The seaside resort of Salou is located near Barcelona. It is known for its beaches, picturesque coves, parks and entertainment. The attractions of Salou are varied and unique in their own way. Here everyone will find something interesting for themselves.
Brief information about the city
Salou is part of the province of Tarragona within the Autonomous Community of Catalonia. The city is located on the Costa Dorada. The main attraction here is the huge PortAventura amusement park.
Used by the Greeks and Romans as a port, Salou emerged at an important historical moment when, in 1229, the fleet of Jaime I of Aragon set out to conquer the Balearic Islands. Later, the city becomes a haven for pirates. In 1530, the Archbishop of Tarragona erected a defense tower, which is now known as Torre Velha (Old Tower).
In 1865, a railway station was opened in Salou, thanks to which in a hundred years this resort will be visited by tourists from all over Europe, which will lead to the prosperity of the city.
Today, there is also a regular bus service with Salou. The mild Mediterranean climate has made this Spanish town a popular holiday destination.
Where you should definitely go
Foreigners, of course, are interested in what to see in Salou. The resort town meets the needs of lovers of a relaxing holiday on the Cote d'Azur, history lovers, shopaholics, families with children.
Life on the coast does not calm down from early May to mid-October. In the second half of August, the resort celebrates "Golden Nights": townspeople and tourists choose the most beautiful couple, grandiose performances and fireworks show are held on the streets.
At the beginning of September, there is a holiday in honor of King Jaime I. Local residents take part in the costume procession. A sailing competition is held along the route of the monarch.
A notable feature of the city is the fountains. They are located throughout Salou, sparkle with lights, sing, dance, creating fabulous water ensembles. This extravaganza must be seen and captured in the photo.
The main street of the city is King Jaime I Boulevard. It conventionally divides the resort into a lively and peaceful part. At the height of the tourist season, the boulevard becomes a favorite place for walking and resting for guests of the city. Palm trees adorn the street on both sides. They make the boulevard picturesque, but in the midday heat they do not protect from the sun at all, so the promenade becomes especially crowded in the evening.
The central promenade, which runs along the main beach, Platja de Llevant, deserves special attention. It is buried in greenery and flowers, from time to time the lawns are replaced by playgrounds. There are many fountains on the embankment, some of them are complemented by sculptural compositions.
Walking through the city, you will come across a small train. The vehicle travels along a tourist route. With its help, it will be possible to arrange a small independent excursion around the surroundings and get to the PortAventura Park.
All the sights of Salou can be explored on foot or by public transport. Therefore, if you do not plan to go outside the city limits, there is no point in renting a car.
Historical monuments
House Bonet, also known as Villa Boneta, is a striking landmark in Salou. It is a historical architectural monument, an example of the late period of the modernism era. Its author is a student and follower of the legendary Antoni Gaudí Domenech Sugranes. House Bonet is located on the west side of Jaime I.
Another interesting building from a historical point of view is the building of the port commandant's office, which was erected in 1820. The port has been a bustling trade for several centuries. It flourished in the 17th-18th centuries. That is why there was a need for infrastructure. At the beginning of the last century, the building passed into private ownership. The facade of the commandant's office faces the boulevard Mirmar.
Not far from the port, located in the central part of the coast, from the side of Llevant beach, you can see the monument to the fisherman, which also belongs to the attractions of Salou. Until the middle of the 20th century, the pier and the pier were guarded by fishermen's boats. Just where they once docked stands a stone fisherman, reminiscent of the city's rich maritime past.
Catalan manor in Salou, which is located in the city park "Salou Promenade", is a complex of buildings. The estate was created in 1974 and renovated in 2011. Typical buildings of Catalan villages have been recreated here. On the territory of the park, you can also see agricultural implements and even domestic animals in a makeshift barnyard.
Every year on the eve of Christmas and New Years in Mazia Catalana, exhibitions are held with the reproduction of the events of Christmas night. From June to September, exhibitions and fairs are held, where works of art by local masters are presented.
An important landmark of the city is the Torre Vella fortress, which has been well preserved to this day. The tower, built in 1530, has been refurbished today, and interesting exhibitions and events are held here. It is located next to the railway station.
Religious Salou
The main shrine of Salou is the Church of Santa Maria del Mar. It is located in the heart of the tourist part of the city, next to the eastern part of the Ponent Beach.
