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Roman Praetorium and Circus

The complex at Rambla Vella, 1 brings together the Praetorium tower and part of the Roman circus of Tarraco, which was built next to the provincial forum. The circus measured about 325 metres long and up to 115 wide, with an estimated capacity of 30,000 spectators, and it is one of the few Roman circuses left within a city's walls. The ground floor and first floor of the tower are Roman and housed one of the two monumental staircases linking the circus terrace with that of the forum. In the Middle Ages it was fortified and became the castle of the princes of Tarragona and later a royal residence; later still it served as a barracks and a prison. Today it is both a monument and a museum. Visitors walk through the circus vaults inside, climb up to the tiers and reach the square of the provincial forum. The circuit also takes in the medieval wall and the 14th-century Torre de las Monjas (Nuns' Tower).

Things to do at Roman Praetorium and Circus: 4 missions

• Climb up to the circus tiersGo up to the surviving tiers and look at the layout of the ancient track with today's city all around it.
• Walk through the vaults of the Roman circusWalk inside the vaults that held up the circus tiers and look at how the Roman structure was built.
• Tell the Roman from the medieval in the towerExamine the Praetorium tower: look for the Roman-era ashlar blocks of the ground and first floors, and find where the medieval parts begin.
• Find the Nuns' Tower on the wallFind the 14th-century Torre de las Monjas (Nuns' Tower) beside the medieval wall that crosses the circus site.

Near Roman Praetorium and Circus

Source: Web oficial - Museu d'Història de Tarragona