Tarragona, formerly known as Tarraco, fascinates visitors not only for its imposing amphitheatre overlooking the Mediterranean and its medieval old town. Its true grandeur is, quite literally, hidden beneath our feet.
The city’s subsoil is a historical labyrinth that holds ancient vestiges of Roman splendour, constituting a heritage as vast as that which stands above ground.
For those passionate about history and archaeology who come to the city, comfort is essential. Ensuring an efficient Transfer from Barcelona Airport to Tarragona allows visitors to immediately immerse themselves in the city’s rich past, without wasting time on travel arrangements.
Get ready to descend and uncover the secrets that make Tarragona a living testimony to its ancient history. With Shuttle2Sun‘s low-cost and sustainable shared transfer services and private transfer services, you can travel to Tarragona and Costa Dorada from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Reus Airport, Girona Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
The Urban Cave of Tarragona
The Urban Cave of Tarragona (Cova Urbana) is one of the most intriguing discoveries beneath the city. Discovered in 1996 during construction work on Carrer Gasòmetre, it is a complex underground system that intertwines Roman history with natural formations.
The core of the find is a series of Roman underground galleries, excavated more than 2,000 years ago, possibly created for drainage or water extraction. These galleries connect to natural cavities and wells that have remained hidden for centuries. A visit to the Urban Cave offers an urban caving experience, distinguishing it from a traditional archaeological tour.
A caving adventure for the more daring
The adventure, led by experts, lasts approximately 3 hours and begins on Carrer Gasòmetre, accessed via an underground car park. The route is demanding and requires physical preparation, as it involves descending through a small well, wading through water-covered rooms, crossing narrow passages, and, in the final section, using ropes and handrails to overcome obstacles.
Visitors must be equipped with wetsuits and helmets with lights, which underlines the exploratory and challenging nature of this immersion in the hidden history of Tarragona.
The early Christian complex of Francolí
The Francolí sector, just outside the ancient Roman city and beneath the current Parc Central shopping centre, is one of the most important sites for understanding the origins of Christianity in Tarraco: the Early Christian Complex of Francolí. This site is part of a large funerary complex that also includes the extensive early Christian necropolis.
Dating back to the second half of the 4th century and in use until the 5th century, this complex consists of six buildings and is dominated by a funerary basilica with an atrium. Access is free during the centre’s opening hours, allowing visitors to view the foundations of this structure, which is essential for understanding the heritage of early Christian Tarragona.
Remember that with Shuttle2Sun‘s low-cost and sustainable shared transfer services and private transfer services, you can travel to Tarragona from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Reus Airport, Girona Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
The Civil War shelters
The importance of Tarragona’s underground is not limited to the Roman era. During the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the vast network of galleries, cellars, and ancient tunnels was quickly adapted for a vital purpose: survival.
The need to protect the civilian population from air raids led the city to excavate and equip numerous air-raid shelters, creating a hidden network that forms a fundamental part of Tarragona’s historical memory.
Air raids and the need for shelter
Due to its strategic port position and military and industrial importance, Tarragona was a recurring target of Franco’s air force and, primarily, the Italian fascist air force. The city suffered more than a hundred air raids throughout the conflict, causing great devastation and a significant number of civilian casualties.
The air-raid shelter on Carrer de les Coques
Of this entire underground protection network, the air-raid shelter at the Museu Bíblic Tarraconense (located in the former Casa dels Concilis, on Carrer de les Coques) is one of the most unique spaces that can be visited.
This shelter was not only used between 1937 and 1939, but also has the added value of utilising and showcasing previous historical structures.
The shelter is structured on two levels and reaches a maximum depth of about 10 metres below street level. What makes it exceptional is that it is integrated into the Tarracrópolis space, where visitors can see how the Civil War galleries and tunnels were excavated through Roman, medieval, and modern structures of the Imperial Cult Enclosure.
Other shelters hidden throughout the city
Tarragona’s passive defence network was much more extensive, covering numerous strategic points in the city. The municipal archives preserve the plans and documents that attest to the massive construction of these protective structures. Among the documented shelters is the one in Plaça de la Font, a clear example of those built under important buildings in this square, including the former Provincial Council building.
Extensive shelters were also set up to protect the population and workers in the areas most affected by air raids, such as the Serrallo Maritime District. As well as those in Carrer Apodaca, Carrer August and Parc de Saavedra, which had large-capacity public shelters, many of them dug to a considerable depth to ensure maximum safety during the bombings.
Exploring underground Tarragona is to embark on a fascinating journey through tunnels, vaults and galleries that have been part of the capital throughout history. Don’t think twice and book your transfer from Barcelona Airport to Tarragona today. Shuttle2Sun offers low-cost and sustainable shared transfer services and private transfer services from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Reus Airport, Girona Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
