Early-Christian Museum and Necropolis

Museu i Necròpolis Paleocristians

The beliefs, rituals, ceremonies and customs surrounding death in Roman times are the main subjects developed in the Early Christian Necropolis archaeological complex through the Interpretation Center and the archaeological remains preserved in situ.

The Early Christian Necropolis of Tarragona is located on a site bordered by Ramón y Cajal and Independència Avenues, the former Tobacco Factory (La Tabacalera) and Cardenal Vidal i Barraquer Avenue.

When land was being prepared for construction of the new Tobacco Factory in 1923 it soon became clear that the site contained archaeological remains of considerable interest. Until the beginning of 1924, the excavations were carried out by the Institut d’Estudis Catalans Excavations Service, under the direction of Josep Colomines and Josep Puig i Cadafalch. After that they were supervised by engineers from the factory and from 1926 to 1933 by Monsignor Serra i Vilaró, whose findings were published in various reports. Joan Serra i Vilaró’s excavations revealed an extensive burial site (the so-called Early Christian Necropolis) dating from the 3rd to the 5th centuries AD, as well as a series of structures and buildings corresponding to different phases and uses.

The entrance price includes the Early-Christian Museum and Necropolis and the Archaeological Museum.