PORT VELL AERIAL TRAMWAY

Description

Essentials about the Port Vell Aerial Tramway in brief

Barcelona is one of the few cities in the world that you can experience from the air without having to book a flight. Thanks to the Transbordador Aeri del Port (also called Teleférico de Montjuïc), an aerial tramway that starts in the seaside district of La Barceloneta, from where it crosses the old port of Port Vell and goes up to the local mountain, Montjuïc.

The ride with the Port Vell Aerial Tramway

Even the beginning of the ride, namely the elevator ride up to the 78 meter high tower Torre Sant Sebastià, is a real spectacle. If you want to do something against the weak stomach before the ride, you can do that in the restaurant located in the tower. From the platform, you climb into one of the cable car cabins, which can accommodate up to 20 people. Passengers are allowed to move around freely in the cabin, so there is no need to fight for the best photo positions.

During the ride over the harbor, passengers enjoy a stunning view of the city and the water. The cabin hovers over Port Vell, the World Trade Center, and the ferries and cruise ships docked at the piers. The aerial tramway is supported in the middle by the 107-meter-high Torre Jaume I, which, by the way, is the second-highest cable car support in the world. It houses the mid station and a viewing platform.

Arriving at the terminus on the seaward side of Montjuïc, you have another great view of the container port. From here, you can continue walking up Barcelona’s local mountain and see the many sights on Montjuïc, such as the Castle or the Fundació Joan Miró.

The history of the Port Vell Aerial Tramway

The aerial tramway was built on the occasion of the 1929 World Fair in Barcelona, but due to technical difficulties, operation could not begin until 1931. During the Spanish Civil War of 1936 – 1939, the Torre Jaume I was used as an observation post and was fired upon until a cable broke and a gondola fell into the water. After the war, the entire structure was partially destroyed and the rusting towers were an ugly sight, so demolition was even considered.

However, the builders of the aerial tramway successfully lobbied for its preservation, so that it could be put back into operation in 1963. In the 1990s, however, the condition of the aerial tramway was once again so bad that operation had to be discontinued. In the course of the large-scale redevelopment of the harbor, the ropeway was also renovated. In 2000, new ropes were pulled and the ropeway was put into operation again.