Barcelona City

The old harbour, Port Vell, which stretches from the Columbus Monument to La Barceloneta, offers endless possibilities to enjoy your leisure time, such as Imax, Aquàrium or Maremàgnum, amongst others. Following a long historic process, the Port Vell, with its landmark buildings and monuments, now gleams like one of the most valuable pearls on the Mediterranean coast. Barcelona's old port at the bottom of La Rambla, once such an eyesore that caused public protests, has been transformed since the 1980s into an attractive and people-friendly environment with some excellent leisure developments.

Northeast from the golondrina quay stretches the palm-lined promenade Moll de la Fusta. Moored here is the Pailebot de Santa Eulalia (adult/child €2.40/1.20 or with Museu Maritim ticket; open 11am-7.30pm), a 1918 sailboat restored by the Museu Maritim. At the centre of the redeveloped harbour is the Moll d'Espanya, a former wharf linked to Moll de la Fusta by a wave-shaped footbridge, Rambla de Mar, which rotates to let boats enter the marina nehind it. At the end of Moll d'Espanya is the glossy Maremagnum shopping and eating complex, but the major attraction is L'Aquarium, an ultramodern aquarium said to be Europe's biggest. One of the highlights is the 80m-long shark tunnel. Beyond L'Aquarium is the Imax Port Vell cinema.

The cable car (teleferic or funicular aereo; operates 10.45am-7pm daily Apr-Sept; 10.45am-5.30pm Oct-Mar)strung across the harbour to Montjuic provides another view of the city. You can get tickets at Miramar (Montjuic) and the Torre de Sant Sebastia (in La Barceloneta).

La  Barceloneta is the traditional district for sailors and fishermen. Mediterranean colours and delicious restaurants are in the menu. It is an obligatory passage before going to the beach. In 1992, with the Olympic Games, Barcelona opens to the sea and causes urban changes. The result is a success. The old industrial grounds are metamorphosed and a new district emerges : the Port Olympic. This area invites to the movement, during the day as well as at night : water sports, discotheques, bars. It is always in effervescence.

Poblenou now turns its gaze proudly to the sea, satisfied to have it close by. It has left behind its industrial past and the harsh living conditions. It is a past that has left an industrial legacy that can still be admired and has adapted to modern times in a process of renovation that commenced with the 1992 Olympic Games.

The district of Sant Marti stretches from the Eixample district to the Besós River and has witnessed the most recent transformation of the city and its waterfront. Sant Marti contains elements of great architectural and historic interest that tell us about the past and future, such as the disused factories which have been converted into cultural facilities, and the modern buildings, such as the Agbar Tower and the Forum complex. A walk through these neighbourhoods shows how Barcelona’s industrial history has left its imprint, and reveals the surprising modernity which blends harmoniously with new parks and green areas, like Diagonal Mar and the Parc del Forum.

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