Costa Dorada: History

The area of Costa Darada was discovered over 2000 years ago. According to chronicles at the time, in 218 BC Cornelius Scipio saw Salou and the Tarragona hills from a boat on the sea. The walls that protect Tarragona and the Costa Darado were built in the 3rd century BC, and were later reinforced and modified. A century later, The Amphitheatre near the coast was built and can seat 12,000 people; this amphitheatre also had gladiator and bull fighting events, while Old Tarragona also had its own circus and theatres. Much of Costa Dorada was made up of traditional fishing villages and agricultural towns and some still remain. Many of the fishing villages were located close to the coast on top of hills and mountains so they were safe from attack from pirates. As the tourist industry has grown during the 1990s, the area has become more built up and commercialised. Today, the rustic towns and villages compliment the modern, urban areas of Costa Darada.