Tarraco: Roman City’s Rise, Fall, and Transformation
Tarraco: A Roman City
Tarraco, now Tarragona, began as a Carthaginian camp during the Second Punic War (218 BC). Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio established it to reinforce Roman control from Empúries to the Ebro River. After the war, Tarraco became a key military base, strategically located near the Ebro port and the Balearic Islands, with connections to Italy and the Castilian plateau. This attracted traders from Italy.
In the second half of the 1st century BC, it gained official status as Colonia Iulia Vrbs Triumphal Tarraco, possibly under Julius Caesar or Augustus. It became the capital of Hispania Citerior. This recognition led to significant Roman monumentalization to increase its prestige and disseminate imperial propaganda.
Monumental Tarraco
The first phase included the city board and theater near the port. The second, more ambitious phase, during the Flavian dynasty, involved a large complex at the top of Tarraco, including the circus and a new provincial forum. The amphitheater was built at the beginning of the 2nd century AD.
Tarraco’s difficult terrain prevented it from following the typical Roman grid plan. Built on a hillside, it was terraced. The circus and provincial forum divided the city. The lower levels were residential, while the forum of the colony was in the southwest. Remains suggest an orthogonal road layout with paved streets and sewers. The port, theater, and amphitheater were outside the city walls. Three aqueducts supplied water.
Decline and Transformation
From the 1st century BC to the 2nd century AD, Tarraco prospered. However, in the late 2nd century AD, part of the elite suffered repression under Emperor Septimius Severus. The city declined, though with periods of revival. In 260 AD, the Franks devastated Tarraco. Diocletian’s administrative reforms reduced the province, and under the Visigoths, the capital shifted to Barcino (Barcelona) and Toledo. However, the metropolitan bishop ensured its continued importance.
From the 3rd century AD, the city transformed dramatically. The lower residential area depopulated, while the forum and upper circus lost their public functions, becoming homes. New buildings, such as Christian churches, arose. The late city, enclosed by walls, was much smaller than in its imperial heyday. Tarragona did not regain its former size until the 20th century.
Key Features of Tarraco
- Walls
- City Forum
- Theater
- Provincial Forum
- Circus
- Amphitheater
- Water Supply: Aqueducts and Terms