Necropolis of Tarraco | Cultural Heritage. Goverment of Catalonia.
Necropolis of Tarraco A glimpse into the Roman past

On the outskirts of the ancient city of Tarraco, on the banks of the Francolí River, the Necropolis of Tarraco takes visitors on a journey back in time to the funerary practices and beliefs of the Roman world and to life in the neighbourhoods outside the walls of a Roman city.

This sprawling cemetery includes both tombs of people of the Roman religion and early Christian Romans, from the 3rd-5th centuries AD. With more than 2,000 documented burials, the cemetery is one of the most important surviving burial grounds of the Roman Empire.

As you walk through the necropolis, you can see various types of tombs. The place and method of burial varied according to the deceased's social status. The higher the status, the closer they were buried to a main road, such as the Via Augusta. Therefore, burial sites ranged from simple graves with coffins made of materials such as wood, stone or lead, to more elaborate mausoleums and churches with decorated sarcophagi.

The necropolis was uncovered during the construction of the Tobacco Factory in 1923. Subsequent excavation made it possible to conclude that the bishop of Tarraco St. Fructuosus and his deacons St. Augurius and St. Eulogius were buried in 259 AD. It also revealed the location of the crypts of the Arches and of the Engineers; uncovered details about religious beliefs and life in Roman times; and brought to light pieces such as the tombstone of Optimus, the Lion sarcophagus and the Ivory Doll, which was found inside a sarcophagus with the remains of a six-year-old girl.

Therefore, the necropolis of Tarraco is an essential stop for all those interested in archaeology and Roman history. The complex is part of the Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

Plan your visit

What can I do?
  • Experience Tarraco's fascinating legacy with the activities programmed in MNAT's different spaces: theatrical tours, routes, family workshops and much more.
  • If you're keen to find out more, the MNAT Ticket offers you a combined admission that includes a visit to the following spaces: Tinglado 4, Necropolis of Tarraco, Roman Villa of Els Munts and the Monumental Complex of Centcelles.
  • If you want to learn more about the Roman world of death, don't forget to visit the Interpretation Centre.
Services
AccessibilityAudio guides
Timetables
Check the opening and closing times on the monument's website.
Prices
Self-guided tour
Admission: €4.00
Reduced admission: €2.00

  • People aged 65 and over
  • Pensioners
  • Carnet Jove card holders
  • Students with an international student card
  • Large family or single parent card holders
  • Non-tourist groups of 10 or more people with advance booking
  • Members of the "Carnet Artesà" with valid ID
  • Members of the "Catalan Association of Art Critics", with valid ID
  • Members of the "CRAC. Associated Conservators-Restorers of Catalonia", with valid ID
 
Free admission:
  • People under 16 years of age
  • Unemployed people
  • ICOM or ICOMOS members
  • Members of the Association of Museologists of Catalonia
  • Professional tourist guides
  • Official schoolteachers
  • Press professionals (with advance written notice)
  • People with a certificate of disability (the accompanying person will also have free admission if the card certifies that the person needs an escort).
  • Foster families
  • Groups of students with a teacher who have booked in advance.
  • Teachers from the Consortium for Linguistic Normalisation, with valid accreditation.
  • On the first Sunday of each month
 
Guided tour
Guided route on the 3rd Sunday of every month "Life and death in Tarraco". Adults: €5.00. Children under 5, free of charge
Groups: €70.00 per group (Tuesday to Friday) / €85.00 per group (weekends and public holidays).
Contact
Av. de Ramón y Cajal, 84. 43005 Tarragona
Tel. 977 21 11 75 / 977 25 15 15
Email: mnat@gencat.cat
https://www.mnat.cat
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