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Europe 2016: Tarragona
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The origins of Tarragona are unclear, but it has been suggested that it was the Phoenicians who established it first. Tarragona has had a turbulent history, changing hands many times over the centuries.

The Romans favoured it with many architectural monuments, including this amphitheatre close to the sea. Alas, much of what the Romans built was destroyed by having the stones removed to build other structures, including a sea wall to create a new harbour.
I was impressed by the Cathedral of Tarragona. It sits on a site which had once been a Roman Temple, a Visigothic Cathedral, and an Arab Mosque.
The main portal of the Cathdral.
That looks like someone's tomb, surrounded by frescoes.
Is that a cheerful St Michael slaying the Devil?
The Cathedral has a charming cloister.
Symbols of the Gospel writers surround the Christ figure in this Romanesque tympanum in the cloister of the Cathedral.
Cute love fish in a pond in the cloister.
Large sections of the old Roman walls remain intact.
Cacti thrive in this environment.
The Roman walls surrounded the old city. I was amused to see that later dwellers were happy to use the solid foundations of these ancient walls to build their homes upon them.
"Clean your windshields, Sir?"

Tarragona does a thriving business repairing and maintaining the mega-yatchs of the rich.
This Church is in the port area, next to the old Fishermen's Quarter.