calafellvalo - CC
From 24th to 8th December, Tarragona will commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the inclusion of the archaeological site at Tarraco on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is a date that the city and heritage lovers can celebrate through a programme of special events with 30th November being World Heritage Day in Tarragona.
The inclusion of Tarraco on the list in the year 2000 was the turning point from which people really began to take notice of the importance of the city's Roman heritage and of its surrounding rural area, which is known as ager tarraconensis. The urban development of the city as well as the density and quality of the remains have made the archaeological site a universal good like no other.
Amongst the various activities scheduled (you can find out more details on our agenda), the following are highlighted:
Open day at the monumental enclosures on 28th and 29th November
Spaces: Passeig Arqueològic (the Walls), praetorian, circus, amphitheatre, Colonial Forum, paleo-christian necropolis, Centcelles Mausoleum (Constantine), Vil·la dels Munts (Altafulla) and the Tarragona National Archaeological Museum (plaça del Rei).
Screening of the first episode of Ingeniería romana (Roman Engineering) on RTVE (28th and 29th November)
A series that aims, using the latest technology, to bring the building knowledge of the ancient Romans to the people of today. In this episode, the city features prominently because of the ancient city of Tarraco.
Continuous showings at the Tarragona Tourism Space.
Inaugurating the "Plaça de la UNESCO" (30th November, 17:30)
This is on the site of the old Rambla Vella roundabout and the Passeig St. Antoni. This spot links the Part Alta and the Port district but, at the same time, it links the historical centre and the 16th century extension. The new UNESCO Square therefore holds a special place in the city.
An institutional event '15 years of Tarraco being a World Heritage site' and presenting the Tarraco coin collection (30th November at 19:00)
To mark the occasion, the importance of Tarraco being on the UNESCO World Heritage list and the Grupo Ciudades Patrimonio (Heritage Cities Group) list will be discussed. What's more, during the event the Tarraco coins struck by the Spanish Royal Mint as part of the Heritage Cities coinage collections.
Event hall at Tarragona Town Hall.
Tarragona and its surrounding area contain vestiges which are a testament to the Roman imprint left on our hometown. The site includes several monuments dating from the 3rd century BC to the 6th century AD which have been extremely well preserved. They are all characteristic of a provincial capital as Tarragona was. The site is made up of:
At the same time, it should not be forgotten that the city, along with the rest of Catalonia, has other examples of World Heritage such as castles, the Mediterranean diet (Representative list of Intangible Human Heritage).
