Bolonia Beach: a dune & a Roman city by the sea

Near Tarifa, at the heart of the pretty Costa de la Luz, where the Atlantic forms a gulf, exists a beautiful beach: Bolonia (not to be confused with the Italian city!). Bolonia Beach is very wide, with places for all tastes. The most accessible side is excellent for families and has a great asset: a whole Roman city by the sea, an amazing sight for the eye, with its white columns and palm trees. However, if you dare to walk a bit further, a big surprise awaits you: an immaculate dune towering over the seaside, ready to be climbed. Have I caught your attention? Keep reading to learn more about the incredible Bolonia Beach, a dune and a Roman city by the sea!

The dune & the pristine waters of Bolonia Beach

Once you get to the main entrance, a narrow path goes to your right. Follow it, be patient and get to the bottom of it. The reward for your effort is a spotless, single dune. It was declared a natural monument in 2001. This huge mountain of sand has a natural origin, and it changes every day, constantly moving along with the wind. 

Bolonia Beach, Tarifa

Playa de Bolonia, 11391 Tarifa, Cádiz, España

Do not hesitate to climb to admire the amazing view from the top. Then, there are two fun ways to go down: you can either surf it or run it. If you did not bring a surfboard, I advise you to do the second and have someone film it. I still have sand in my mouth from that day. 

Once at the bottom, go shake off the sand into the sea. The water is very clear and ideal if you want to do some snorkelling around the rocks.

Baelo Claudia, a pretty Roman city by the sea

I have been to many, many Roman cities, and I can say without any doubt that this one is quite unique. With the sea of Bolonia Beach as a privileged backdrop, the palm trees growing their way to the sky between ancient walls and white columns are quite the sight. It used to be a trendy spot, already three thousand years ago with the Phoenicians, and later on for the Romans. The reason was the production of garum, a sauce used as a substitute for salt that was highly appreciated despite its ingredients, which included fish parts, blood, intestines, fish eggs… 

The commerce of the garum made Baelo Claudia a very prosperous city. It had a huge theatre, many temples, thermae, and of course, the factory of this product, as valuable as the Indian spices. Also, it was a very important port directly linked to Tangier. The city was, however, abandoned in the 7th century, exhausted after having suffered tsunamis and pirate attacks. 

Other highlights at Bolonia Beach

Bolonia Beach is right in front of the Moroccan coast. There are field trips organised to go to Tangier from there. You can also hop on a ship to see dolphins and whales. If you are travelling with children, there is an area nearby known as the natural swimming pools of Bolonia, where the water from the sea forms shallow pools. However, you can only get there on foot. And of course, if you want to eat delicious fish and have some beers in the perfect ambiance, do not hesitate to visit the nearby towns of Zahara de los Atunes, Barbate or Caños de Meca. You can experience all this at the incredible Bolonia Beach - a dune and a Roman city by the sea!

Baelo Claudia Roman Ruins, Tarifa

11391 Tarifa, Cádiz, Spain