The Ancient Roman Theater of Tarraco – the Time Vault

Conservation and adaptation of cultural heritage objects to modern use is a complex task that is being solved by both state and public organizations, as well as architects. It is much more complicated if we are talking about monuments that are more than 2000 years old. The Barcelona-based company Estudi d’Arquitectura Toni Gironès has extensive experience working with such objects, as evidenced by numerous awards. In 2018, architects completed a project to adapt the ancient Roman theater of Tarraco in Tarragona, Spain, transforming it into an urban public space.

The history of Roman Hispania, conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century B.C., lasted more than six centuries. During this time, many ancient structures were built: amphitheaters, triumphal arches, defensive fortifications, some of which have survived to this day. The oldest Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula was Tarraco (now Tarragona). In 45 B.C., Dictator of the Roman Republic Gaius Julius Caesar made it the center of the Roman province Hispania Citerior. This was the beginning of the city’s heyday, which became the center of religious and political gatherings, and later became the province of the emperors Augustus and Hadrian. 

The former greatness of the city is evidenced by the well-preserved monuments of the Roman era. In terms of their number and degree of preservation, Tarragona is not inferior to many cities in modern Italy. In 2000, the ancient Roman ruins in Tarragona were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

 Materials provided by Estudi d’Arquitectura Toni Gironès
Photo: © Fernando Alda Fotografia

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