Tarragona in the spotlight: Catalonia´s Roman-era gem stays calm amid storm
(The Guardian Spain)

Long overshadowed by Barcelona and `booze tourism´ in Salou, this relic-strewn beach town continues its ascent against a backdrop of independence controversyTarragona, a coastal city that was once an important Roman capital, is used to all the attention falling on Barcelona. But Catalonia´s quieter southern sister is suddenly in the public eye due to the independence vote, raising its voice despite never being known for a strong nationalist identity. According to the Catalan government, only 21% of Tarragona´s electorate took part in the referendum for independence that was held on 1 October, with a majority voting Yes. Local pro-independence politician Jordi Martí has argued that, were Barcelona to become a potential new state capital, it shouldn´t act as imperiously as Madrid has: `Decentralisation must also happen at a smaller level.` For now, as in the rest of the region, there remain a lot more questions than answers. Gladiators