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The Tarragona’s amphitheatre recreates, on the 5th and 6th of August, ‘A triumph in Rome’, the way military victories were celebrated in the capital of the Roman Empire
Pompa Triumphalis, ‘El triomf militar a Roma’. / ©Rafael López-Monné
We are set in the Rome of the 70dc, which is bursting with excitement by the news coming from the overseas. Titus Flavius Vespasian, the Emperor Vespasian’s son, has beaten, after seven years of war, the so-called revolt of the Jews. After this triumph, he devastates and plunders the second temple of Jerusalem, and in its place he installs the Legio X Fretensis headquarters. There is honour and money for the needing coffers of the Empire’s capital. With their work done, the accomplishment and the highest honours, Titus Flavius sails from Alexandria to Rome where his father prepares a godly welcome.
Those of you who will be in Tarragona’s amphitheatre on Friday the 5th or Saturday the 6th of August will be able to enjoy a live show related to the historical re-enactment of ‘A Triumph in Rome: The celebration of a military victory‘ which is going to be starred by local groups as Projecte Phoenix, Nemesis Arq and Thaleia accompanied by the principal research music group, the Italian Ludi Scaenici. ‘A triumph in Rome‘ is the main novelty and the highlight of this edition of Tarragona Living History.
But what was the Triumph about? The Triumph was the solemn arrival of a victorious general in Rome, who wanted the country to reward their efforts, recognize and prize their achievements. It is itself a religious festival, an official act of thanksgiving to the Maximum Optimal Jupiter winner, the patron of the city.
However, the survival of this triumph is still alive in our culture. Isn’t Barça’s parade a triumph, when it wins the Champions League? Even the popular procession of Santa Tecla’s festivities is an evolution of the Roman triumph.
Did you know that there is a documented list of triumphs, from the archaic age until the 19 BC?. This list, called fasti Triumphalis, was exposed to the travellers on one of the walls of the region (Maximum Pontiff’s home). The list is still being preserved today in the current Palace of the Conservatives at the Capitoline Museums of Rome.
Pompa Triumphalis, ‘El triomf militar a Roma’. / ©Rafael López-Monné
The triumphal parade (the pump):
What was it like, the triumphal pomp? Did it follow any guidelines at all?
On the day agreed by the Senate or the Emperor, the victorious general, who had been waiting (sometimes for months) at Campus Martius with his army, entered Rome which had been embellished with all the traditional ceremony’s elements. The parade began entering Rome by the so-called Triumphalis door, the position of which is unknown, but that would probably be the oldest door in the city. Then the procession continued to the Circus Flaminius, Boari Forum, the Circus Maximus, the Via Sacra, crossing the Roman Forum and ended up at the Capitol in front of the temple of Jupiter.
Every single spot in the city: the streets and squares, were decorated with garlands, the temples were open and all the platforms raised towards the sky, clambered by columns of incense.
Pompa Triumphalis, ‘El triomf militar a Roma’. / ©Rafael López-Monné
Pompa Triumphalis, ‘El triomf militar a Roma’. / ©Rafael López-Monné
Pompa Triumphalis, ‘El triomf militar a Roma’. / ©Rafael López-Monné
Pompa Triumphalis, ‘El triomf militar a Roma’. / ©Rafael López-Monné
Pompa Triumphalis, ‘El triomf militar a Roma’. / ©Rafael López-Monné
Pompa Triumphalis, ‘El triomf militar a Roma’. / ©Rafael López-Monné
The Delegation was headed by many senators and judges who were representing the Senate and Rome’s inhabitants, who thus followed a band of trumpets. Then, there came the wagons –carrying spoils and the booty taken from the enemy–. This demonstration of strength and power was accompanied by banners with a list of the cities and territories which had been conquered, followed by wreaths bearers and gold bidders offered to kings and peoples allies.
The following Command in the parade were the bulls and animals which had to be slaughtered. Bulls should be white or with a white spot on their heads. They wore golden horns and a triangle representing an eagle, the Jupiter’s symbol. And, after the animals, there were the enemy leaders and other prisoners who, once arrived at the Capitol, were executed the first ones, and sold as slaves the second ones.
Then there came the lictors with the fasces, the vase bearers, some ‘pebeters’ with their perfumes, and musicians, who preceded the car of the winner –drawn by four white horses–. This one was dressed up in palmate tunic (a purple tunic with golden palm patterns) and the toga picta (a golden geometric gown with stars). On their heads, they wore a laurel wreath (the symbol of Mars) on their left hands, they carried a branch of laurel, and on their right hands a sceptre with an eagle, the symbol of Jupiter. Their faces and hands were painted orange, after the colour of the original terracotta statue of Jupiter and the immortal’s colour. All this was known as the ‘’ornatus jovis’’ or as the ‘’ornatus triumpahlis’’; and once the pump was returned to the temple of Jupiter, it was safely kept.
The soldiers closed the pump with its distinctive decorations and laurel wreaths on their heads. The legionnaires went on shouting: Io triumphe! (Here the victory!).
