roman ruins, so they’re nothing like these. It looks like a great city. Maggie
February 28, 2025 at 6:10 pm
Cartagena is another place with great Roman ruins. What was amazing with Tarragona was that everything was in between modern buildings and you could just wander around the ruins. Spain has so many nice surprises. Glad you enjoyed these photos.
February 28, 2025 at 1:06 pm
Those are really great photos. Despite coming from Europe/Sweden I have not been to Spain yet.
February 28, 2025 at 9:17 pm
So many places to visit, only so much time. There are any places in Europe I have yet to visit. Glad you enjoyed this selection of photos to give you a taste of Spain.
February 28, 2025 at 2:18 pm
“The entire city of Tarragona was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.”
Wow, Darlene. That’s amazing, and your photos show why. I can imagine the time warp you experience when exploring the city. That is very cool. I’d love to go there someday!
February 28, 2025 at 9:20 pm
You would just love it there, Dianna. Imagine living in a modern apartment and looking over the remains of a two-thousand-year-old Roman forum. It is mind-boggling!
March 1, 2025 at 1:22 pm
I would love that. We just don’t have manmade history like that here.
February 28, 2025 at 2:45 pm
The Roman ruins look really interesting. Thanks for your photos.
February 28, 2025 at 2:51 pm
Your photos are magnificent. How amazing that they have preserved the old structures among modern buildings!
February 28, 2025 at 7:43 pm
We took a day trip to Tarragona when we were in Barcelona in 2022 and absolutely loved it! Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Your pictures are beautiful. And agreed, Tarragona is definitely worth a visit!
February 28, 2025 at 9:23 pm
That is wonderful that you visited. Many people don’t even know about it. Glad I could bring back some memories. xo
February 28, 2025 at 8:59 pm
Gosh, I had no idea about all those Roman remains. It looks amazing! Thanks for posting.
February 28, 2025 at 9:24 pm
I know. I was taken by surprise myself. I’m glad we found this wonderful place.
February 28, 2025 at 10:29 pm
I had never heard of this city, so your post was a fantastic introduction to it. The ruins within the city make me think of time travel, how you can walk from modern times to ancient times and back. Really neat!
February 28, 2025 at 11:06 pm
It felt like time travel. There has to be a story there! Thanks for commenting, Dave.
February 28, 2025 at 11:40 pm
The Amphitheatre reminds me of being in Pompeii. Like Pompeii, I find it fascinating how the Roman ruins are surrounded by more modern buildings.
March 1, 2025 at 1:06 am
Pompeii is amazing. An entire city unearthed! I love Roman ruins.
March 1, 2025 at 1:27 am
Me too. I could have stayed longer in Pompeii, but it was too hot!
February 28, 2025 at 11:54 pm
Wonderful architecture and arches everywhere you look, Darlene. Thanks for sharing this with us. I too love amphitheater’s and the backdrop here is amazing. 💕
March 1, 2025 at 1:10 am
This is the first amphitheatre I’ve seen right by the sea. I must have taken a dozen pictures of it. I’m pleased you enjoyed the photos.
March 1, 2025 at 1:17 am
Your doors remind me to leave the familiar and find something exotic. It’s easy to keep our noses to the grindstone and explore something new. Thanks, Darlene!
March 1, 2025 at 1:19 am
I love going off the beaten track and discovering something new. It’s how we learn, isn’t it. Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
March 1, 2025 at 2:13 am
These door photos are AHmazing, especially of the ancient ruins. Thank you for sharing!
March 1, 2025 at 12:38 pm
Wow, what a fascinating place. I’ve never seen Roman ruins sharing space with modern buildings before. It looks so strange.
March 1, 2025 at 2:32 pm
These are brilliant captures, Darlene — especially that opening shot!
March 1, 2025 at 5:56 pm
Thanks, Donna. That scene really caught my attention. Have a super weekend. xo
March 2, 2025 at 8:43 am
The mix of ancient and modern buildings is fascinating. How some of the structures remain standing is a marvel. Wonderful photos, Darlene.
March 2, 2025 at 1:28 pm
Wonderful images where the ancient and modern exist in harmony x
March 4, 2025 at 12:23 am
What beautiful pics, Darlene! I especially like the amphitheater overlooking the sea. What a view.
March 4, 2025 at 1:08 am
Imagine watching gladiators or a Greek tragedy overlooking the sea. There has to be a story or two there. Glad you liked the photos.
March 4, 2025 at 11:00 am
What a fascinating place with incredible history, Darlene. Beautiful photos!
March 5, 2025 at 2:06 am
Stunning architecture and that blue sea and sky are gorgeous
March 5, 2025 at 2:10 am
Just an average day on the coast of Spain! Pleased you enjoyed the pictures Ari!
March 7, 2025 at 7:31 am
Great photos of Tarragona. It’s an amazing city. We are lucky it isn’t very far from us either.
March 7, 2025 at 7:55 am
We are lucky to have these sites so near. We spent a week there a few years ago. I think it was about a four hour drive.
Darlene Foster's Blog 
February 28, 2025 at 5:23 am
Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to travel vicariously through you.
February 28, 2025 at 7:55 am
Any time, Violet!