The resort capital of the Spanish coast of Costa Dorada is a favorite city among Russian tourists. A wide selection of hotels in different price categories, an abundance of restaurants with Mediterranean cuisine, clean, comfortable beaches - all this attracts thousands of guests from around the world every year. Curious travelers on the Spanish coast do not get bored, because local travel agencies offer dozens of excursions and educational trips. There is something to see on the Costa Dorada: in Salou, architectural sights of bygone eras have been preserved and many modern amusement parks have been built, where it is pleasant to spend the whole day with the whole family. The natural beauty of the coast attracts photographers who create real masterpieces in the vicinity of Salou.
TOP 10 attractions of Salou
Boulevard King Jaime
Any seaside resort has a promenade or a pedestrian street, where it is customary to walk after a busy beach day, drink coffee surrounded by pleasant companions, dine in restaurants with local cuisine, in a word, look at others and show yourself. Salou is no exception, and the favorite place for its guests' promenade is King Jaime I Boulevard.
Living in the XIII century. the Spanish monarch not in vain bore the honorary nickname Conqueror. In 1229 he proclaimed a crusade against the Arabs, who at that time belonged to the Balearic Islands. Jaime I and his army went to war just from the shores of Salou, as the equestrian statue of the Conqueror on the boulevard named after him tells about. The authors of the sculpture are the architect Salvador Ripoll, who was in charge of the horse, and Luis Maria Saumells, who made the stone sculpture of Jaime himself.
Singing Fountains
Singing fountains, illuminated with colorful illumination in the evenings, serve as a true decoration of the embankment. The most popular is the Cybernetic Fountain, the jets of one of the parts of which converge, forming an arch over a small bridge. Another attraction of Salou is Fuente Lluminosa. The fountain is located in Piazza Francesca Germa Sansa, and the engineer who invented it created a program that implements more than two hundred options for musical and light accompaniment.
The laser show near the fountains is another reason for the hundreds of tourists every night on the boulevard of King Jaime I.
Villa Voramar
On the boulevard, you can see classic examples of Catalan architecture. The famous and most beautiful villa belonged to the Voramar family. The mansion project was invented at the beginning of the twentieth century. disciple of the brilliant Antonio Gaudi. To decorate the villa, Domenic Sugranies Gras used mosaics and tiles, and the facade of the building is decorated with a clock, the inscription on which reads: “Don't waste time. It goes away irrevocably."
PortAventura
The largest entertainment complex in Spain was built in 1995. It was designed by two British companies with the participation of Universal Studios, famous for theme parks around the world. Today PortAventura includes a theme park, a water park, a golf course, a Ferrari park and several hotels, decorated in accordance with the themes presented in the complex.
PortAventura is divided into several entertainment zones, representing different parts of the world and introducing visitors to their cultural and historical characteristics:
- In the Mediterranean, you will find restaurants, exciting shopping and the Furius Baco, a roller coaster that has won millions of fans around the world. In the Mediterranean, visitors will see the performances of Sesame Parade, Halloween Night, Procession of the Magi and others.
- In the Wild West, guests of the park find themselves in a typical western. The main attractions are the river with rapids, slides with wooden trolleys and the Grand Canyon with the possibility of rafting down the stormy river. The main show is called "Wild Wild West".
- In the Mexico entertainment zone, you will find the popular Hurakan Condor, where daredevils can feel the beauty of free fall from 86 meters. Popular shows are Mayan Ritual and Fire Temple.
- The attraction of "China" is the attraction "Dragon Han" with eight dead loops and a total length of 1269 m. The "Shambhala" slides are the highest in the Old World.
- The best shows of "Polynesia" transport visitors to the colorful world of a lost tropical archipelago.
The Sesame-Aventura entertainment zone is suitable for young visitors to the park.
Ticket price: from 47 euros.
Costa Caribe Water Park
Once in Salou, do not forget to take a look at a slice of the Caribbean! Here you will be able to relax no worse than in Cuba or in the Dominican Republic. The organizers of the complex have thought of everything to the smallest detail, and in the water park you will find Latin American cuisine and music, white sand beaches, emerald greens of palm trees, exciting shopping in souvenir shops.