The church was built in 1766 by the sailors' guild. At first it was an ordinary chapel with one nave, in which classicism and baroque were harmoniously combined. In 1930-1950, the church was expanded. A cross, side aisles and a dome appeared.
Opening hours:
- Tuesday-Thursday - from 9.30 to 12.00;
- Saturday - from 18.30 to 20.00;
- Sunday - from 9.30 to 13.30 and from 18.30 to 20.00.
The Parish of Saint Ramon Nonat is a modern small church located in the center of Salou. On the left side of the building is the Chapel of the Virgin.
City museums
The Historical Museum in Salou has five buildings:
- Molí de les Tres Erres (formerly water mill);
- Torre De L'Ermita (Hermitage Tower);
- an old wine cellar of an agricultural cooperative;
- Torre del Puerto (Port Watchtower);
- Roman villa La Llosa.
The museum was finally formed only in 1999.
The water mill building has one floor, which housed living rooms and a basement where flour was produced. Now it houses the Historical Museum. In the old wine cellar, you can not only see the production process, but also buy wine and olive oil.
The Hermitage Tower is located near La Mare de Dew del Cami, next to the Roman Royal Road. The harbor tower was erected in the 17th century, but came into the possession of the city only in 1993. The Roman Villa La Llosa was found in 1980 during excavations.
Opening hours of the Historical Museum:
- 01.09 - 30.06 on Saturday - from 10.00 to 13.30 and from 17.00 to 20.30.
- 01.07 – 31.08:
- Monday-Saturday - from 10.00 to 13.30 and from 17.00 to 20.30;
- on Sunday and holidays - from 11.00 to 14.00.
Non-working days: 1.01, 9.01, 1.05, 25-26.12.
Benefits are provided to pensioners and unemployed.
The Enamel Museum is located in the Torre Vella fortress. Here is a collection of exclusive products made of fragile but very beautiful material.
The archaeological park of the Roman city of Berenice is an open-air museum. It is located at a distance of 1.7 km from Boulevard Jaime I. It displays finds from the Roman era, dating back to the end of the 1st century BC. BC – the middle of the II century.
The archaeological complex recreates a rectangular building where ceramics were made. Here you can see a round clay kiln and many other interesting devices.
Salou parks
The city park (Parque Municipal Salou) is located on Carles Buigas street, which is located in the city center, near the waterfront. There are many attractions for children here.
The park is adorned with picturesque ponds and vegetation. There are benches for rest, gazebos, walking paths and cafes. The territory of the park is 15.75 m2. The author of the project is Anthony Bonet Castellana.
The ideal place to relax is the PortAventura complex. It is divided into several parks. For example, you can find yourself in Ancient China or go to the Wild West:
- In each zone, amazing attractions await guests. There is even a fabulous Sesame Street, where the dreams of the youngest visitors come to life.
- Aqua Caribe water park - 50 thousand m2 of unbridled fun. The pool "Bermuda Triangle" with unpredictable waves will cause a storm of emotions in adults. Kids will have a great time in the huge paddling pool.
- There is also a safe children's slides with sharp turns - Mambo Limbo. And this is not a complete list of entertainment.
- Ferrari Land is the latest addition to PortAventura. The park is dedicated to the famous brand of racing cars. All rides are painted in distinctive colors. Guests can visit a kind of museum, appreciate the free fall from a height of 55 meters on the Red Force attraction. Children can ride cars or take part in impromptu races.
Entertainment for children
There are plenty of places to go with children in Salou:
- "Port Aventura". There are attractions for children of all ages. The complex also features daily enchanting shows. The cost of a ticket to the amusement park is from 49 euros / day for adults and 41 euros / day for children.
- Parque infantil de Salou. The park is located near the railway junction. This is an ideal place for families with children. There is a huge playground with many attractions and enough free space for active games. In the shade of the trees, there are comfortable benches where you can relax in the midst of the heat.
- Karting Salou Karting Center is perfectly equipped for families. Here you can have fun even with preschool children. The center has prepared tracks of different difficulty levels. Twin cars are popular among visitors with children. However, on the territory you can not only drive a car, but also ride extreme attractions, have a snack in a small cafeteria. The cost of an 8-minute check-in is 15 euros.
