Free access to monument premises, guided tours to the National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona (MNAT) at night, historical re-enactments of the life in the ancient Tàrraco, projections, conferences, exhibitions, gastronomy menus… Tarragona will be commemorating, between 24 November and 8 December, the 15th anniversary of the announcement of Tàrraco as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO with a number of events and activities.
On Sunday 29, for example, as users can access the main monument premises free of charge, a number of re-enactment activities will take place in Passeig Arqueològic, the Praetorium, the Roman Circus, the Amphitheatre, Vil·la dels Munts and Mausoleu de Centcelles. These locations will present you with the key to find out more about the lifestyle of legionaries, centurions, senators and theatre actors; what role magistrates and civil servants had; how life was for firefighters, councillors, auriga and prostitutes; or what gladiators, priestesses and editors did. Also, you’ll get to meet Caius and Faustina in their Vil·la dels Munts; observe Late Empire legionaries at the Mausoleu de Centcelles, or admire the Emperor Augustus at Volta del Pallol.
On Saturday 28 and Sunday 29, monument enclosures (Walls, Praetorium, Circus, Amphitheatre, Fòrum de la Colònia, Necròpolis Paleocristiana, Mausoleu de Centelles, Vil·la dels Munts and the National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona) will remain open to public, and in the case of the MNAT, this will also remain open at night.
Espai Turisme, in Carrer Major 39, will project the first episode of the TV series about the Roman engineering produced by Digivisión for La2 TV channel on Saturday and Sunday. The showings of the documentary are continuous and with free entrance (limited capacity).
On the other hand, and coinciding with the event, a new square will be opened on Monday 30, at 5pm: Plaça de la Unesco, located on the roundabout where Rambla Vella and Passeig de Sant Antoni meet. The new Plaça de la Unesco is a very special spot in the city because it connects past and present, proximity and remoteness. This roundabout also joins Part Alta and the Port neighbourhood together, but also works as a link for the historical centre and the Eixample of the 16th century. Besides, here’s where the old Via Augusta ended, a connecting point between Tàrraco, capital city of the Tarraconense, and the eternal city, Rome. Just beside it, the Praetorium and Amphitheatre. And also a stone’s throw away from here, we can admire the annual Santa Tecla’s International Fireworks Competition, enjoy the Tarraco Viva festival and the processions of Holy Week. This is a place then, very near the meeting point of the entire heritage that defines the Tarragona of the 21st century.
Finally, the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the proclamation of Tàrraco as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO will also work to showcase a number of the city’s strong points, such as “castells” and the Mediterranean diet. As for the former, a tradition original from Valls, within Camp de Tarragona area, the city’s four main colles will build a commemorative tower on Sunday 29, at 1pm, in Plaça del Rei.
As fot the latter, the Mediterranean diet, nine restaurants in Tarragona will be offering menus based on this amazing diet, between 24 November and 8 December. Bread, wine, olive oil, legumes, vegetables, fish, meat and fruit are main characters of our beloved traditional diet.
Text: Ivan Rodon (@irodon on Twitter)
Translation: Artur Santos (@artur_1983 on Twitter)