Once the pump was over at the Capitol, the victor sacrificed the victims (bulls) and then a banquet was offered to their guests, one for the senators and magistrates, and another for their soldiers, friends and the inhabitants in general. While the festival initially lasted one day, to increase the spoils of the war, the victor could extend general celebrations.
The victory that will be recreated on the 5th and the 6th of August at Tarragona’s amphitheatre does not refer to anything in particular, although a large part has been taken from the Arc de Triomphe –built in honour to the emperor Titus for his victory over the Jews and the texts of Flavi Josep (“The Jews’ war”)–. Will you dare to miss it?
PROGRAM OF TARRAGONA HISTÒRIA VIVA
Programa 2016
Programa 2016
Text: Ivan Rodon (@irodon on Twitter)
Photography: Rafael López-Monné (@lopezmonne on Twitter)
Tarragona offers up to 10 beaches and coves with various services and a wide selection of water and sailings spots
Platja del Miracle / ©Rafael López Monné
Urban beaches, super-long almost-2-mile beaches packed with all that’s necessary to get into the water sport’s world, beaches surrounded by pinewoods that appear to enter the water, protected beaches due to their high natural importance, beaches crowned by castles (or walled villas), small and exclusive natural coves… Tarragona offers up to 10 beaches and coves scattered all across the 9 miles of coastline. These are beaches and coves that are part of Costa Daurada (Golden Coast) and that, as the very name suggests, provide users with the perfect combination of golden sand and crystal-clear waters with an easy access.
The 10 beaches and coves of Tarragona are connected and one can walk all across them using the coastal path, a route that starts at Miracle beach and go all the way past Tamarit beach, the very last one within the Tarragona area. Strolling along the coastal path, which can be done in stages, is to be recommended in spring, autumn and winter. Also in the summer, although high temperatures will definitely make for short stops so that we can get our feet wet in any of the various small coves and beaches we come across along our journey.
You can actually get to most of the Tarragona beaches and coves by car and, in 5 of them (Miracle, Arrabassada, Savinosa, Cala Romana and Llarga beach), by a specially-dedicated bus.
Next, find every single of the 10 beaches and coves of Tarragona, from the most urban, Miracle/La Comandància, to the remotest one, Tamarit beach.
Platja del Miracle / ©Rafael López Monné
1 Miracle/La Comandància
The most urban beach here, located by the city’s marina. It provides users with restaurants in one end, plus showers, disabled access, floating wheelchairs, toilets and bins, among other facilities. These are its main characteristics:
Length: 500 m
Width: 75 m
Sand: Regenerated
Sand cleaning: Sand cleaned daily
Access: Pg. Rafael Casanova / Robert d’Aguiló
Buses: http://emtanemambtu.cat
Red cross: YES (summer)
Emergency telephone: 112
Observations: Access by car – Passeig marítim Rafael Casanova
Platja Arrabassada / ©Rafael López Monné
2 L’Arrabassada
Located next to Miracle beach, it is connected to it through the Rafel de Casanova promenade. L’Arrabassada is suitable for water sports, and it has toilets, showers and supervised beach lockers. It does also provide disabled access and floating wheelchairs. Also, there are 3 beach bars along the beach, the ideal place to try the local seafood. It was awarded with the Blue Flag to quality. These are its main characteristics:
Length: 550 m
Width: 65 m
Sand: Fine
Sand cleaning: Sand cleaned daily
Access: Pg. Rafael Casanova / N-340
Buses: http://emtanemambtu.cat
Red cross: YES (summer)
Emergency telephone: 112
Observations: Access by car – N-340a, end of Via Augusta
Platja Savinosa / ©Rafael López Monné
3 La Savinosa
Located between L’Arrabassada and Capellans, find La Savinosa. Very near it, we can still find the old remains of an anti-tuberculosis prevention centre. Equipped with lockers, showers, toilets and bins, this is also a disabled access beach and offers floating wheelchairs with a well-deserved Blue Flag. This is an actual nudist beach. Here there are its main characteristics:
Length: 350 m
Width: 30 m
Sand: Fine
Sand cleaning: Sand cleaned daily
Access: N-340, km 1165-1166
Buses: http://emtanemambtu.cat
Red cross: YES (summer)
Emergency telephone: 112
Observations: Access by car – N-340a, Savinosa
Platja Capellans / ©Alberich Fotògrafs
4 Capellans
This is, by far, the smallest beach in the city, with 60 metres in length and 50 metres in width. In this case, this beach only has toilets, showers and bins. Main characteristics:
Length: 60 m
Width: 50 m
Sand: Fine
Sand cleaning: Sand cleaned daily
Access: N-340, km 1166-1167
Buses: http://emtanemambtu.cat
Red cross: YES (summer)
Emergency telephone: 112
Observations: Access by car – N-340a, Cala Romana
Platja Llarga / ©Rafael López Monné
5 Llarga
We said Capellans was the smallest beach; well, Llarga beach (literally, Long) is the largest in Tarragona, with almost 2 miles. As it is the most populated, it has the highest number of facilities, to which it adds to the ones we mentioned before, an umbrella rental service. It also has a natural area and the Platja Llarga sailing Club, which provides an easy way to get started in water sports, especially those related to sailing. As for its main characteristics:
