"My Silver Medal" a Tarragona Travel Page by mikey_e

I had heard of Tarragona before moving to Barcelona, and I could never seem to find the right weekend to take a trip down the coast after moving there in September 2005. My chance came a week after we had all returned to classes from Christmas break and I decided not to go on the Andorra ski trip. I was tired from the trip back from Canada and snow wasn't all that miraculous or awe-inspiring (especially after a new year's eve spent trapsing through a blizzard), so I decided to stay in Barcelona. My friend Paolo (from Sicily) suggested that we take a day trip down to Tarragona. There were few of us left behind and, as he put it, it would be like our consolation prize for not going on the ski trip to Andorra. As it turned out, we had a spectacular time and didn't miss much in the Pyrenees - where an exceptionally dry winter meant that there was no snow on the slopes and shortages of water in the hotel.

Tarragona is best known for its Roman ruins, but the city holds much more than remains of the Roman civilization that spread along the coast. A bit surprising (although not so much for those who visit Sitges and other cities along the coast), this city had its fair share of stately houses belonging to the wealthy class. Although only one of them is open to the public for you to gawk at and admire the luxury of aristocratic living in the 19th century, there is a sense of the ease of life for the upper classes in this beautiful town by the sea. Indeed, Tarragona provides an interesting contrast to nearby Sitges, especially in the winter, when visitors can admire the tranquility and quiet beauty of the Catalan sea front. I certainly did, and its hard not to forget the hustle an bustle of Barcelona only an hour or so after you step off the rodalies train.

Of course, pretending that Tarragona's Roman heritage isn't quite the most important thing to see in the town would be sheer madness. Paolo and I were certainly lucky that on the gorgeous January day we decided to take our little trip south there were few other tourists to crowd the main sights. I was doubly lucky, however, in that Paolo was an expert on Roman architecture and the history of both the Roman empire and the early Church. He had been conflicted about a career in history or economics and had chosen the latter, but never quite abandoned his love of Italy's noble heritage. As we wandered from site to site he explained not only the importance of each structure from an architectural standpoint, but also its place in the culture and rites of the Romans. It was, by far, the most enjoyable history lesson I have ever had.