Balcó del Mediterrani

The Balcó del Mediterrani, the Balcony of the Mediterranean, is the viewpoint at the end of the Rambla Nova, Tarragona's main avenue, where the old town on its hill meets the sea. The Rambla runs from the centre of the modern city down toward the coast, and at its end the ground drops away, offering a wide open view over the water. The spot is a natural lookout, with a railing running along the edge, and it has long been the favourite place for the people of Tarragona to stand, talk and watch the horizon. The name is traditionally attributed to the Spanish politician and writer Emilio Castelar, who is said to have called it the balcony of the Mediterranean on a visit in the nineteenth century, and the name stuck.

What you see from the balcony explains why the Romans chose this site for their provincial capital, Tarraco. Below the cliff lie the long sweep of the beach called the Miracle, the port and the line of the railway, and beyond them the open sea. To one side, the stones of the Roman amphitheatre, set into the slope above the beach, can be seen directly, and the view across the water stretches along the coast in both directions. On clear days, the light on the sea is a deep, bright blue, and the sunrise over the water is a popular sight. In the evening, the sky goes orange and pink behind the roofs of the old town.

The railing and the platform are part of the viewpoint's charm. The metalwork was made in the late nineteenth century and replaced an older wall that separated the fields from the sea, giving the place its formal, slightly theatrical look. The square is lined with palms and benches, and local people come to sit and watch the sea. Along the Rambla Nova, a lively avenue shaded by plane trees and lined with cafes, shops and modernist buildings, there are statues and monuments, and the Passeig de les Palmeres, a palm-lined walk, continues along the edge of the cliff.

Tarragona is famous for its castells, the human towers that Catalan teams build at festivals, and during major celebrations the Rambla is a stage for them. At other times, the balcony is a quiet place for reflection or a coffee stop. It is free and open at all hours.

The viewpoint is a short walk from the Roman Amphitheatre of Tarraco, the Roman Walls and Tarragona Cathedral, so it fits easily into a walking tour of the city. It suits everyone, and it is best at sunrise or sunset, when the light is gentle and the crowds are small.