A. HISTORICAL EVOLUTION
1. NAME CHANGES
The Roman Circus built at the end of the I century AD in the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian was based where we now find Fountain Square and was part of the big provintial monumental area. Everything seems to point out that during the V century the building lost, at least parcially, its original function, and many of the vaults of the Circus where used as housing.
After the Muslim period, once the city was taken over by the Christians in the
XII century, the Circus was not any more part of the city due to its reduction
in extension, the 12th century walls closed the city between the circus and
the provintial forum. At the beginning of th 13th century the Circus was known
as “El Corral” (The Yard). The chronicler Pons d’Icart tells
us that in 1212 king Pere d’Aragó ( Peter of Aragon) gave a piece
of land to Bernad de Borreda and to his son Oto, to built houses or buildings
of different category. It was an open yard where in the first years of the Christian
Restoration in Tarragona theatre plays where perfomed and it went on like that
during the Low Middle Age, taking place in it not only plays but tournaments,
games and dances or balls organized by guilts and also commercial activities
and fairs.
In 1368, following the instructions given by the Crown, the city began the tasks
of maintenance and reinforcement of the walls by building “La Muralleta”
or “Mur Nou” (“The Little Wall” or “ The New Wall”)
where the facade of the Circus was.In this way “El Corral”, the
old Roman Circus, was enclosed or incircled inside the city.
The square was called “El Corral” until the 16th century but in
the second part of it we find documents where it is called Plaça de St.
Francesc (Saint Franciscus Square), because the convent of the Franciscans was
based in it, exactly where we now find the Town Hall. Afterwards it was also
called Plaça de Sant Fructuós ( Saint Fructuós Square),
taking the name from St. Fructuós Chapelle that was situated at the end
of the square, although in many documents it was still named Plaça de
St. Francesc.
From 1696 it was called “ St. Domènec (Saint Dominic) and also
“Roser” (Rosary). The change of the name was due to the fact that
the franciscans moved to another part of the city and their convent was occupied
by the dominicans.
During the constitutional three-year period from 1820 to 1823 it was called Plaça del General Lacy (General Lacy Square), after a brilliant general who took part in the independence war against Napoleon’s troops.
Map of Tarragona in1769
After the three-year period it was called Plaça de la Font (Fountain Square) .
On 25th August 1836, it changed its name again and it was called “Plaça
de la Constitució” (Constitution Square) to commemorate its promulgation.
In 1873 with the 1st Republic it was called Plaça de la República
General Federal (General Federal Republic).
In 1932 it took again the name of Plaça de la Font ( Fountain Square).
During the Civil War it was called Plaça Roja (Red Square) but it was
changed in 1939 when General Franco’s troops occupied the city and then
it was Known as Plaza José Antonio (José Antonio Square).
Once Franco’s dictatorship was over the name of Plaça de la Font
(Fountain Square was recuperated). The name in fact comes from a well that was
built in 1363 in the square itself to solve the water supply problems the city
had.Together with the well , a fountain was built to provide the neighbourhood
with drinking water.Nowadays the well is closed, but a fountain is still kept,
though it is a different one and its situation or position in the square is
not the original one.
Fountain Square in 2004
2. POLITICAL LIFE
Along the times Tarragona has participated and also been the witness of several political events that have affected Catalonia, Spain and even Europe. The differnt events have been described in documents and books and immortalized in photographs. This material allows us to study and know our own history, that in many occasions is very similar to that of other European countries.
During the period from the last decade of the 15th century up until the French Revolution there were three armed conflicts that affected in great manner the life of the city:
In the 19th century with the arrival of the Liberal Government, Mendizabal’s confiscation took place and it meant the seizure of the church properties that passed to the state; it was then when St.Dominic convent became Tarragona Town Hall.
During the 20th century there were many political and social changes in the
Country that had a great influence in local life. They were:
Independence War and Plaça de la Font
Obelisk made in war martyr’s honour in June 1864 to commemorate the victims died in the Independence War.
Monument to the fallen in the Independence War
The Second Republic 1931-1936
With the commemoration of the II Republic the Plaça de la Font came
to be named Plaça de la República
The Town Hall facade, that shows the II Republic ages
The dictatorship: Franco’s time and Plaça de la Font (from 1939 to 1975)
In Franco’s time the square was the meeting point for
demonstrations in his favour
Monolith made in papier- maché risen on 11th February 1939 to commemorate the entrance of Franco’s troops in Tarragona.
Open-air mass in 1940
Singing “Cara al sol “ (La Falange hymn) in Plaza José Antonio.
The Transition Period from 1975 to 1982.
The visit of the Spanish Monarchs to Tarragona on 19th February
1976 is reflected on these picture taken on the Plaça de la Font.
Juan Carlos I and Sofia de Grecia
The Democratic Regime
- Plurality of political parties, right to vote, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and association, etc.
Concentration against Irak’s War and against the warships in Tarragona’s harbour. 2004
- 25th anniversary of the constitution of the first democratic consistory.
Town councillors elected since the first council
elections till now.