Tarraco
Tarraco, known today as Tarragona, is a historical city located on the northeast coast of Spain beside the river Francolí. In its early history, it served as the principal center for the Cessetani tribe before becoming significant during the Second Punic War when it was utilized as a military headquarters by Roman generals. Following the Roman annexation, Tarraco developed into a vital mint and a major military hub in the newly formed province of Hispania Citerior. Over time, it evolved into a bustling urban center, with Augustus designating it as the capital of the province, later known as Hispania Tarraconensis.
The city is notable for its impressive Roman architecture, including a well-preserved amphitheater, theater, and aqueduct, known as the "Devil's Bridge." Tarraco’s rich history also features its role as a religious center, with the construction of basilicas over the tombs of early Christian martyrs. Despite suffering periods of decline, including attacks by the Franks and later Visigoth invasions, Tarraco maintained its status as an important cultural and political center throughout antiquity. Today, remnants of ancient walls and structures attract visitors and scholars interested in Roman history and architecture.
Tarraco
(earlier Cissa or Cissis [Cese] and Callipolis, now Tarragona)
A city on the northeast coast of Spain, beside the river Tulcis (Francoli). In the pre-Roman period it was the principal center of the tribe of the Cessetani. In 218–209, during the Second Punic War, it served as the headquarters of Cnaeus and Publius Cornelius Scipio (the uncle and father of Scipio Africanus the Elder), who constructed fortifications.
After Roman annexation (205–197), Tarraco became the most prolific local mint in the new province of Nearer Spain (Hispania Citerior), and was employed as a landing place by Roman generals setting out to suppress the tribes of the interior, notably Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus (father of the Gracchi) in 180, and Scipio Aemilianus in 134. During the Civil War between the Pompeians and Julius Caesar, the local inhabitants changed sides from the former to the latter, who established a civilian colony under the name of Colonia Julia Victrix Triumphalis (45). Augustus employed this settlement as his headquarters during his Spanish wars (26–24)—withdrawing there to recuperate from a serious illness—and arranged for it to replace Carthago Nova (Cartagena) as the capital of the province, which later, in consequence, came to be known as Hispania Tarraconensis. The population of Tarraco at this time has been estimated at 30,000; Strabo considered it the most important city in Spain, and it was famous for its wine.
During Galba's revolt against Nero (68), it sided with the former. Hadrian spent the winter of 121 there, convening a meeting of representatives from all the towns of the province. Tarraco was sacked by the Franks c 264, but was still regarded as one of the principal Spanish townships by Ausonius (c 370), although his praise may be partly nostalgic, since by his time the place had been eclipsed by Barcino (Barcelona). In 410 the Roman commander-in-chief in Spain, Gerontius (of British origin), set up a puppet emperor, Maximus, at Tarraco, but he fled shortly afterward. In 473/476 the city was captured by Euric the Visigoth, but later recovered and became an important Visigothic center.
Tarraco has provided the earliest Roman inscription in Iberia, consisting of a dedication by Manius Vibius to Minerva (200–190 BC). The ancient walls, enclosing a three-mile circuit, are still, in parts, to be seen, dating from the sixth and third centuries BC and from Roman times; the six surviving gates date from the earliest period. The upper city included the forum, a Temple of Jupiter (beneath the cathedral), and at the highest point an altar dedicated to Augustus, which was replaced in AD 15 by a temple in his honor, illustrated on coins of its founder Tiberius. A lower city stood beside the port. There are remains of numerous houses including the governor's palace (known also as the Torréon de Pilatos, because Pontius Pilate was believed, according to an unfounded tradition, to have come from the city) and Tarraco also possessed a theater, amphitheater and circus, as well as both a pagan and later a Christian basilica. The latter was erected over the tombs of Fructuosus, Augurius and Eulogius, who were martyred in the persecutions of Valerian (253–60).
The great two-tiered, two-hundred-and-fifty-foot high aqueduct known as the `Devil's Bridge,’ bringing water from the river Gaya, traversed a lateral valley of that river. On its bank, a cemetery contains two hundred tombs dating from the third to the sixth century. Four miles to the northwest of the city is the mausoleum of Centcelles, which has been carefully restored; and four miles to the east is a square tower of the first century AD, fancifully known as the Tower of Scipio. The province of Tarragona contains a number of important Roman villa-farms, notably at Els Munts (with three bathhouses), El Vilarene and Calafell.