Length: 3 000 m
Width: 30 m
Sand: Fine
Sand cleaning: Sand cleaned daily
Access: N-340, km 1167
Buses: http://emtanemambtu.cat
Red cross: YES (summer)
Emergency telephone: 112
Observations: Access by car – N-340a, residential area
Cala Fonda / ©Rafael López Monné
6 Cala Fonda
Cala Fonda, also known as Waikiki, is a small natural paradise. This nudist cove is surrounded by a green landscape that looks as if it’s about to enter the sea. Main characteristics:
Length: 200 m
Width: 25 m
Sand: Fine
Sand cleaning: Sand cleaned weekly
Access: From Platja Llarga, heading north; from Cala de la Roca Plana, heading south
Red cross: NO
Emergency telephone: 112
Observations: Access on foot – Bosc de la Marquesa
Cala Roca Plana / ©Rafael López Monné
7 Cala de la Roca Plana
Between Cala Fonda and La Móra, we find this small cove, which is usually frequented by nudists. Sand is to be found in the middle of this cove, whilst rocks appear on both ends, which area ideal for snorkel. Here are the main characteristics:
Length: 205 m
Width: 26 m
Sand: Fine
Sand cleaning: Sand cleaned weekly
Access: From Cala Fonda, heading north / From Platja de la Móra, heading south
Red cross: NO
Emergency telephone: 112
Observations: Access on foot – Bosc de la Marquesa
Platja de La Móra / ©Rafael López Monné
8 La Móra
Driving out from Tarragona and towards Altafulla, we find the La Móra neighbourhood and beach, which is very similar to L’Arrabassada beach in terms of its dimensions. Packed with services, La Móra beach provides users with a wide selection of water sports, such as kayaking, thanks to guided tours to the rest of local beaches. It also has a Blue Flag, excellent food, umbrella rental service and a natural area, besides disabled access and floating wheelchairs. As for its main characteristics:
Length: 520 m
Width: 65 m
Sand: Fine
Sand cleaning: Sand cleaned daily by hand
Access: N-340 La Móra housing development
Buses: http://emtanemambtu.cat
Red cross: YES (summer)
Emergency telephone: 112
Observations: Access by car – N-340a, Urb. La Móra
Cala Jovera / ©Rafael López-Monné
9 Cala Jovera
Our last 2 bathing suggestions, a beach and a cove, are to be found in Tamarit, by the impressive castle. The first one, Cala Jovera, is a small cove with less than 90 metres. There’s hardly any facilities here, due to its reduced dimensions, but can easy swim to Tamarit where there’s a lot to choose from. Characteristics:
Length: 90 m
Width: 20 m
Sand: Fine
Sand cleaning: Sand cleaned daily by hand
Access: From Platja de la Móra, heading north; from Platja de Tamarit, heading south.
Buses: http://emtanemambtu.cat
Red cross: NO
Emergency telephone: 112
Observations: Access by car – Tamarit Castle route
Platja de Tamarit / ©Alberich Fotògrafs
10 Tamarit
And so we made it to the very last, but not least, Tarragona beach, the furthest from city centre. Tamarit beach is located by the castle, near the Tamarit Park campsite: sailing, bike rental, restaurants and cafes, water sports… Tamarit beach is very well equipped in terms of the services it provides, and it has disable access and floating wheelchairs, besides a Blue Flag. Characteristics:
Length: 1.750 m
Width: 45 m
Sand: Fine
Sand cleaning: Sand cleaned daily by hand
Access: N-340 Tamarit Exit
Buses: http://emtanemambtu.cat
Red cross: YES (summer)
Emergency telephone: 112
Observations: Access by car – Tamarit Castle route, access via Altafulla beach
Text: Ivan Rodon (@irodon on Twitter)
Translate: Artur Santos (@artur_1983 on Twitter)
Photography: Rafael López-Monné (@lopezmonne on Twitter)
The “Tarragona, Ciutat de Castells” project is back: the perfect way to get to know castells from the inside out
Xiquets de Tarragona / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Do you like castells? Would you like to know how a castells colla (group) is set? How about taking part on a guided tour that would take you round the main castells sceneries in Tarragona from the very origin? A brand new edition of the “Tarragona, Ciutat de Castells” festival is back –until 2 October, when “Concurs de Castells de Tarragona” competition (aka “Biennal de Castells”) takes place–. This a pioneering idea born back in 2013 with the intention of getting the city known on an international level –making the world of castells more accessible to those citizens and tourists not belonging to a local colla–, but also capitalizing one of the main cultural and tradition-related appeals of our country: castells, declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Castellers de Sant Pere i Sant Pau / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
The 2 most successful activities –performances on Wednesdays and guided tours into the colles’ premises– will once again become the main attraction of this 2016 official programme. Thus, on every Wednesday of July, August and September, users will have the opportunity to admire single performances by the 4 main local colles: Xiquets de Tarragona, Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona, Xiquets del Serrallo and Castellers de Sant Pere i Sant Pau. The events will take place at 20h, in Pla de la Seu or Plaça de les Cols, just opposite the Cathedral.
