Tarragona - Taragona (English spelling)

Japanese: タラゴナ - たらごな（英語表記）Tarragona

The capital of Tarragona province in the Catalonia region in northeastern Spain. Population 113,129 (2001). Facing the Mediterranean Sea, it is located at the foot of a 70m-high limestone hill. Known as Tarraco since Roman times, it became the capital of the Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis in 27 BC during the reign of Emperor Augustus, and flourished as the leading port city in the Roman world during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Christianity was introduced to the city early on, but it was invaded by Muslims in the 8th century. Reflecting the city's history, it is rich in Roman ruins, including the city walls, the Arch of Bala, and an aqueduct. It also has a famous archaeological museum. It is the seat of the archbishopric, and has a cathedral from the 12th and 13th centuries. Economic activities include agricultural product trading, wine production, textile and chemical industries, and tourism, and wine, tobacco, and fruit are exported from the port.

[Yutaka Tanabe and Yumiko Takizawa]

World Heritage Registration

In 2000, the many remaining Roman ruins were registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as "Archaeological Ensemble of Tarragona" (World Cultural Heritage).

[Editorial Department]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

スペイン北東部、カタルーニャ地方タラゴナ県の県都。人口11万3129（2001）。地中海に面し、標高70メートルの石灰岩の丘陵斜面とその麓(ふもと)に位置する。ローマ時代からタラコTarracoの名で知られ、アウグストゥス帝時代の紀元前27年にはローマの属州ヒスパニア・タラコネンシスHispania Tarraconensisの首都となり、ハドリアヌス帝時代にはローマ世界随一の港町として繁栄した。早くからキリスト教がもたらされたが、8世紀にはイスラム教徒の侵入を受けた。町の歴史を反映してローマ時代の遺跡に富み、城壁、バラーの凱旋(がいせん)門、水道橋などが残る。また考古学博物館は有名。大司教座所在地で、12～13世紀の大聖堂がある。農産物取引、ぶどう酒製造、織物・化学工業、観光業などの経済活動があるほか、港からぶどう酒、たばこ、果物などが輸出される。

［田辺　裕・滝沢由美子］