Tarragona

Two thousand years ago Barcelona was a mere pup compared to Colonia Iulia Urbs Triumphalis Tarraco, the proud capital of the Roman province of 'Nearer Spain', or Hispania Citerior. History has since taken Tarragona down a peg, but left it a gracious city of palms and well-worn ruins, set on a natural 320 ft rampart over the sea.

Start on the Balcó del Mediterrani, with its cool sea breezes and statue of Roger de Llauria, who conquered Sicily for the crown of Aragón. Just behind begin Tarragona’s main promenades, the Rambla Vella and the parallel Rambla Nova, both decorated with Modernista buildings.

Just behind the Balcó, north of the Rambla Vella, you can climb over the southern curve of the Roman Circus. Far as they were from the finish line, these weren’t really the cheap seats (and the curve seats would overlook most of the spectacular chariot crashes). Domitian, that most sporting of emperors, built the Circus in the 1st century AD.

Praetorium