Assaig al local de la Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona. / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
In the same way, Tuesday evenings will provide those willing to know even more about this activity exciting guided tours into the premises of both Xiquets de Taragona and Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona during their rehearsal sessions, but also to the main castells-related spots in the city. All guided tours will start at 20h and will last 2 hours.
Xiquets del Serrallo. / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
“TARRAGONA CIUTAT DE CASTELLS” OFFICIAL PROGRAME
Text: Ivan Rodon (@irodon on Instagram)
Pictures: Pere Toda (@ptodaserra on Instagram)
Translation: Artur Santos (@artur_1983 on Twitter)
The “Tarragona Historia Viva” festival will be back, between 15 July and 3 September, with new features and two main shows in Tarraco’s Amphitheatre
El món de la prostitució a l’antiga Roma. / ©Rafael López-Monné
Do you see yourselves as one of the first Early Christians of Tarraco sneaking across the streets in Part Alta afraid to be discovered? Are you keen on finding out the way prostitution was structured back in the Roman period? Would you like to attend a supper and a medieval concert with music instruments of that time? And how about enjoying a history re-enactment event in the Amphitheatre of Tarraco about a military victory of the ancient Rome?… Between 15 July and 3 September, it’s time for a brand new edition of the Tarragona Historia Viva festival, which includes history re-enactment shows in some of the main local monuments declared as World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, such as the Amphitheatre, the Roman Circus, the walls or the Aqüeducte de les Ferreres. Of course, summertime in Tarragona is much more than superb weather, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, walking about or trying the best gastronomy; summertime in Tarragona will bring you back in time while learning about singular stories that will definitely move you.
Els secrets de la construcció del Pont del Diable. / ©Rafael López-Monné
For instance, you’ll get to know gladiators that would do anything for their own personal glory, or walk around with urban militias that would give their lives to protect the Tarragona of 1800, or get to see, with your own eyes, how the Roman Aqueduct was built.
Gladiadors disposats a donar-ho tot… / ©Rafael López-Monné
All the activities will be held on every Friday and Saturday evening, except for music concerts by Ludi Scaenici, one of the most established groups of the Tarraco Viva festival and, surely, the best specialists in sounds and music instruments from the Ancient Rome. Ludi will offer 2 concerts, on Thursday 4 and 11 August.
Els sons de l’antiga Roma, recuperats pels Ludi Scaenici. / ©Rafael López Monné
One of the other main local entities of the Roman world is the also Italian Instituto Ars Dimicandi. They will train those attending in the gladiatorial art, that is the fights, a very appealing and essential show that will certainly demystify everything we’ve seen in Hollywood movies. Ars Dimicandi will perform on 12, 13 and 14 August, on a show slightly different to the one they usually bring to Tarraco Viva. This will be the only foreign participation in the activities catalogue of the Tarragona Historia Viva festival, as most of its re-enactment groups are actually from Tarragona.
Gladiadors a l’amfiteatre de Tarraco. / ©Rafael López-Monné
In this sense, a particular shows deserves our special attention: a recreation of a military victory of the Ancient Rome, which will be held in the Amphitheatre of Tarraco, on 5 and 6 August. This show, which will gather the 3 local history re-enactment groups (Projecte Phoenix, Nemesis ARQ and Thaleia, with music by Ludi Scaenici) will become of the main attractions of this year’s edition. It is expected to gather up to 400 people in each one of the 2 sessions scheduled, becoming one of the main projects of a festival that will certainly move one step forward this year.
El triomf militar a Roma. / ©Rafael López Monné
El triomf militar a Roma. / ©Rafael López Monné
El triomf militar a Roma. / ©Rafael López Monné
El triomf militar a Roma. / ©Rafael López Monné
As for pricing, in all cases, it’s 12€ per show, apart from the Gastromusicae –the Medieval music and supper due on 2 and 3 September in Antic Ajuntament–, which will cost 25€. All activities of the Tarragona Historia Viva festival can be followed in both Catalan and Spanish, with English and French commentaries. Tickets, limited to the capacity of the shows, are already available and can be purchased at www.tarragonaturisme.cat/en, in any of the 3 Tarragona Turisme tourist offices (Antic Ajuntament, Rambla Nova and Camp de Mart), and in the very same show premises, 1 hour prior to every show’s start time.
Text: Ivan Rodon (@irodon on Twitter)
Translation: Artur Santos (@artur_1983 on Twitter)
Pictures: Rafael López-Monné (@lopezmonne on Twitter)
‘TARRAGONA HISTORIA VIVA’ PROGRAM
Programa 2016
Programa 2016
Between 28 June and 2 July, it’s time for the “Dinners under the Fireworks”; the perfect way to enjoy the best food and the International Fireworks Festival
Concurs Internacional de Focs Artificials ‘Ciutat de Tarragona’ / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
A sign summer’s almost here, besides the typical Saint John’s Eve festivals, is the “Ciutat de Tarragona” International Fireworks Festival –due between 28 June and 2 July–, which is celebrating this year its 27th edition. And with it, as usual, you can also enjoy the classic “Dinners under the Fireworks”, at Passeig de les Palmeres; the perfect way to enjoy an incredible evening while sitting outside, having the best dinner and admiring the fireworks competition with some privilege views.
