Spain has an ancient seaport - Barcelona, which has been successfully operating for more than 2000 years. This is one of the largest Mediterranean logistics hubs serving the huge transport and freight flows of both the Iberian Peninsula and the southern part of Europe.
A bit of history
For centuries, the seaport of Barcelona has seen both Greek galleys and modern cruise liners. Thanks to him, the city flourished and was rich in the Middle Ages. At the very beginning of its emergence, it was an anchorage of ships located near the Montjuïc mountain (Montjuic), used by Phoenician merchants. She was not protected from weather disasters, as well as from lovers of easy money, as a result of which goods disappeared and even ships died. In order to secure profitable trade, it was decided to create a port. At the beginning of the 15th century, Barcelona received permission from the Spanish king Alfonso V the Magnanimous to build a port to facilitate and speed up the loading and unloading of ships, and in 1428 its construction began. Later, it was rebuilt and reconstructed several times.
Modern infrastructure
Today, the port of the Spanish capital occupies a significant territory, about 7.9 km 2 , separating the Barceloneta area from the mouth of the Llobregat River, and consists of three parts:
In fact, these are separate structural units united by a common name. Today, on the site of the ancient parking lot of merchants at Montjuic Mountain, there is a trading port.
Where do they travel from?
The largest in the Mediterranean and the fifth largest in the world is a seven-terminal cruise port. Barcelona annually receives through this sea gate about 4 million tourists arriving on cruise ships. Entrance and entrance are located just a five-minute walk from La Rambla, to the left of the Trasmediterránea office and directly opposite the Plaza de Les Drassanes.
The South, North, Drassanes and Sant Bertrand terminals are located at the WTC - International Trade Center pier, close to the 5-star Eurostars Grand Marina. Terminals (A, B, C, D) located on the Adossat promenade are 2 km from the city center. A shuttle runs to the port of Barcelona, the trip on which costs 2, and a ticket for the whole day - 3 euros. He collects passengers at a stop located near the entrance. Finding it is simple: you need to stand with your back to the Columbus monument and facing the sea, somewhat to the right and there will be a landing place on the shuttle. Cruise terminals can also be reached by taxi.
Port Well
Port Vell in Catalan means "old harbor", but most tourists know it under the name Old Port. Barcelona is an ancient city and different from other capitals. Thus, it is in the Port Vell area that the business center of the Spanish capital is located, serving most of the operations with northwest Africa. You can get into it by walking along the pedestrian bridge, located directly opposite the Columbus monument.
Not far from it are the Maritime
Museum of Barcelona, the popular shopping center Maremagnum, the huge Aquarium, the IMAX Port Vell and Cinesa cinemas.
How to get to the port of Barcelona?
If you arrived in Barcelona by plane, you will not be able to get to the port without transfers; there is no direct connection between these two transport hubs in the Spanish capital. The fastest and easiest way is to take a taxi, such a trip will cost 30-40 euros and will last about half an hour.
You can also get there by public transport, but only with transfers. To do this, you need to take the Aerobus express bus at the airport, the ticket price for which is 5.9 €, and get to the end of the route in Plaça Catalunya. Having left it, you need to take the green line L3 metro, having bought a ticket for 2.15 €. After which, having passed two stations, get off at Drassanes, the closest to the seaport. After leaving the subway, you will only have to walk along La Rambla towards the sea and, rounding the Columbus monument, walk a little to the right to the port entrance. In the port itself you can use the shuttle (2 €). Thus, moving from the airport to the seaport will cost you 10 € per person. However, in order to save a little money and be sure to go to Port Aventura Park (Barcelona), you can get from the airport by regular city bus, for example, number 106, to the nearest metro station for 1.4 €.
All the pleasures at once!
If you are in Barcelona, plan at least one day to go to the world of childhood and visit the amazing Spanish amusement park and attractions - “Port Aventura”. Since its opening in 1995, it has been confidently holding its place in the top ten most popular European parks. Today, this large-scale project includes a summer water park, four hotels and a huge territory filled with attractions, entertainment venues, restaurants and cafes.
The whole park is divided into five main interesting thematic zones:
- Wild West;
- Mediterranean
- Polynesia;
- Mexico;
- China.
For the youngest visitors, the Sesamo Aventura platform was created, where the characters of this television show loved by children walk and many interesting entertainments.
How to get there?
But Spain is not only Barcelona! Port Aventura is located 100 km from the Spanish capital, on the Costa Dorada, in the province of Tarragona, between resort towns such as Salou and Vila Seca. You can get to the park in the following ways, each of which does not take more than an hour:
- From Barcelona and other major Spanish cities, come in large Bus Plana buses that run on special routes.
- Also from the Spanish capital you can reach Port Aventura by rail. In Barcelona, you can catch a train at the Estació de França station, from where it leaves almost empty, or at stations such as Estació de Sants or Passeig de Gràcia.
- If you rented a car, you need to find the exit on the AP-7 Autobahn marked with a huge yellow billboard with the inscription PortAventura, and go further, following the signs leading directly to the parking lot of the park. One parking day costs 10 €.
- You can also pre-book an individual transfer from the hotel, train station or airport to the park's website in advance.
- If you stayed in Salou itself, then on the tourist trains that go there, you can get to Port Aventura Park.