Port Vell (Old Port)
Spain
We leave for Montserrat at 8.15am, heading down towards the old port of Barcelona and then on past the Columbus Statue at the end of the Ramblas.
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Port Vell, the 'Old Port' of Barcelona. This area represents the city's deep and ancient connection to the Mediterranean Sea—a relationship that has defined its wealth, its culture, and its identity for over two…
Listen in the app2The Maritime Museum and Royal Shipyards
Our exploration begins at the Museu Marítim de Barcelona, housed within the magnificent Drassanes Reials, or Royal Shipyards. These buildings are among the finest examples of civil Gothic architecture in the world. …
Listen in the app3Palau de Mar — The Sea Palace
Standing at the edge of the port is the Palau de Mar, a large and imposing red brick building that today houses the Museu d'Història de Catalunya. Originally built in the late nineteenth century, these were the general warehouses…
Listen in the app4Rambla de Mar — The Wooden Walkway
The Rambla de Mar is one of the most distinctive features of the modern port. This wooden, undulating walkway serves as a pedestrian extension of the famous La Rambla, connecting the city directly to the Maremagnum shopping…
Listen in the app5Maremagnum and the Marina
At the end of the Rambla de Mar sits Maremagnum, a large glass and steel shopping and entertainment complex. While it may seem like a standard modern mall, its presence is significant in the history of the port’s redevelopment. …
Listen in the app6Public Art and The Happy Lobster
One of the most charming and unusual aspects of Port Vell is its collection of public art. As part of the 1992 regeneration, the city commissioned several large-scale installations to give the area a distinctive personality. …
Listen in the app7The Columbus Monument
Standing at the junction of La Rambla and Port Vell is the Monument a Colom, or the Columbus Monument. Built for the 1888 International Exposition, this sixty-meter-tall iron column is topped by a statue of Christopher Columbus…
Listen in the app8Final Reflections
As we conclude our walk through Port Vell, we are left with a sense of a place that has successfully bridged its past and its future. It is a space that has evolved from a medieval shipyard to a global commercial hub, all while…
Listen in the app9Closing
As we conclude our walk through Port Vell, we are left with a sense of a place that has successfully bridged its past and its future. It is a space that has evolved from a medieval shipyard to a global commercial hub, all while…
Listen in the app
What is Port Vell (Old Port)?
Port Vell (Old Port) is a place in Spain with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Spain |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 9 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 41.3826, 2.1771 |
| Last updated |
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