Tarragona
Tarragona (Catalan: [tərəˈɣonə], Spanish: [taraˈɣona] ; Latin: Tarraco) is a coastal city and municipality in Catalonia (Spain). It is the capital and largest town of Tarragonès county, the Camp de Tarragona region and the province of Tarragona. Geographically, it is located on the Costa Daurada area on the Mediterranean shore.
For other uses, see Tarragona (disambiguation).
Tarragona
5th century BC
Rubén Viñuales (2023) (PSC)
57.9 km2 (22.4 sq mi)
68 m (223 ft)
141,542
2,400/km2 (6,300/sq mi)
During the period of the Roman Empire, it was one of the most prominent cities of the Iberian Peninsula, as the capital, successively, of the Roman provinces of Hispania Citerior and Hispania Tarraconensis.
The Archaeological Complex of Tàrraco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tourism[edit]
Tarragona is one of the World Heritage Journeys in the European Union.[25] Tourism is focused on the main sites of Mercat Central de Tarragona (Central Market of Tarragona), La Rambla Nova (the main shopping street), El Serrallo fishing village, the surrounding beaches of the golden coast, the key plazas (Plaça de la Font, Plaça del Fòrum, Plaça del Rei), Balcó del Mediterrani, Praetorium and Roman Circus, Roman Amphitheatre, Model of Roman Tarraco, and the cathedral.[26]
The GR 92 long-distance footpath, which roughly follows the length of the Mediterranean coast of Spain, has a staging point at Tarragona. Stage 25 links northwards to Torredembarra, a distance of 20.0 km (12.4 mi), whilst stage 26 links southwards to Cambrils, a distance of 28.1 km (17.5 mi).[27]
Food and drink[edit]
Tarragona contains a number of small bars, restaurants, and cafes serving tapas and sandwiches, and local seafood and Catalan dishes like "pa amb tomàquet" or "neules i torrons". Many such outlets are found in the historic centre, including those at the Plaça de la Font, Plaça del Rei and Plaça del Fòrum. The neighborhood of El Serrallo, at the harbour, specialises in seafood cuisine.
Chartreuse is the local drink of Tarragona. Originally created in 1605, it was considered by monks to be an “elixir for long life”. It is produced in yellow, with an alcohol content of 40º, as well as green, with a content of 55º. Between 1903 and 1989, the French liqueur made by the Carthusian Monks, Chartreuse, was distilled in Tarragona, following the monks' expulsion from France.[28] Chartreuse is now a key part of the Feast of Santa Tecla.[29] This Traditional Festival of national interest celebrates the patroness saint of the city.[30]
Tarragona is home to two Michelin Guide recommended restaurants: El Terrat and Barquet.[31] In addition, El Terrat and AQ were awarded one "Sol" each in the 2022 Guía Repsol.[32]
Tarragona was also a candidate to be the Spanish representative as European Capital of Culture in 2016.
The local mayor is elected by the members of the plenary from among its members the day the new municipal corporation is formed after the local election. The officeholder has a mandate for the 4-year duration of the elected body. If the mayor leaves office ahead of time a new voting may take place among the plenary members in order to invest a new mayor (meanwhile, another local councillor, conventionally the first deputy mayor may act as acting mayor). Since 15 June 2019 the mayor is Pau Ricomà.[35] The opening session in which the mayor is invested is traditionally held at the Saló de Plens.
Since the first democratic election after the Francoist dictatorship, Tarragona has had four democratically elected mayors:
The local is the body formed by the elected councillors of the Ajuntament. The plenary meetings (Ple) are held at the Saló de Plens. It is formed by the municipal councillors, elected through closed party list proportional representation and 27 councillors are currently elected on the basis of the population of the municipality. Councillors are grouped in municipal groups on the basis of their political filiation. It has a government commission (Comissió de Govern; also Junta de Govern or Junta de Gobierno) is formed by the mayor, the deputy mayors, and a number of appointed councillors.
