5 essential museums · UNESCO Heritage
Museums of Tarragona
From Spain's finest Roman archaeological museum to the most important Flemish medieval tapestries in the Peninsula. Unique art and archaeology, all within one kilometre.
Ancient Tarraco was the capital of the northern half of Hispania. What remains would fill ten museums. And it's all here.
Nowhere else in Spain can you see, in a single day, 2nd-century Roman mosaics, 15th-century Flemish tapestries, Catalan Modernista art and descend into the vaults of a 1st-century Roman circus that still lies beneath the current city. Tarragona is unmatched in this regard.
National Archaeological Museum (MNAT)
Spain's finest Roman museum
Spain's reference museum for Roman archaeology. It holds over 1,000 pieces from ancient Tarraco, capital of Hispania Citerior: the Fish Mosaic (2nd century AD — the most complete marine representation in the Roman world, with over 100 identified species), the Medusa Mosaic (3rd century AD), imperial sculptures, epigraphy, everyday objects, ceramics and pieces from the Palaeochristian Necropolis.
Don't miss: The Fish Mosaic: a Roman marine encyclopaedia with 100 species. A unique masterpiece in the world.
Museum of the History of Tarragona (MHT)
5 archaeological sites with 1 ticket · Pass €15
This is not a conventional museum: it is five archaeological sites visitable in their original settings. The joint pass (€15) gives access to the Roman Amphitheatre (2nd c. AD), the Praetorium and Roman Circus (1st c. AD), the Colonial Forum (1st c. BC), the Palaeochristian Necropolis (3rd–5th c. AD) and the Roman Villa of Centcelles. The most immersive way to experience the Roman past.
Don't miss: The underground Roman Circus beneath Plaça del Rei. The vaults that supported the circus stands are among the most impressive Roman structures in Europe.
Diocesan Museum (MDT)
Unique 15th–16th century Flemish tapestries · Oldest museum in Catalonia
The oldest museum in Catalonia (founded 1914), located in the cloister and ground floor of the Cathedral of Santa Tecla. It preserves 15th–16th century Flemish tapestries unique on the Iberian Peninsula, top-quality Romanesque and Gothic sculptures, medieval liturgical silverware, paintings and documents of the Tarragona archdiocese.
Don't miss: The 15th-century Flemish tapestries. The complete Life of the Apostles series is a masterpiece that no museum in Madrid or Barcelona can match.
Museum of Modern Art (MAMT)
Catalan art 19th–20th c. · Completely free entry
Collection of 19th and 20th-century Catalan art with special focus on Modernisme, Noucentisme and the avant-garde. The building — an 18th-century palace — is itself an architectural gem. Temporary exhibitions of local and international contemporary artists, many of high quality. The only modern art museum in Tarragona.
Don't miss: The Catalan Modernisme room with works by Tarragona sculptors and painters. Temporary exhibitions on the ground floor are usually of great quality.
Casa Castellarnau
Built over 1st-century Roman remains · Renaissance courtyard
One of the finest and best-preserved mansions in Tarragona, built in the 15th century over 1st-century Roman structures and expanded in the 18th century with Baroque renovations. Original furniture, paintings and objects of the Catalan aristocracy. The most surprising feature: in the basement, the remains of the original Roman street with its 1st-century AD paving, intact beneath the house, are visible.
Don't miss: The Renaissance courtyard and the remains of the 1st-century Roman street in the basement. Seeing layers of history superimposed in one building is unique.
Themed routes
Depending on your interests and time available, combine the museums differently.
Archaeological Route · Living Rome
4–5 hours- ▸MNAT (Roman mosaics · 1.5h)
- ▸Roman Amphitheatre (MHT · 45 min)
- ▸Roman Circus and Praetorium (MHT · 1h)
- ▸Casa Castellarnau (MHT · 45 min)
- ▸Colonial Forum (MHT · 30 min)
Medieval Route · Faith and Art
2–3 hours- ▸Cathedral of Santa Tecla (1h)
- ▸Diocesan Museum (Flemish tapestries · 45 min)
- ▸Casa Castellarnau (15th-c. mansion · 45 min)
- ▸Walls and Roman tower (walk · 20 min)
Art Route · Almost Free
2 hours- ▸MAMT: Catalan modern art (FREE · 1h)
- ▸Art galleries of the Part Alta (FREE · 30 min)
- ▸Palaeochristian Necropolis (free on last Tuesday of month)
- ▸Amphitheatre (free on last Tuesday of month)
Family Route with Kids
3 hours- ▸Roman Amphitheatre: gladiators and sea views (1h)
- ▸Roman Circus: chariot races beneath the city (45 min)
- ▸MAMT: free entry, accessible and enjoyable (30 min)
- ▸City Walls: walk with panoramic views (30 min)
Full day