'El Balcón del Mediterráneo' is at the end of Rambla Nova, the city’s artery which has been the axis of life in Tarragona since the end of the 19th century. One way of getting there is by simply walking through this wide avenue which starts in the centre. All of sudden, the modernist buildings open out, giving way to a clear view of the Mediterranean. Visitors should then go up to the iron railings which outline the edge of the ravine, breathe in the air and admire the view for a few minutes.

To the right you can make out the busy city harbour and the fishing area, El Serrallo, where you can find a good place for eating tapas. At the bottom, at a 40 metre drop, is Miracle beach. To the left, to one side of the beach, are the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre, which you can get to by taking the Paseo de las Palmeras, which begins from here.

Lucky iron 

Although the amphitheatre claims your immediate attention, you cannot abandon the 'Balcón del Mediterráneo' without fulfilling two rites. One is to admire the statue of admiral Roger de Llúria, captain of the Corona de Aragón navy, the work of Feliu Ferrer in 1886. The second is to touch the iron railings (ferro in Catalan), made by Joan Miquel Guinart, because it is said that this brings luck to whoever does it.

After meeting these requirements, you are free to go deeper into the traces of the Tarraco empire. If you are wondering where to start, you must visit the archaeology museum, included in the wall itself. There you can find the best information available about Roman Tarragona, and they organise routes with specialised guides.

The amphitheatre, a window to the past 

The star visit is the amphitheatre, which at one time held 14,000 spectators. When you walk around the stands and the gangways which have resisted the effects of time, you easily begin to wonder what the public at that time felt during the gladiator shows, fights with animals and even the martyrs of Christians. There are some ruins that draw your attention in the middle of the arena. They are not Roman, rather they are the remains of a Visigoth basilica and the Romanesque-gothic church of Santa Maria del Miracle.

Returning from the historical centre, you will need a pre-planned route so as not to miss anything: the walls and the Paseo Arqueológico (with the towers of Arquebisbe, Cabiscol and Minerva), the theatre, the community forum, the paleochristian necropolis, the cathedral, etc. You can also plan a trip to other significant remains of the Roman Empire in the Tarragona area, such as the Acueducto de les Ferreres aqueduct and the Pont del Diable (Devil’s bridge), the Torre de los Escipiones tower (which is actually a grave) and, a little further, the Roda de Bará arch, dedicated to the emperor Augustus.

So much historical tourism will give you an appetite and what better thing to do than to try the famous Tarragona fish, whether in a casserole, fried, grilled or in a tasty seafood paella. To try it, the followed restaurants are recommended: Barquet (Recommednded by the Repsol Guide) (tel.: 977 240 023) and Les Coques http://www.guiarepsol.com/Gastronomia/Restaurantes/FichaRestaurante.aspx?Guia=1&IdRestaurante=1531 (Recommended by the Repsol Guide) (tel.: 977 228 300). For designer cuisines, you can visit restaurante AQ (Awarded with 1 Repsol Sol).