The “Ciutat de Tarragona” International Fireworks Festival will welcome this year a foreign company, the Firevision International from China, and the national ones: Xaraiva (Ourense), Pirotècnia Valenciana (Valencia) and Valecea (Álava).
Schedule for the 4 fireworks performances is as follows:
Wednesday 29 June: Pirotècnia Xaraiva, from Albarellos-Monterrey (Ourense)
Thursday 30 June: Pirotècnia Valecea, from Berantevilla (Àlava)
Friday 1 July: Pirotècnia Valenciana, from Llanera de Ranes (València)
Saturday 2 July: Firevisión Internacional, from Hunan (Xina).
Sopars sota els focs 2016 / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Sopars sota els focs 2016 / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Sopars sota els focs 2016 / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
As for the “Dinners under the Fireworks”, these are due, as usual, the day before the fireworks; that is, on 28 June, and will be available until Saturday 2 July. Passeig de les Palmeres and Balcó del Mediterrani –the city’s main viewpoint– will become a great outdoors restaurant in which 7 restaurants of Part Alta of Tarragona will offer their creations: Arcs Restaurant, El Llagut, La Nova Taverna, Punt i a Part, Quim Quima, Racó de l’Abat and Sadoll Restaurant; overall, 35 different dishes at just 5€.
Tàrtar de tonyina amb vinagreta de verdures i perfum balsàmic (Restaurant ARCS) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Broquetes de llagostí, formatge i raïm amb gaspatxo de síndria (Restaurant ARCS) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Pa suec farcit de foie, pernil cuit, mezclum d’amanides i salsa suau de mostassa i iogurt (Restaurant ARCS) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Caneló cruixent de melós de bou amb reducció de vermut Miró amb bolets i blat fresc (Restaurant ARCS) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Coulant fred de xocolata negra amb compota de fruites vermelles i crema de vainilla (Restaurant ARCS) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Verat en escabetx, escalivada i oli d’alls (Restaurant Punt i a part) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Bomba de patata i sobrassada amb salsa de tomàquet especiada i all i oli (Restaurant Punt i a part) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Pop amb humus, verdures i pebre vermell de la Vera (Restaurant Punt i a part) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Pita de corder rostit amb salsa de mostassa i vermut Miró (Restaurant Punt i a part) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Mousse de fruita de la passió, xocolata blanca i maduixes al Chartreuse (Restaurant Punt i a part) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Ous estrellats amb encenalls de pernil (Restaurant Quim Quima) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Xurrasco de porc ibèric amb patata i mantega de fines herbes (Restaurant Quim Quima) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Natxos amb el nostre guacamole (Restaurant Quim Quima) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Nuggets de pollastre amb patates xips (Restaurant Quim Quima) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Tiramissù (Restaurant Quim Quima) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Foie-gras curat a la sal amb compota de poma i canyella (Restaurant Sadoll) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Wok de fideus amb pollastre i verdures a l’estil oriental (Restaurant Sadoll) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Hamburguesa de vedella amb ceba caramelitzada, ruca i xips (Restaurant Sadoll) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Mandonguilles amb sípia, toc de xocolata negra i vermut Miró (Restaurant Sadoll) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Gelée de maduixes amb crema de iogurt grec i cookies de xocolata (Restaurant Sadoll) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Arrossos mariners de la barca (Restaurant El Llagut) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Xai rostit amb patata emmascarada, herbes de marge i ifigues (Restaurant El Llagut) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Bonítol lacat sobre mosaic de verduretes amb un refregit oriental (Restaurant El Llagut) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Hot dog de lluç (Restaurant El Llagut) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Lingot de xocolata amb cireres marinades i sorbet de menta i vermut Miró (Restaurant El Llagut) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Tartar dos salmons, gingebre, ceba moscada, guacamole, sèsam negre i torradeta de llavors (Restaurant La nova taverna) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Musclos de roca a la marinera (Restaurant La nova taverna) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Wrap de rosbeef de vedella amb ceba caramelitzada, formatge fresc, vinagreta de mel i mostassa i canonges (Restaurant La nova taverna) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Carpaccio de vedella amb encenalls d’Idiazàbal i vinagreta de cirera amb reducció de vermut Miró (Restaurant La nova taverna) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Sacher 70% amb coulis de fruits vermells i sorbet (Restaurant La nova taverna) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Croquetes de rostit casolanes de la iaia Pepita (Restaurant Racó de l’Abat) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Llesca de Peñarrubia amb pernil ibèric i tomàquet (Restaurant Racó de l’Abat) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Daus de sípia Ondarrua amb patates d’allioli d’orenga (Restaurant Racó de l’Abat) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Fideus rossejats amb calamars i gambetes (Restaurant Racó de l’Abat) / ©Pere Toda-Vilaniu Comunicació
Prior to the dinner, and once the fireworks are finished, live music will also be part of the lounge area, for users to enjoy and –why not– dance.
