Tarragona - Cyclopean Walls

(Local Name: Murallas Ciclópeas) From the north end of the Rambla Vella the Vía del Imperio runs east to the Puerta del Rosario (Catalan Portal de Roser), which dates from the sixth or fifth century B.C. This is the starting-point of the Paseo Arqueológico round the massive ancient cyclopean walls enclosing the highest part of the town, which are preserved almost without interruption for a length of 1,000m/1,100yd, standing to heights of between 3m/10ft and 10m/35ft. The lower part of the walls - the remains of the Iberian town walls of the sixth century B.C. - is built of huge irregularly shaped blocks up to 4m/13ft long. Above this lie the Roman walls, built by the Scipios from 218 B.C. onwards; native workmen were employed in the construction, and many of the stones bear Iberian masons' marks. Higher still are the remains of the Augustan walls. The six surviving gates all date from the earliest period.

West of the Puerta del Rosario is a section of Moorish wall, built with blocks of rammed earth.