The Amfiteatre de Tarragona is the Roman amphitheatre of ancient Tarraco, built on a slope right above the Mediterranean, just outside the old town. Gladiators fought here, a bishop and two deacons were burned alive here in 259, and in the middle of the arena you can still see the ruins of the churches later built in their memory.
The Amfiteatre de Tarragona at a glance
- Where: in the Parc de l'Amfiteatre, between the end of the Rambla Nova and the sea, below the Balcó del Mediterrani.
- Built: around the beginning of the 2nd century AD, with alterations in 221 AD.
- What it is: an elliptical arena that held around 14,000 spectators, part of the seating cut into the rock of the hillside.
- What it is today: an archaeological site and part of the Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.
- Time needed: 30–45 minutes inside, or 10 minutes for the view from above.
From arena to church
Tarraco was one of the main cities of Roman Hispania, and the amphitheatre was its venue for gladiator fights, wild animal hunts and public executions. It was built at the turn of the 2nd century, with the northern seating carved straight into the rock and the southern part resting on concrete vaults. Alterations made in 221 AD were recorded in a long inscription that ran along the podium around the arena.
In 259, during the persecution under the emperor Valerian, Bishop Fructuosus of Tarraco and his deacons Augurius and Eulogius were burned alive in the arena. The site became sacred to the city's Christians. At the end of the 6th century a Visigothic basilica was built in the arena in their memory, and in the 12th century the Romanesque church of Santa Maria del Miracle was built over it. The remains of both churches are still visible in the centre of the arena.
What to look for
- The rows of seats on the northern side, carved directly into the rock and heavily worn by time.
- The southern stands, rebuilt on concrete vaults, where you can best imagine the full shape of the arena.
- The ruins of the Visigothic basilica and the Romanesque church of Santa Maria del Miracle in the middle of the arena.
- The podium wall around the arena, where a long inscription recording the alterations of 221 AD once ran.
- The setting: the sea beyond the southern stands, a backdrop that few Roman amphitheatres can match.
The martyrs of Tarragona
Fructuosus, Augurius and Eulogius are among the earliest known Christian martyrs in Spain. They are still honoured in Tarragona today, and their story is the reason the arena was turned into a place of worship. Look for the church ruins in the arena with this in mind: they mark the spot that early Christians believed was the place of the martyrdom.
Tips for your visit
- Look down first from the Balcó del Mediterrani at the end of the Rambla Nova: it gives the classic view of the whole ellipse with the sea behind.
- Come in the morning or late afternoon in summer, as there is very little shade inside the arena.
- If you plan to see several Roman sites, ask at the ticket office about combined tickets for Tarraco's monuments.
- Afterwards, walk down to the Platja del Miracle beach just below, or up into the old town for the Roman circus.
Nearby
- Balcó del Mediterrani: the viewpoint at the top of the Rambla Nova, looking over the amphitheatre and the sea.
- Roman Circus and Praetorium: the vaults of the chariot-racing circus and a Roman tower in the old town, a few minutes' walk uphill.
- Tarragona Cathedral: a Romanesque and Gothic cathedral at the top of the old town, reached by a wide flight of steps.
- Monument als Castellers: the bronze sculpture on the Rambla Nova celebrating Catalonia's human towers.
See Tarragona with World City Trail
Our Tarragona scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 32 minutes of walking, and includes places such as the Monument als Castellers and the Mercat Central. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Dutch.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Tarragona.
Play the Tarragona scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Tarragona →
Play the outdoor escape game in Tarragona →
Facts checked in October 2026.