Tarragona - Ancient Rome

I was disappointed not to be able to see Rome on this trip as I had planned, but the next best thing was the Roman ruins in Tarragona.  My first view was the double row arched aqueduct built in the first century AD.  The aqueduct carried water from the Francoli River to the city.

At the bottom of the stairs leading to the Pla de la Seu (Cathedral Square), a fountain is still functioning.  The fountains were once connected to the aqueducts and provided the much needed water to the citizens of the city.  Today, water can still be accessed for free to the public.

A closer look at the wall using "recycled" stones including grave markers.

The following two photos are what is left of the Roman Provincial Forum.  Built around 73 AD, it was the largest public forum in the Roman world.  It connected the government with the people of the province.  There was a smaller forum at a lower elevation for the business of the city.

Construction in the city often finds that there are ancient Roman structures beneath most buildings.  In their process of building a library several years ago, the seating area (below) of the circus was located.

The head of he circus was also unearthed.  The chariot races would turn at this point with important individuals seated along the upper levels.

The photo below shows an artist's rendering of what the circus would have looked like in the first century AD.

The last of the major Roman structures built in the city was the amphitheater (below) built in the 2nd century AD.  It had to be built outside of the city walls because there was no longer enough space with the increased population.  The amphitheater hosted gladiator fights as well as public executions.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Visigoths built a church in the center of the amphitheater.  The only part of the church left is the cross-shaped foundation located in the center of the amphitheater.