Tarragona Cathedral

The Tarragona Cathedral (Catedral de Santa Maria) is a Romanesque-Gothic cathedral in Tarragona, Catalonia, that serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Tarragona. Major construction took place between the 12th and 14th centuries.

The fabric of the building shows a Romanesque core with later Gothic additions; visitors commonly note the Gothic choir and the Romanesque cloister dating to the 12th and 13th centuries. Adjacent chapels contain medieval altarpieces and stonework typical of Catalan medieval art.

The cathedral complex includes a diocesan museum that displays medieval and Renaissance religious art and liturgical objects from the diocese. From the cathedral precinct visitors can also see nearby Roman remains, including parts of the ancient forum and amphitheatre, and enjoy views over the Mediterranean.

The cathedral was built on the site of the Roman forum and earlier Christian churches; construction and reworking spanned several centuries from the Romanesque period into the Gothic era. Over time it became the metropolitan church of the region and was modified and decorated across the Middle Ages and later restorations.

The cathedral stands on the highest point of Tarragona’s old town, close to the archaeological ensemble of Roman Tarragona and the seafront. Tarragona lies on the Costa Daurada, roughly an hour by road southwest of Barcelona.

• Construction period: Early construction phases date from the 12th century, with major Gothic additions through the 14th century; the site occupies the highest point of Tarragona's old town.
• Viewing point: Good panoramic views over the Mediterranean and nearby Roman ruins are available from the cathedral precinct, especially on the terrace above the apse.

What to See #

• Cloister: A Romanesque cloister built in the 12th and 13th centuries that retains original capitals and gallery architecture and is one of the cathedral's most visited features.
• Diocesan Museum: A diocesan museum adjacent to the cathedral that exhibits medieval and Renaissance religious art, liturgical objects and altarpieces from the region.
• Cathedral interior: The cathedral interior, where Romanesque structure and later Gothic elements are visible together, including a Gothic choir and multiple chapels developed between the 12th and 14th centuries.