Salou(Catalan pronunciation:[səˈlɔw]) is a municipality of thecomarcaofTarragonès,in the province ofTarragona,inCatalonia,Spain. The city is approximately 10 km fromTarragonaandReuson theCosta Dauradaand 112 km fromBarcelona.
Salou | |
|---|---|
 Monument toJaume I | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Salou Location of Salou in Spain | |
| Coordinates:41°04′37″N1°08′38″E/ 41.077°N 1.144°E | |
| Country |  Spain |
| Community |  Catalonia |
| Province | Tarragona |
| Comarca | Tarragonès |
| Municipality | 30 October 1989 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Body | Ajuntament de Salou |
| •Mayor | Pere Granados Carrillo (2015)[1](Formació Unitat Per Salou (FUPS)) |
| Area | |
• Total | 15.1 km2(5.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation (AMSL) | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Population (2018)[3] | |
• Total | 26,775 |
| • Density | 1,800/km2(4,600/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Salouean salouenc,salouenca salouense |
| Postal code | 43840 |
| Area code | +34 (Spain) 977 (Province) |
| Website | salou |
Founded by the Greeks in the 6th century B.C., the coastal town was a notable commercial port during medieval and modern ages. Throughout the 20th century, Salou became an important European tourist attraction.
Aside from its string of beaches interrupted by rocky coves, and its landscaped promenade, one of its main attractions is thePortAventura Worldresort. The Dutch movieCosta!and the television series with the same title were both filmed in Salou.
History
editUsed as a port byGreeks(who named itSalanrio) andRomans(who named it afterSalauris), it appeared again in an important historic event, when in 1229 the fleet ofJames I of Aragondeparted from the port of Salou to conquer theBalearic Islands,thus creating theKingdom of Majorca.
In 1286Alfons III of Aragonalso departed from this port to conquerMenorca,the lastMoorishterritory of theBalearic Islands.
Later, Salou became a nest ofpirates.After that it was considered an unsafe place, so in 1530 Archbishop ofTarragonadecided to erect a new defence tower, now calledTorre 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. Salou was separated from the adjacent municipality ofVila-secaon 30 October 1989 by a decision of theSupreme Court of Spain.[4]
In the summer of 2001, Salou suffered a terrorist attack byETA,through a car bomb near a hotel. 13 people were injured, including twocivil guards.
Main sights
editHistoric buildings and monuments
edit- Church of Santa Maria del Mar, built in 18th-century and enlarged after 1950.
- Torre Vella, a tower built in the 16th century
- Harbour-master's Office
- Jaume Imonument
- Font lluminosafountain
- Monument to Fishermen
- Old Carrilet Railway Station
PortAventura World
editPortAventura Worldis a growing theme park resort on theCosta Daurada.The resort includes luxury four-star accommodation, two theme parks (PortAventura ParkandFerrari Land),PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park,a convention centre and aRV park.The PortAventura Park's main attractions are theDragon Khan,a massiveB&Mmega-looper;Furius Baco,which is one of the fastest roller coasters in Europe; andHurakan Condor,a tall falling-tower ride which is 100 metres tall. In 2012 a new roller coaster calledShambhalaopened adjacent to theDragon Khan.The park also has a grand multi-media show, called theFiestaAventura,every night between the end of June and the end of August which features fireworks, fountains and parade floats.Ferrari Land,with the highest and fastest vertical accelerator in Europe, opened in 2017, and will also include the world's first Ferrari hotel.
Lumine Mediterranea Beach & Golf Community
editSalou is also home to the Lumine Golf Club (formerly known as PortAventura golf). There are three courses, labeled as north, south, and central. North and central were designed byGreg Normanand the south course was designed by "Green Project".[1]The facilities consist of two clubhouses, a beach club, Lumine restaurant, Hoyo 19 restaurant, a pro shop, rental services and a golf school. In the future[when?]the area surrounding the golf course will be developed into a community with six residential areas and services that include two five-star hotels, a sports area and the International School of Salou that will cater for up to 1200 students as part of the Lumine community.[5]
Auditorium Theatre of Salou
editThe Auditorium Theatre of Salou (Teatre Auditori de Salou orTASto shorten) is an important part of the local community in terms of cultural and leisure in the municipality. The theatre plays local events such as political, school and cultural events and has also welcomed famous musicians to the area such asSergio Dalma.
Beaches
editSalou's main promenade is the Passeig Jaume I, which runs along the coast adjacent to the Llevant Beach, the longest beach in the town. Other beaches include Platja de Ponent, Platja dels Capellans, Platja Llarga and Platja Cala Crancs. Salou has 34Blue Flag beaches.Water-sports, rentals and trips can be arranged on the Llevant Beach.
Sport tourism
editSalou has been used since 2005 as the base forRally Catalunya,part of theWorld Rally Championship.[6]Salou has also held volleyball championships, football tournaments, a triathlon[7]and many other competitive sports.
Saloufest is the University sports festival which takes place on two separate occasions in April on an annual basis. The festival includes DJs and parties at the neighbouring resort's nightclub calledPacha.
