Description: The ancient wall and its towers is a good place to explore with children. The famous
Roman wall was built in the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC. A good part of this powerful structure still remains as do three mighty towers from the same period. In the 16th century the wall was 4,000 meters long. It completely surrounded the perimeter of the ancient town of
Tàrraco, reaching as far as the port. Today only a fifth of it remains, in the upper part of the old town. You will enjoy walking around and visiting the fortifications. Two distinct phases of the walls construction have been identified by scholars. The first dates from the initial years of Roman occupation and is four meters wide by six meters high. It was fortified with quadrangular towers of which three are known by name: the Minerva (or S. Magí) Tower, the Cabiscol (or Seminari) Tower and the Arquebisbe Tower. Minerva tower is the most typically Roman of all, while Arquebisbe tower was modified during Medieval times. The Socorro gateway is the only gateway that still remains intact and lies very near to Minerva tower.
The second phase of the wall construction corresponds to a change in architectural and strategic thinking, possibly related to the military campaigns of the Consul Cato (beginning of the 2nd century BC). The width was increased to six meters and the height to twelve meters. The area between the interior and exterior parts is filled with stones and soil in the base section and with adobe in the rest. Dwellings with windows and balconies have been built in some sections of the walls, taking advantage of the space between the outer and inner parts of the wall (see the picture). Climb a tower for picturesque view of the historic town and the sea.
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