Description:
The Roman city of Tarraco was the capital of the Province of Hispania Citerior and a major Mediterranean port. It had all the usual public buildings, including a circus. The city declined during the Visigothic period, and virtually ceased to exist during the Moorish occupation. After the reconquest a mediaeval city gradually grew up inside the Roman Republican walls, and many of the buildings of this period made use of foundations or materials of their Roman predecessors. The restoration project of the circus included the restoration of the mediaeval wall and a late mediaeval tower outside the end wall of the circus. A cut was made through the mediaeval wall, in order to recover the original Roman access to the circus. The original staircase was rebuilt in marble, making absolutely clear which elements are original and which rebuilt. The vaults sustaining the seats have been restored and a new floor installed. Beside the circus in the former Praetorium, a Roman Museum is now installed, and direct access will be possible to this from the circus.