Tarragona, city in northeastern Spain, capital and chief city of Tarragona Province, in Catalonia, a port on the Mediterranean Sea, at the mouth of the Francolí River. The most important industry is shipping; other industries include spinning and weaving of silk; felt and lace making; fishing; and the manufacture of paper, flour, and pharmaceutical products. The monks of the Grande Chartreuse established their liqueur distillery here in 1903, after being forced to leave France. The city's archaeological museum has an outstanding collection of domical Roman statues. The remains of a Roman amphitheater and fortress walls are in the city, and a two-tiered Roman aqueduct is nearby. The Romanesque cathedral, construction of which was begun in the 12th century, is famous for its Gothic facade.
Established in ancient times by the Iberians, Tarragona was conquered by the Romans, who developed it into one of their most important and splendid cities in the late 3rd century BC. The Moors razed the city in the 8th century AD. After a period of decline, Tarragona became important again in the 12th century. Population (1998 estimate) 112,795.