See you at the Fireworks!
Text: Ivan Rodon (@irodon on Twitter)
Pictures: Pere Toda (@ptodaserra on Instagram)
Translation: Artur Santos (@artur_1983 on Twitter)
The 6th edition of the Minipop music festival kicks off with a multitude of family activities and a superb music line-up
Cartell del Festival Minipop
Ready for a brand new edition –the 6th!– of the Minipop music festival? The main festival in the country for the whole family kicks off this evening. And, as in previous editions, Minipop is packed with activities: cinema, theatre, dance, literature, a baby area, minicrafts, food and, above all, an excellent music line-up.
Local Spy Light will have the honour to open the great selection of concerts, today at 6pm, with a rock style that evokes music groups such as The Zeppelin, Emerson, Lake & Palmer or the white blues by The Doors. Judit Neddermann will take over and will introduce, with her incredible voice, her second album Un segon, in which she blends folk and pop music with her own lyrics and music. Friday will end, musically speaking, with Cola Jet Set, a music group that exemplifies the spirit of Minipop like no other. Their opening in Tarragona will work as the presentation of some of the songs from their latest album El fin del mundo.
Spy Light
Judit Neddermann
Cola Jet Set
Music on Saturday will start and end with the festival’s resident deejays, the Superpandas. Their responsibility will be to keep music temperature as high as possible, starting at 5.15pm and until late hours. Superpandas will be followed by Bremen, “the best-kept secret of the current scene”, according to Lluís Gavaldà, director of Minipop. Bremen, who will perform at 6pm, plays American-style pop music, and will introduce songs from their second work Tornar d’Amèrica. Next, it’s time for some Argentinian pop music by one of the most glittering and promising groups, Luciana Tagliapietra and the Chicas Nieve. From the hypnotic and sensual pop music by Tagliapietra we move to pop folk by Guillem Roma, who –around 8pm– will introduce a new songbook packed with social commitment lyrics. Last two concerts on Saturday are, probably, the most awaited ones. On one hand, people are looking forward to the new release by Joan Pons on the Minipop (who is also known as El petit de cal Eril), where he’ll be introducing his latest and anticipated album La força. As Lluís Gavaldà suggests, this is “folk, psychedelia and electricity, serving an absolutely impersonal and non-transferable sound universe”. And, as the perfect ending on Saturday, we find a familiar face in the festival, Ramon Rodríguez, also known as The New Raemon. This year, he promised to generously follow his songbook, with the addition of his latest album Oh Rompehielos.
Superpandas
Bremen
Luciana Tagliapietra
Guillem Roma
El Petit de cal Eril
The New Raemon
And if you thought this was the end of it, you’d be wrong. On Sunday, at around 12.30pm, don’t miss the tribute concert to David Bowie by Alex Torío and… Empar Moliner! It’s going to be good, really good!
Empar Moliner i Àlex Torío
But of course, Minipop is much more than a mere music festival. Yes, right, music is the main thing here and the reason of it all, but besides the above-mentioned music performances, you’ll get cinema, theatre, workshops, dance, a baby area, literature and a food area. Find all the necessary information at: http://minipop.cat/inici
Have a nice Minipop!
Text: Ivan Rodon (@irodon on Twitter)
Pictures: ©Minipop
Translation: Artur Santos (@artur_1983 on Twitter)
Andreu Muñoz, archaeologist and president of Associació Cultural Sant Fructuós: “Tarragona was once the early Christian’s landmark in Hispania”
Andreu Muñoz. / ©Rafael López-Monné
January 259 AD. Fructuosus, Bishop of Tarraco, and deacons Augurius and Eulogius are burned alive on a stake in the Amphitheatre. Roman Emperor, Valerian, has promulgated laws that allow for Christians to be persecuted, and the execution of their spiritual leaders is a true catastrophe for the community existing in Tarragona. However, the martyrdom of Fructuosus and other Christian significances of the same period will make this religion, which will soon officially embrace the whole Empire, rapidly spread. On top of the very same ground Fructuosus earned his Saint name would stand, in the 6th century, a martyrdom basilica that would gather pilgrims from all over Europe.
Tarragona, the city that, according to tradition, turned Saul of Tarsus into Paul the Apostle in the 1st century AD, was led to crisis little after the martyrdom of Fructuosus. Franks, a barbarian tribe, used the misrule of Rome to loot Tarraco just one year after. So much misfortune didn’t seem to weaken the faith of local Christians though. On the contrary; the importance of a number of archaeological findings, such as the extensive area of burials and early-Christian basilicas found nearby the river Francolí –added to the existence of historic news that highlight the key role of the Bishop of Tarraco against the rest of prelates of the Peninsula– leads us into thinking that “Tarragona was once the early Christian’s landmark in Hispania”, according to the archaeologist and biblical scholar Andreu Muñoz, president of the Associació Cultural Sant Fructuós.
