The origins of Tarraco can be traced back to a small Roman garrison left by the brothers Cnaeus and Publius Cornelius Scipio during the Second Punic War in 218 BC.
Tarraco was the main wintering base for the Roman armies in Hispania, which began a long and complex process of incorporation of the peninsular lands into the new political, cultural and economic order of the Roman Empire, where Tarraco ended up being the capital city of Hispania Citerior.
The city boasts a unique collection of Roman and medieval monuments. The archaeological site of Tarraco was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
In medieval times, the town developed on the site of the old Roman Provincial Forum and adapted to its unique urban layout. The pointed arch with voussoirs from the 22nd century in the courtyard of the casa mediONa is a good example of this.
In the second half of the 16th century, in the street of d'En Mediona there were already some large, honourable houses, which served as an inn for the “CORTEJO IMPERIAL” (IMPERIAL COURTESY). Because of this and because of the "Catalan blue ceramics" found during the renovation (dated between 1570 and 1670), we think that casa mediONa could have been part of one of these old inns.
To get to know the history of our city in depth, we recommend a nice guided tour with ITINERE TARRAGONA. You will find them next to the “Arc del Roser” (one of the accesses to the Roman wall).
