Port Vell used to be Barcelona's old obsolete harbour full of run down empty warehouses, industrial buildings, refuse dumps and railroad yards.

The Barcelona Olympics in 1992 changed all that. In one of the most drastic urban renewal projects, the area was transformed into a yacht basin and entertainment centre, opening the city up to the sea. A coastal road was moved underground and a pedestrian street now stretches from the Columbus monument to the Barceloneta beach area and neighbourhood .

A magnificent walkway made of wood leads you from terra firma to Moll d'Espanya, where you can visit the spectacular Acquarium, IMAX theatre and the Maremagnum (a shopping mall). The walkway has a very attractive wavy design.

There are a number of benches. It is a real pleasure to sit and watch the people, ships and seagulls. The Maremagnum tries to promote itself as the place to go for nightlife. Don't go. The clubs are poor and the bars are very over priced.

Barcelona's aquarium boasts 8000 Fish, including 11 sharks in in total 22 basins filled with 6 million liter (1,5 million gallons) sea water. Basin 17 features an 80m long tunnel from where you can observe Mediterranean deep sea fish, including sharks. The Port Vell old Customs house is a beautiful turn of last century building. It was built between 1896 and 1902 in neoclassical style and it has some beautiful sphinx with wings on top of torrets.

The architect Enric Sagnier was a follower of Gaudi's style and he mixed Modernist and the Neo-Gothic design in this building, It is rich in engravings and sculptures. There are lots of Barcelona's coat of arms along its facades. The Spanish coat of arms is over the main gate between two big eagles If you like small boat trips than take one of the Port Vell tourist ships called Las Golondrinas (The Swallows).They departs from the Old Harbor many times during the day and take you on a small cruise along the Barcelona coastline.

Barcelona Monument a Colon - Christopher Columbus monument

This monument commemorates the return of the Italian navigator Christopher Columbus in 1493 from the shores of the New World and the reception he received from his financial backers the Spanish Catholic Monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Elisabeth in Tinell Hall in the Royal Palace of Barcelona.

It was erected in 1886, for the 1888 Universal Exhibition. It consists of an iron column about 51 meters high. The statue of Columbus is in bronze and about 8 meters high. You will find it at the end of the Las Ramblas street near the shoreline. Columbus is supposed to be pointing at the New World, but is actually pointing in the wrong direction. The locals state that he is just pointing towards the sea not towards America.

You can ascend to the top of the column's enclosed observation point. The very small lift costs about 3 Euros. You will see good panoramic views over the city. On each window there is a sticker indicating the main attraction you will see looking in that direction. It is quite a tight space, so if you are claustrophobic this might not be for you.

The sculptures at the bottom depict the King Ferdinand and Queen Elisabeth. The nearest Metro station is Line 3 Drassanes. Columbus did not discover America. The first Europeans to set foot on American soil were the Vikings in 1000AD. There is evidence that in 1421 the Chinese explored both American coasts and successfully navigated through the ice free Northwest passage 71 years before Columbus arrived in Central America

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