Tarragona Amphitheatre, Roman amphitheater in Tarragona, Spain
The Tarragona Amphitheatre is a Roman structure in Tarragona, Spain, built directly next to the Mediterranean Sea with views over the water. The oval design features stone rows arranged in multiple tiers that descend toward the central arena where public events once took place.
The site was built in the second century outside the city walls and hosted gladiator fights until these events ended in the fifth century. A Visigothic basilica was later raised on the ruins in the sixth century, followed by a Romanesque church in the twelfth century.
In 259 CE, Bishop Fructuosus and his deacons Augurius and Eulogius were martyred in the arena during the Christian persecutions under Emperor Valerian.
The site can be viewed from two observation points along Via William Bryant that provide a clear overview of the entire structure. Access is usually via paved paths leading to the preserved sections.
Bishop Fructuosus and his two deacons Augurius and Eulogius were executed in the arena in 259, making the site a significant memorial for Christians. Today the later church buildings on the grounds recall these events and the transformation of use over the centuries.
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