And yet, the main advantage of the Caribbean Coast on the Costa Dorada is the most interesting attractions and opportunities for active recreation:
- The highest open-top water slide in Europe "King Kahuna" allows you to experience free flight from the height of a 12-storey building. The speed of descent from it reaches 6 m / s.
- The Bermuda Triangle is a pool with artificial waves, where the effect of being in the most dangerous and mysterious region of the planet is created. With an adrenaline rush, you can relax on the Bahama Beach.
- Descent along a 200-meter water channel with bends and bends is a Torrente attraction. A 20-meter toboggan along its entire length makes daredevils squeal with delight. If this was not enough for you, continue the day at the Typhoon attraction. The closed toboggan is not too tall - only 15 m, but you have to move in complete darkness.
For young adventurers in the water park, there are special pools, small slides, and a pirate ship with the characters of Sesame Street inevitably delights them from meeting their favorite TV heroes.
Boscaventura amusement park
Another amusement park in Salou is located right in the city center. Its visitors, large and small, spend a lot of time on the attractions designed for outdoor enthusiasts. The most popular attractions of "Bosk-Aventura" are rope routes for climbing, tree games, paintball, climbing wall for beginners and advanced mountaineers. In the entertainment complex you can hold a birthday, wedding or any other event. Instructors and animators will help entertain both adults and children by offering guests a variety of event scenarios.
When planning to visit Boscaventura, be sure that there are trails in the park that are suitable for conquering both adults and children. The lightest rides here are within the reach of even one and a half year old kids.
Ticket price: from 9 euros.
Masia Catalana
A typical Catalan manor house in Salou invites visitors to the city to look at the living conditions of the inhabitants of this region of Spain. La Masia Catalana demonstrates common genre scenes from the life of the Spaniards - harvesting and cooking, caring for animals and celebrating Christmas. In the estate you will find a real vegetable garden of a Catalan villager, you will see domestic animals and living conditions.
Souvenirs from the estate, which are sold at the artisan market, are of constant interest among tourists.
Church of Santa Maria del Mar
The history of the oldest temple in Salou began in 1776, when the sailors' guild built a small chapel with its own funds, where it was possible to pray for the successful start of sea voyages. In the absence of the men who spent most of their time at sea, their wives went to church. They asked the Virgin Mary for their husbands to return safe and sound.
In the first half of the twentieth century.on the site of the chapel, a new church was built, the main decoration of the interiors of which is the murals. The walls of the temple are decorated with works by the artist Joseph Maria Guell, and the baptistery is decorated with frescoes by Juan Garrigue. The main theme of the paintings is the sacrament of baptism and biblical stories about Adam and Eve.
Santa Maria del Mar is considered the patroness of sailors in Salou. The festivities dedicated to the saint can be seen in August, when Santa Maria del Mar is venerated during a traditional procession through the streets of the city.
Cove of Capellans
The enigmatic Cove of Capellans in Salou is a beautiful beach fenced off from the coast by high cliffs. Stone giants create a particularly romantic atmosphere in the bay and serve as natural breakwaters during storms, and therefore it is quite safe to swim on this beach in any weather.
The Bay of Capellans beach, despite its diminutive size, is well equipped. The tourist infrastructure includes a cafe, changing cabins and sun loungers with umbrellas.
Fortress Torre Velha
During the Middle Ages, the coast, now called the Costa Dorada, was often raided by sea robbers, and Salou was no exception. In the 16th century, the local archbishop ordered the construction of a fortress so that the inhabitants of the city could hide from pirate incursions behind powerful walls. The massive building inspires respect even today, although its defensive purpose is in the past.
The old fortress serves the modern tourist needs of Salou and is a participant in many of the city's cultural events. Torre Velha hosts exhibitions and performances, weddings and anniversaries of noble townspeople. The permanent museum exposition on the territory of the fortress acquaints visitors with paintings by masters of the 20th century, and the Enamel Museum displays masterpieces made in the now popular technique of decorating jewelry and household items. In the garden surrounding the building, you will find the sculpture "The Three Graces", depicting women dancing the sardana. The popular dance in Catalonia is Salou's trademark.