Records of the martyrdom of Saint Fructuosus, which tell us everything from the moment the clerks were arrested until the moment of their glorification, became very popular in the 4th and 5th centuries. One of the fathers of the Church, Saint Augustine, wrote a sermon after them. And the poet Aurelius Prudentius Clemens, contemporary of Saint Augustine, mentions this very document in one of his poems. At the same time, Christian community and the new ecclesiastic power of Tarragona got bigger, while transforming the entire city. Some public buildings were abandoned, such as the Circus and the Theatre, and outside the walls the new great sepulchral and religious complex was taking shape, the same that in 1927, during the construction of a tobacco factory, exposed “the most important late-Roman epigraphic collection in the peninsula”, says Muñoz.
Both the Associació and Muñoz, who is an archaeologist at the Archbishopric and directs the Museu Bíblic Tarraconense, are also behind the route of the early Christians of Tarraco. This itinerary, focused on cultural and religious tourism, includes 7 monuments that refer to the progressive implementation of Christianity in the late-Roman society: Capella de Sant Pau, Cathedral and Museu Diocesà, Museu Bíblic, Amphitheatre, Fòrum de la Colònia, Basílica del Parc Central, Necròpolis Paleocristiana and Conjunt de Centcelles. There’s a brand new ticket available this year, and the target in the midterm is to create a Catalan route together with other cities with similar heritage and purposes, such as Terrassa, Barcelona, Lleida, Girona and Empúries.
“The idea is to work in order design joint actions that allow us to boost the early-Christian patrimony all around Catalonia. We intend to establish a patrimony map so that we can then offer it as a tourist and educational product with the support of Generalitat de Catalunya, and the various municipalities that are part of this patrimonial collection using Tarragona as the starting point”, says Muñoz. The project is supported by the universities of Barcelona, Rovira i Virgili and Girona.
“Catalonia doesn’t start in the Middle Ages. Tarragona has an exceptional late-Roman patrimony, a privileged duality set where classical and religious heritage meet. Early Christians were not sectarian people; they were Roman Christians. Their Roman way of living explains what we are now in part, but it has often been relegated to dissemination purposes due to laicism prejudices”. The route of the Early Christians pretends to mend the existing lack of knowledge. In a context where new generations have lost the ability to understand religious symbolism and iconography, “we’re obliged to spread the word of Early Christian heritage, not with catechesis purposes, but rather trying to answer a cultural need”, states Muñoz.
Someone that decisively contributed to renew the discourse of the Museu Bíblic (Biblical Museum) and added relics of great importance to it, such as a number of stretches of the wall of the administrative square of the old Tarraco –not that long ago, under a few layers of plaster–, became conscious of the importance of enlightening people by working as a teacher for 17 years in Lestonnac school. Muñoz is also a true supporter of the collaboration between institutions that are related to patrimony and archaeology as the only way of allowing knowledge to move forward.
His name is present in recent investigations about ancient patrimony that would not have been possible without his vision, generosity and teamwork capacity with a number of partners. This is the case with the probing and digging of the Cathedral’s central nave, which uncovered, just a few years ago, evidences of the historical temple dedicated to the cult of Augustus; or the most recent excavation in the tomb of Saint Fructuosus, which successfully combined the efforts of both the local government, the Archbishopric and the Institut Català d’Arqueologia Clàssica.
“Luckily, we’ve left behind the time when ancient and old were considered to be the same thing. The future of archaeology implies the sum of acquired knowledge and the capacity to spread the results by using a sort of language that can actually reach society. Science needs of great humility, open-minded people and the sum of talents from various disciplines. And only by applying this new mentality will we ever manage to submit Tarragona’s heritage to a constant reinterpretation”, finishes Muñoz.
Text: Oriol Margalef (@OhMargalef on Twitter)
Pictures: Rafael López-Monné (@lopezmonne on Twitter)
Translation: Artur Santos (@artur_1983 on Twitter)
Katsuyuki Takenaka, professor of Human Geography at Aichi University: “Tarraco Viva raises values that are universal”
Katsuyuki Takenaka / ©Rafael López-Monné
Doctor Katsuyuki Takenaka, professor of Human Geography at the Department of Foreign Studies at Aichi University, has flown over 13.000km in order to get from Japan to Tarragona and study the interaction model existing between citizens and historical heritage set by Tarraco Viva. Takenaka, who is undertaking an academic research paper, found “universal values represented in a very creative way” in the historical dissemination festival of Tarragona and was surprised about, not just the high level of commitment towards scientific rigour taken by the organisation, but also towards seduction and public engagement. “This is a model that should be taken into consideration in other parts of the world that have ever thought about revitalizing patrimony as collective memory and identity spaces”, says Takenaka.
