Majestically sited on a rocky hill, sheer above the sea, TARRAGONA is an ancient place. Settled originally by Iberians and then Carthaginians, it was later used as the base for the Roman conquest of the peninsula, which began in 218 BC with Scipio's march south against Hannibal. The fortified city became an imperial resort and, under Augustus, Tarraco became capital of Rome's eastern Iberian province - the most elegant and cultured city of Roman Spain, boasting at its peak a quarter of a million inhabitants. Time spent in the handsome upper town quickly shows what attracted the emperors to the city: strategically and beautifully placed, it's a fine setting for some splendid Roman remains and a few excellent museums. There's an attractive medieval part, too, while the rocky coastline below conceals a couple of reasonable beaches. You can be here in an hour and a half from Barcelona, by bus or train, which makes it a reasonably lengthy day-trip. If you want to stay the night instead, book accommodation in advance, especially in July and August.