Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

June 25, 2010

Port Aventura Salou

Filed under: Costa Dorada,Holidays,Spain — Tags: , , , — needahand @ 10:27 am

A huge theme park, a Beach Club, and aquatic park and three hotels, together form the amazing Port Aventura Theme Park (PortAventura), one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Port Aventura is located in the seaside resort of Salou on the Costa Dorada coastline of Catalonia in Spain. Constructed as a joint project by Universal Studios, Anheuser-Busch and the Tussauds Group, Port Aventura later became known as “Universal’s Port Aventura”, as Universal Studios held a majority of the shares in the park. Now simply known as “PortAventura” the theme park is run by the banking group La Caixa. Despite all the other facilties, Port Aventura is best known as a theme park, located in a tropical setting, it has some pretty hair-raising rides, some of the most famous being the Furius Baco, the Hurakan Condor and the Dragon Khan rollercoaster with its 8 scary loops. The park is set out on various themes including the “Wild West”, “China”, “Mexico”, “Polynesia” and “Mediterrania”. Located in the popular seaside resort of Salou, the area benefits from a fine climate and Port Aventura weather can generally be expected to be sunny and dry most days between the months of May and October. Port Aventura can be easily reached by road, rail and plane, with Reus International Airport just 10 minutes drive away.

Port Aventura Map.

May 10, 2010

Tarragona Costa Dorada

Filed under: Costa Dorada,History,Spain — Tags: , , , , , — needahand @ 11:35 am

One of Catalonia’s most historic cities, Tarragona is situated in the south of the province and is considered to be part of the coastline known as the Costa Dorada (Gold Coast). Established by the Romans as the city of Tarraco it became the main base for their conquest of the Iberian Peninsular. Tarragona’s city centre has a blend of Roman and medieval architecture and is without doubt one of the most attractive cities in Catalonia. While there is plenty to see and do in and around Tarragona, most visitors want to see the Roman remains, as they conjure up images of a time long past, while mystifying as to how these structures could have lasted so long. The main Roman structures are the amphitheatre and the magnificent aqueduct, together with the Castell de Pilato which now plays host to an interesting museum. It’s not all Roman in Tarragona however and the wonderful Tarragona cathedral displays a mix of Gothic and Romanesque styles, giving evidence of the time it took to complete the structure which was begun in the 12th century, and finally finished in 1331. Don’t forget a trip into the old Jewish Quarter around the Plaça dels Angels and Carrer Talavera an area of narrow streets and archways with a unique feel and atmosphere, the Jews were expelled in 1492 but their legacy remains in the old city centre. Tarragona is a mostly industrial city but in its environs there are a number of fine seaside resorts and some excellent beaches to be enjoyed, as a break from city life head for Salou or Cambrils, two of the better known beach resorts. Ousands flock here in the summer time to enjoy the wonderful Tarragona weather and enjoy the beaches, nightlife and superb entertainment in such places as the Port Aventura theme park, one of the biggest and best in Europe. If you are flying directly to Tarragona you will no doubt arrive at Reus airport, Reus is a city just inland from Tarragona and is important for the production of wines and spirits. Tarragona Map.

November 7, 2009

La Pineda Costa Dorada

Filed under: Costa Dorada,Spain — Tags: , , , , , , — needahand @ 6:44 pm

Situated beside the resort of Salou to the south of Tarragona, the quieter resort of La Pineda is more popular with families, it has a superb sandy beach bordered by an attractive palm studded promenade. The coastal section of the town of Vila-Seca, La Pineda is a mostly made for tourism resort with a decent range of facilities. The biggest attraction in the area is the Port Aventura theme park, originally built and owned by Universal Studios, this huge theme park has a great selection of rides, a water park and a beach club. Together with Salou and Cambrils, La Pineda is one of the three big Costa Dorada seaside resorts and attracts large numbers of visitors, especially during the summer months when La Pineda weather is hot and sunny and rain is scarce. Perfect for a beach holiday, La Pineda is also a handy base for touring the city of Tarragona with its many Roman ruins. La Pineda Map.

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