Katsuyuki, Katsu among his friends, got his specialization by doing some research about the interaction existing between citizens and the physical environment they inhabit. Some years ago, he undertook a study in the Japanese embassy about interior migration in Spain, and it was then that he got to discover Catalonia, a territory he has visited a number of times ever since, specially the Tarragona area, to which he got hooked seven years ago. Experiences and lessons learnt on his trips, he says, have improved his scientific knowledge and allowed him to provide other cultural perspectives rather than the Japanese.
Katsu is not the typical Japanese tourist paying tribute to Gaudi’s brilliance as part of a group. He carries a camera, yes, but he travels alone, learns by himself, and speaks a faultless Catalan, consolidated by sticking his nose in Geography books in Japan and perfected during a stay in Vilafranca. This is not his first time in Tarragona and, if Tarraco Viva wasn’t held during university’s busiest time of the year, he’d manage to come back in future editions. “Tarragona is a city open to contrasts, a node with high capacity of integration. It was built throughout the centuries thanks to cultural fusion, with the harbour as a leverage effect in trade, and working as a meeting point for people from all over the Mediterranean area. Even today, there are many people that were born abroad, but still, the level of cohabitation and social balance is very high”, he states.
He is currently working on a study that will arise different action proposals to restore the use and citizen appreciation of Nagoya’s city canal, which was built a hundred years ago as an industrial transport of goods, but was closed some decades ago.
Katsuyuki got many new ideas in Tarragona. “I incorporate ideas about how people see their city, and how the different patrimonial spaces interact, not just with the personality of every individual, but also with how these end up creating a common identity”, explains. According to this academician, whose research project is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of Japan, “the only way to get an economic advantage from heritage is by making it valuable to those that live around it. Not doing it would lead to trivialisation and loss of interest”.
By means of historical dissemination –by publicly reinterpreting the events and lifestyle of the Romans in emblematic locations of the city– Tarraco Viva intends Heritage to become a driver for social wealth and cultural industry. The target is to complete a large virtuous circle: to generate new resources with this event, so that they can then be allocated to preserve monuments and promote Historical research and dissemination. “Catalan and Japanese people resemble in a way: we both love a job well done; and Tarraco Viva proves that point”, he ends.
Text: Oriol Margalef (@OhMargalef a Twitter).
Picture: Rafael López-Monné (@lopezmonne on Twitter)
Translation: Artur Santos (@artur_1983 on Twitter)
Tarragona Viva is back between 15 and 29 May with 436 events that tell us about history using dialogs
Poster Tarraco Viva 2016
“If history was told using dialogs, no one would ever forget it”, wrote the first English Noble Prize, Rudyard Kipling. Tarraco Viva Festival, which is based on this philosophy –telling history using a story–, opens this Sunday under the heading “Roma i Egipte, una fastinació mediterrània” (Rome and Egypt, a Mediterranean fascination). The director of the festival, Magí Seritjol, hints this year’s edition is a statement of intentions of what we can expect in the next years: “We’d like to present, not just the history of Ancient Rome, but the encounter of the two largest classic Mediterranean civilizations”.
Tarraco Viva offers, between 15 and 19 May, a time travel to takes us back to the Roman and Egyptian worlds. Overall, it’s 124 activities, which add up to 436 events, designed with educational purposes in mind. The Praetorium, Amphitheatre, Circus, Forum of the Colony and Walls, will home most of the programmed activities, despite the fact that, as usual, others will take place in towns such as Constantí, Altafulla, Cambrils, Falset or Porrera, to we add which Vila-rodona’s columbarium this year.
The opening ceremony, due on Sunday 15 May in the Sarcophagus room of the Roman Praetorium, will present a debate concerning the relationship existing between these two civilizations that happened to meet in time, with the intervention of several experts in the field: URV’s professor, Joaquín Ruiz de Arbulo; journalist, Enric Calpena; Barcelona Egypt Museum’s curator, Luis Manuel Gonzálvez; URV’s Greek Philosophy teacher, Jesús Carruesco, and the festival’s director, Magí Seritjol, as the debate’s moderator.
Gladiadors de l’Istituto Ars Dimicandi. / ©Manel R. Granell
Septimani Seniores. / ©Manel R. Granell
Among the different activities programmed, we can find a bit of everything: guided tours, open days to museums, workshops and games, lectures, school activities, audiovisual projections, dramatic readings, concerts, food tastings and successful historical re-enactments. Concerning the latter, there’s two new ones related to this edition’s tittle, whereas others will recreate funerary banquets, feminine prostitution in Rome, gourmets of the antiquity, or the celebrated Ars Dimicandi, with their gladiators shows, or the Ludi Scaenici, which will bring back the Ancient Rome’s music.
The festival will end on Sunday 29, at 6pm, with a spectacular event, due in the Sala August, Palau de Congressos in Tarragona, where users will have the chande to admire the re-enactment performance “Mirades d’Eternitat. Els retrats del Faium” (Eternity gazes. Faium’s portraits).
TARRACO VIVA FESTIVAL OFFICIAL PROGRAMME (SPANISH)
Text: Ivan Rodon (@irodon on Twitter)
Translation: Artur Santos (@artur_1983 on Twitter)
Pictures: ©Manel R. Granell