In the future, the local government is expected to position Salou as a sport tourism destination and therefore will promote different projects that include first class facilities to provide the city with the necessary resources to become a tourist destination that attractsvisitors of reference[clarification needed],especially in low season. They have announced a project that will feature swimming pools, football fields and tennis courts.[8] In April 2012 the Mayor of Salou inaugurated the facilities that have been built, which are six football fields (four artificial and 2 natural) including changing rooms, bar, waiting rooms and rooms for training sessions the second phase includes a further 6 more open fields, billiards room and shop selling merchandise.[9][10]
Salou is the sub-site for the2018 Mediterranean Gamesfor sports such assailing.[11]
Climate
editSalou has aMediterranean climate(Köppen climate classification:Csa) characterized by mild winters and hot summers. The rainiest season is autumn, and the driest season is the summer. Salou receives above 2,500 hours of sunshine annually.
| Climate data for Salou | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 14.1 (57.4) |
15.2 (59.4) |
16.7 (62.1) |
19.1 (66.4) |
23.2 (73.8) |
26.3 (79.3) |
29.0 (84.2) |
29.3 (84.7) |
26.2 (79.2) |
23.1 (73.6) |
18.1 (64.6) |
15.2 (59.4) |
21.3 (70.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 9.8 (49.6) |
10.5 (50.9) |
12.1 (53.8) |
15.1 (59.2) |
18.7 (65.7) |
22.4 (72.3) |
24.6 (76.3) |
24.8 (76.6) |
22.2 (72.0) |
19.1 (66.4) |
14.1 (57.4) |
10.2 (50.4) |
17.1 (62.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.9 (42.6) |
6.2 (43.2) |
8.1 (46.6) |
11.1 (52.0) |
14.2 (57.6) |
18.5 (65.3) |
20.1 (68.2) |
20.3 (68.5) |
18.4 (65.1) |
15.0 (59.0) |
10.1 (50.2) |
5.8 (42.4) |
12.9 (55.2) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 38 (1.5) |
23 (0.9) |
35 (1.4) |
40 (1.6) |
60 (2.4) |
38 (1.5) |
15 (0.6) |
51 (2.0) |
77 (3.0) |
65 (2.6) |
49 (1.9) |
40 (1.6) |
504 (19.8) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm) | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 51 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 160 | 164 | 199 | 223 | 243 | 264 | 308 | 264 | 201 | 184 | 160 | 138 | 2,509 |
| Source:Agencia Estatal de Meteorología[12] | |||||||||||||
Local Festivals
edit
- Cavalcade of the Three Kings (January)
- Cós Blanc (Winter festival; first weekend of February)
- International draughts tournament "Salou Open"(May)
- Children's Festival (June)
- St. John's Eve(Late June)
- Nits Daurades (Summer festival, week of 15 August)
- King Jaume I Festival (7 September)
- National Day of Catalonia(11 September)
- Festa de la Segregació (30 October)
Transport
editAirport
editSalou's closest airport isReus(which it is connected to by a regular bus service) followed byBarcelona.Reus Airport is mainly served by the low cost airlineRyanair.The majorcharter airlinesfromBritainuse Reus throughout the summer as a gateway to theCosta Daurada.The airport mainly serves British and Irish destinations, but domestic and other European destinations are also served.
Railway
editSalou used to have a railway station served by the Spanish state rail-network,RENFE.The destinations from Salou included major cities inCataloniasuch asTarragonaandBarcelona,as well as a train south to the city ofValencia.The station was closed in January 2020 after a new line between Tarragona and Amposta was built.
Someregional trainsnow terminate at the stationSalou - Port Aventurato the north east of the city centre, which opened in 1996 soon after the inauguration of PortAventura. The station is connected to Tarragona and Barcelona byline R17.
Taxi
editThere are plenty oftaxiservices throughout the area including taxi ranks in locations such as opposite the Font lluminosa, Cap Salou and Reus Airport.
Bus
editThebuscompany that serves the area is called Plana Bus, the destinations includeCambrils,La Pineda,PortAventura,ReusandTarragona.
Gallery
edit
-
Llevant Beach -
TheTorre Velladefence tower -
Font lluminosa -
Passeig Jaume I
Sources
edit- The Book of Deedsof James I of Aragon (available in PDF format)
- Ramon Muntaner,Chronicle,tr. Lady Goodenough (available in PDF format).
References
edit- ^"Ajuntament de Salou".Generalitat of Catalonia.Retrieved2015-11-13.
- ^"El municipi en xifres: Salou".Statistical Institute of Catalonia.Retrieved2015-11-23.
- ^Municipal Register of Spain 2018.National Statistics Institute.
- ^Salou, Ajuntament de."Ajuntament de Salou - La nostra ciutat - Història".salou.cat.Archived fromthe originalon 2013-01-15.Retrieved2012-11-10.
- ^http://en.lumine /leisure-business/major-services[permanent dead link]
- ^"2012 WRC Rally Spain to include stage through centre of host town Salou".autosport.16 May 2012.
- ^"Documento sin título".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-12.Retrieved2011-06-15.
- ^Salou, Ajuntament de."Salou presenta dos complexes esportius per reforçar l'aposta turística amb una inversió de 20 milions d'euros".salou.org.
- ^Salou, Ajuntament de."La capital de la Costa Daurada es posiciona en la marca de turisme esportiu amb les instal·lacions del complex esportiu Futbol Salou".salou.cat.
- ^"Complex Esportiu Futbol Salou".futbolsalou.
- ^"Ajuntament de Salou - Notícies - Salou promociona els Jocs del Mediterrani al Saló Nàutic de Barcelona".Archived fromthe originalon 2013-04-15.Retrieved2011-11-09.
- ^"Valores Climatológicos Normales. Salou - Reús / Aeropuerto".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-20.
External links
edit
Media related toSalouat Wikimedia Commons
- Salou Tourist Board
- Government data pages(in Catalan)