Spain, Salou

Salou is a seaside resort and tourist center in Catalonia, about 10 km from Tarragona on the Costa Dorada, Spain. Aside from its string of beaches interrupted by rocky coves, and its landscaped promenade, one of its main attractions is the Port Aventura complex, formerly owned by the Universal Studios chain of theme parks.

Used as a port by Greeks and Romans, it appeared again in an important historic event, when in 1229 the fleet of James I of Aragon departed from the port of Salou to conquer the Balearic islands, thus creating the Kingdom of Mallorca and in 1286 Alfons III of Aragon also departed from this port to conquer Minorca, the last muslim territory of the Balearic Islands. Later, Salou became a nest of pirates. After that it was considered an unsafe place, so in 1530 Archbishop of Tarragona decided to erect a new defence tower, now called Torre Vella. In 1865 the railway station began to operate, opening a new development time, that led one hundred years later to a tourist boom that has brought prosperity to the town.

Nearby is the suburb of Vilafortuny with secluded villas surrounded by walls.

Salou is the tourist capital of the Costa Dorada, due to its many tourist facilities and its beautiful beaches; it is a popular holiday destination due to its hot Mediterranean climate. There are things to do for all the family, from theme and water parks like Port Aventura and Costa Caribe to late night discos and clubs.

There are also various other sites of interests in the surrounding area from Salou, the big city of Barcelona is only an hour car journey away. The city of Tarragona is only a few kilometres away, and includes many historical sites, as the city has a lot of Roman history. The little town of La Pineda is also nearby, that has another big beach and there are many nightlife bars along the promenade. It also is home to Aquopolis, a big water park with many attractions for both adults and children, it also features a unique dolphin show everyday. However if you prefer something more cultural, the town of Cambrils is on the other side, it is a traditional Spanish fishing town, and its port area is a popular area for fish restaurants.

Getting around is never a problem in Salou, there are many places where you can hire a car. However most places are very close together and are in walking distance. The taxi service is useful because there are a lot of them and the fares are generally cheap. Buses are also a very effective way of transport, they are very cheap and they run regularly during the summer season. Salou is only 20 minutes away from Reus airport (which has a regular bus service) and an hour from Barcelona airport.