Tarragona Mediterranean Balcony | Balcó del Mediterrani

About Tarragona Mediterranean Balcony

Located at the coastal end of Rambla Nova, the Mediterranean Balcony, Balcó del Mediterrani, that runs along Passeig de les Palmeres is an airy cliff top viewpoint offering splendid views of the Mediterranean, the Tarragona port, Platja del Miracle beach, and the Roman Amphitheatre. The iron railings along the Balcó del Mediterrani were designed by the architect Ramon Salas i Ricomà in 1889.

For Tarragona natives and tourists it is almost obligatory to tocar ferro (touch the iron) of the Balcony of the Mediterranean. This involves a leisurely stroll along the boulevard. Before they were built there was a wall which demarcated the Passeig de les Palmeres and the sheer cliff drop separating the balcony and the crop fields at its feet before the seafront. The name of the balcony was thought up by Emilio Castelar y Ripoll, the president of the First Spanish Republic, who christened it thus when he visited Tarragona in 1863.

The Mediterranean Balcony dates back to the 14th century. It was built as part of a larger fortification project by King Pedro IV de Aragón, who wanted to protect his kingdom from attack by sea. The fort is long gone today but during World War II The balcony also served as an important lookout point when Nazi submarines were patrolling offshore waters looking for Allied vessels coming into port.

Image Gallery for Tarragona Mediterranean Balcony

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Visiting Tarragona Mediterranean Balcony

Notable points of interest to look out for along the Mediterranean Balcony boulevard are:

Monument a Roger de Llúria: statue on top of Stone plynth. Roger de Llúria was a Calabrian admiral in Aragonese service, who was the commander of the fleet of the Crown of Aragon during the War of the Sicilian Vespers. He was probably the most successful and talented naval tactician of the Middle Ages
Casa d'Antoni Rosell Fortuny: Stone façaded building with Balconies of wrought iron and ceramic tiled corner cupula. Built 1929.
Font El Nen de l'Oca: Fountain with child holding a Goose neck by sculptor Josep Pujol Montané inaugurated in 1946 as part of the remodelisation of Passeig de les Palmeres.
Looking doen from the Wrought Iron railings to the parkland below you will see a beautiful garden where the letter T within a shield. This is the crest of Sant Tecla, patron saint of Tarragona.
A les nostres mares murales: Murals painted on the landward side of some walls along Passeig de les Palmeres.
Passeig de les Palmeres: Palm tree lined pedestrian boulevard.
H10 Imperial Tarraco Hotel and Tarragona Casino: Hotel with suites of the best views in Tarragona. Casino on the ground floor.
Rellotge de Sol: Sun dial can be found half way down the steps leading from the Mediterranean Balcony to Tarragona Amphitheatre.

What to take with you for Tarragona Mediterranean Balcony

Access to the Mediterranean Balcony from Carrer Baixada de Toro nearest Tarragona train station is via stairs and a ramp. From Passeig de les Palmeres end there are no stairs.