The presence of Rome in the Iberian Peninsula extended for more than six centuries, larguísimo period of time in which the territory, in greater or smaller measurement, was adopted to the institutions and forms of government of the capital of the Tíber. One of the most outstanding examples of that romanización was Tarragona, the old Tarraco. Capital of the province of the Tarraconense (that almost included half of the peninsula), this present Catalan city supposes attractive a tourist one of first magnitude. The rest of the Roman time that keep in her, as much inside their Archaeological Museum are numerous, like in a brief stroll by their streets.

One of the most outstanding characteristics of Tarragona is the presence of two Roman forums, one for the government of the municipality and another one for the one of the province. This one last one we found it in the part high of the city of Tarragona, in plaça of the Forum, very next to the Cathedral. The peculiar thing is that this one was constructed on the rest of an old temple that at Roman time was dedicated to the imperial cult. It is a magnificent example of how the religious function of a space has remained throughout the centuries, in different stages. In the inferior part of the forum of the province the Circus is born, where to the flat racing and quadriga were developed, very appreciated by the Roman citizenship. At the moment, one conserves of this building a part of the launching slips and an inner gallery. Plaça of the Font, where we can find the City council of Tarragona, is constructed on the rest of this circus. And also is extremely peculiar the fact that the form of this seat is extended, and follows the same direction of which had to be that circus.

The three buildings (temple-cathedral, forum and circus) formed in their day the religious, political and idle life of the Roman Tarraco. Bordering them are the walls. The Archaeological Stroll of Tarragona, that follows the course of these, supposes an authentic trip in the time, backing down twenty centuries towards which it was the time of maximum splendor of this city. Two statues preside over it. On the one hand, the one of Octavio Augusto, first emperor of Rome, that directed from Tarraco happening of the Cantabrian Wars. And, on the other hand, a Capitolina She-wolf, symbol of the capital of the Tíber, donated in years 30 by Italy. A bastion of the walls constituted the Tower of Pretorio, that offers in its superior part a magnificent Vista of Tarragona and its beach. Next to this one, we found one of architectonic jewels of the city: the Roman amphitheatre. In an optimal state of conservation, the presence of a paleocristiana basilica powerfully calls the attention of its interior, raised in the sand. This one was constructed to remember the martyrdom of san Fructuoso, bishop of Tarragona in the years of the persecutions to the Christians in the Roman Empire, and two of its diáconos, Eulogio and Augurio. This way, a primitive place of leisure became monk during very many years.

All it offers the Catalan city of Tarragona. But he is not everything, since their environs also are scenes of many Roman rest, like the Tower of the Escipiones and the Arc of Bará (both on foot of the Route Augusta, present N-340, in the direction of Barcelona) or the Pont of the Giveable, a magnificent aqueduct to the outskirts. Without a doubt, when referring us to the Roman presence in the Iberian Peninsula it is necessary to speak of Tarragona. For the lovers of this old civilization, the visit to this city is essential. It supposes, in any case, a jump in the time that makes us remember the most important presence of Rome in this territory, that bequeathed numerous cities, public laws and works there where outside

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