Drassanes or Barceloneta

The Museu Marítim is open Monday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm. Entry costs €6.50 (includes entry to the Schooner Santa Eulàlia).

The Aquarium is open daily 9.30am to 9pm (11pm July & August), Entry costs €16 for adults (€11 children).

They used to say Barcelona had turned its back on the sea. The old port, called Port Vell, had become an industrial wasteland, full of scrap metal and abandoned containers. A wall screened this mess from the residents of Barcelona and separated them from the city’s beautiful beaches. In 1992, this all changed. The Olympic Games came to Barcelona and provided the city with the incentive to clean up the mess and regenerate this important part of the city.

Port Building

A cruise ship moored in the old port, with views up to Montjuic

On 15th March 1493, Christopher Columbus arrived in the port of Barcelona after his first voyage of discovery. A year earlier, he had convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to finance a trip to discover a new western trade route to India and China. He set out in August 1492 with his little fleet of 3 ships – Santa María, Pinta and Niña. He discovered Cuba and other Caribbean islands, before returning to Spain. Imagine the surprise of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella when Columbus revealed his cargo of gold, spices, exotic birds and even captive indians!  The King and Queen immediately commissioned a second voyage of 17 ships and 1,500 sailors. A number of voyages followed before Columbus was arrested and had to face trial for his harsh methods, including torture and slavery. He was cleared, but his last years were a sad decline, before his eventual death in 1506 at the age of 55. In 1888 the Monument a Colom was placed at the bottom of La Rambla,  overlooking Port Vell, to commerorate Barcelona’s part in this important piece of world history.

1893 Print showing Columbus claiming possession of the New World

Columbus Pointing out to Sea at the top of the Monument a Colom

In 1570, the royal shipyards of Barcelona, Drassanes Reials, built one of the largest galleys of its time. It measured nearly 200-feet (60-metres) in length, with 2 masts and a crew of 400. The galley served as the flagship of Don Juan’s Christian alliance at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. The Christians successfully defeated a Turkish fleet in one of the most descisive events in world history. A full size replica of this galley is the highlight of the Museu Marítim, which tells the story of Barcelona’s shipyards from the 14th century onwards. These shipyards also built the 3 mast schooner Santa Eulàlia in 1918. She set sail on voyages to Cuba, transporting textiles, tobacco and coffee. The museum saved and renovated this historical ship, which is now moored in the harbour as one of the exhibits.

Galera Real at the Museu Marítim

The Schooner Santa Eulàlia

The Battle of Lepanto was fought off western Greece, where the Ottoman forces sailing westwards from their naval station in Lepanto met the Holy League forces, which had come from Messina, on the morning of Sunday, 7th October 1571. Victory gave the Holy League temporary control over the Mediterranean, protected Rome from invasion, and prevented the Ottomans from advancing into Europe. This was the last major naval battle to be fought solely between rowing vessels.

Following the 1992 Olympics, Port Vell became a fashionable part of the city, attracting visitors day and night. The Rambla de Mar is an extension to the Ramblas and takes you over a wavy bridge to crowd into the Maremagnum – a modern Mall with restaurants, bars and shops. Opposite is the circular structure of the World Trade Center, home to offices and conference halls. Behind the Maremagnum is the largest Aquarium in Europe, with over 8,000 fish, split into 21 tanks covering different themes. The highlight of the Aquarium is a 263-foot (80-metre) long underwater glass tunnel where you come face to face with all sorts of Mediterranean fish, including sharks, rays and sunfish. Safely outside, there is an underwater monument of a different kind. Ictineo II was launched in October 1864 and was the world’s first successful combustion-powered submarine. Designed by local engineer and inventor Narciso Monturiol, his submarine was powered by internal steam engines and solved key problems for the first time, such as an oxygen supply for the crew! Monturiol made several successful underwater trials, but due to financial problems, Ictineo II was sold as scrap in 1868 and Monturiol died penniless.

The Maremagnum over the Rambla de Mar

The Aquarium and entrance poster

Modern Yachts in the Harbour

Replica of Ictineo, the world's first submarine

Modern sculpture in the port!

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