Tarragona Amphitheatre (Amfiteatre de Tarragona)

Most Tarragona tours stop at the city’s ancient amphitheater, carved directly out of the bedrock and picked almost clean of its original stone over the millennia; much of the existing site is a reconstruction. Explore the theater on your own or with a guide, including a walk through the arena center to admire the remains of both a 6th-century Visigoth church and a 12th-century Romanesque-Gothic church.

Tours and day trips from Barcelona often cover the highlights in Tarragona and the colorful coastal town of Sitges located nearby.

• The amphitheater is outdoors with little shelter from the elements, so dress for the weather and bring a hat and sunblock in the summer.

• Though there is some informative signage around the site, the downloadable audio guide (available at the ticket office) or a guided tour provides valuable insights to better understand the ruins.

• The site is best photographed from the street level above, where you also can capture the sea in the background.

• Kids get more free reign to explore here than in many other ancient amphitheaters in Europe, making this a family-friendly stop.

• Those using wheelchairs and strollers can partially access the ruins, including the arena floor. Other areas only can be reached via steps.

The amphitheater is located in the center of Tarragona’s old town, just steps from the local beach, and is easy to reach on foot from most of the city’s other ancient and historic attractions. Tarragona is connected to Spain’s main cities of Barcelona and Madrid by direct trains.

Tarragona’s ancient amphitheater is open daily except for Mondays; weekdays are the best time to visit during the busy summer months to avoid crowds. Choose a clear, mild day and, if visiting from May through September, avoid visiting during the midday hours when temperatures soar inside this open-air site.

Tarragona sits on the remains of the ancient city of Tarraco, once an important urban center in the Roman Empire. There are plenty of ruins to explore. In addition to the amphitheater, Tarragona is home to a Roman circus and praetorium tower, a forum, remnants of the city walls, and a portion of the aqueduct just outside of town. Ancient history buffs also can admire ancient art and artifacts at the local archaeological museum.