- Bosc Aventura Salou Center. This beautiful complex is located on the territory of a park zone; tourists with children must visit it. The main entertainment is mini golf courses, which can be played by young guests. Also equipped with a rope town, where there are attractions for all ages. Professional instructors will take care of your child's safety. Entertainment cost:
- rope park - 9-35 euros;
- mini golf - 4-5 euros;
- paintball - 15-20 euros;
- archery - 12-20 euros.
It will also be interesting to see hidden caves, waterfalls with a child, admire local reserves. For guests of the city, both walking and cycling are arranged.
Cafes and restaurants of the city
Every tourist should definitely drop in one of the restaurants to taste the national cuisine. Their main ingredient is rice and seafood. The chefs prepare delicious salads from fresh vegetables and cheese. Admirers of the exotic will surely like the monkfish ear. Meat lovers will appreciate pork sausages fried in boiling oil and served with a vegetable garnish. In addition, many restaurants have their own wine cellar.
- Popular national dishes can always be found in the menu of the La Palmera restaurant. Regular customers often order grilled seafood. Adherents of a healthy diet will also not go hungry, because vegetable dishes are part of the menu.
- Olivers offers its guests delicious crisps and pizzas. Fresh salads and fruit desserts are also available. The assortment of drinks is varied.
- A special menu is offered to visitors with children at The New Little Hampton. You can eat indoors or on the beautiful covered terrace.
- A wide range of vegetarian dishes and original drinks at The Guinness Tavern Restaurant & Bar.
- The signature chicken and crisp will be served at Tahiti.
- There are many small cafes in Salou where you can have a quick bite to eat and taste unusual dishes at the same time. It is in these establishments that real Spanish pizza with seafood and spicy cheese is prepared. The mini restaurants serve fine tortilla and creative chicken dishes, as well as local bocadillos sandwiches.
The best places to shop
In Spain, the turnover of the euro. It is advisable to have with you not only a bank card for payments in this currency, but also cash. Dollars will have to be changed at the bank, and the exchange rate in them is not the most profitable.
Spain is known for its wines, cheese and other delicacies such as jamon, turron. You can buy similar gastronomic delights in wine shops:
- Salou Gourmet,
- La Vinoteca de Salou,
- Wine Palace.
The Municipal Market on Via Roma is an attractive destination for shoppers. Here you can buy fresh organic food, fish and even cosmetics.
There are no shopping centers in Salou itself, but there are 2 large ones nearby. Centro Comercial Parc Central is located in Tarragon, about 10 km from Salou. You can get there by train in 20 minutes. This shopping center sells clothes, shoes, accessories of famous brands such as Bershka, Zara, Pandora, H&M, etc. There are also shops with inexpensive goods. There is a hairdresser, cafes, restaurants, pastry shops, McDonald’s here.
The La Fira shopping center is located in Reus. In addition to branded stores, here you will find Aldi supermarket, Burger King fast food and other establishments.
Directly in Salou there are branded stores of famous retail chains:
- Jofre sells clothes from brands such as Prada, Gucci, Dior and others.
- A wide range of women's and men's shoes is presented in the Calzados Candy store.
- The best wrist watches await their customers in the Reloj de Marca showcases.
- Fenan stores specialize in various product groups.
The designer outlet La Roca Village, located near the city, is a great opportunity to buy high-quality clothes from well-known brands without spending large sums. It is 140 km away from Salou. With a rented car, this distance can be covered in 1.5 hours.
Interesting places in the vicinity of the city
If the attractions of Salou are not enough for you, you can go to the surrounding area. Tarragona is famous for its historical architectural structures. You can get to the town by bus or train. Walking along the coast, you can get to the port of Cambrils, where there is also something to see.
For shopping it is better to go to neighboring Reus. The city is the center of Catalan modernism, so even an ordinary walk along its streets will bring pleasure, especially since on one of them you can see the house where Gaudí lived.
Not far from Salou is one of the most visited youth resorts in the world - Sitges. Many holidays and festivals are held here, there are shops of fashion brands.
Summarize
Salou is a small Spanish resort where Russians are very fond of coming. There are many entertainments in the city and its surroundings for every taste: parks, attractions, shops, cafes and restaurants, festivals and fairs.
Salou is known for its beaches. It is good for a quiet family vacation, and for a youth get-together. The main attractions can be seen while walking or on a tourist train.
