Discover the paleochristian heritage of Tarragona exploring this route

Tarragona is one of the richest Hispanic cities in terms of paleochristian material culture. Tradition links the arrival of Christianity to the missionary actions of the Apostle Paul, but the first historical mention of Christianity in the city dates to the year 259, in which the bishop of Tarraco, Fructuosus, and his deacons Augurius and Eulogius were burned alive in the amphitheatre during the persecution of Christians waged by the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus.

In the late Roman era, the Church in Tarragona became the metropolitan see of the province of Tarraco and played an active role in many provincial councils, with some of its bishops holding powers of primacy on behalf of the Pope (Bishop of Rome) for the Hispanic provinces.

The documental, artistic and archaeological paleochristian heritage that has survived in Tarragona is, as a whole, the most notable on the entire Iberian Peninsula.The city and its Diocesan Church invite you to come and discover its magnificent heritage and to follow in the footsteps of our martyrs by means of this route.