El Foro de la Colonia (The Forum of the Colony), Tarragona

The Forum of the Colony served as the hub for Tarraco's primary commercial, administrative, recreational, and social activities. Distinguished from other Roman cities, Tarragona's forum deviated from the typical intersection of the cardo and the decumanus, finding its place in the lower part of the city.

Positioned within the residential zone, adjacent to the walls, and atop a hill providing excellent visibility of the port, this forum, dating back to the first half of the 1st century BC, held paramount importance. It functioned as the administrative center for the local government of the colony, served as a religious and social focal point, and operated as a public market accessible to all city inhabitants.

Comprising a spacious square with public edifices, temples, a basilica, the curia, commercial establishments, and statues honoring prominent figures of Rome and Tarraco, the forum offers a glimpse into the city's vibrant past. Notably, a visit to the forum reveals that the contemporary streets surrounding the Roman remnants are situated at a lower elevation than the monument. These streets, resembling trenches, were established in the early 20th century.

The varying topography of Tarraco underscores the city's evolution, with some areas existing at a lower level than the ancient Roman city due to shifts in relief over time.