Strolling by the sea, while the sweet wind flutters through your hair, tousling it, is a privilege and one of the most pleasant sensations you can experience in a city or town bathed by salt water. What if I told you that Tarragona has one of the most characteristic viewpoints in the province, with incredible views of the Mediterranean coastline? The quintessential Roman city in Catalonia not only boasts magnificent architecture from that period, but also other very distinctive sites.
If you’ve ever visited Tarragona, you’re sure to have strolled, without knowing it, along this magnificent viewpoint. And if you still haven’t, we encourage you to get to know it and don’t miss another day without enjoying its panoramic view. It is known as Balcó del Mediterrani, an ideal place to observe the immense calm sea and breathe in the pure air of its breeze, which will not leave you indifferent.
In this post, we are going to explain the origin and curious facts related to this balcony, so that you will have an irremediable desire to visit it. Also, you must consider that, from Shuttle2Sun, we put at your disposal shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, so you can move to Tarragona, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Tarragona in the 19th and early 20th centuries
The city of Tarragona began the 19th century with great difficulties, as it was affected, like the rest of Spain, by the French War during the first decade. Once the war was over, it had to face the need to recover its economy and population. This recovery made it possible to restart work on the port of Tarragona, the great driving force of the city throughout its history.
Thanks to the notable growth of the agricultural sector, with the cultivation of vineyards, the city managed to recover and experience a period of splendour, which contributed to the expansion of the municipality beyond the old walls.
Even so, this period did not last long, as the beginning of the 20th century also saw events that once again made life difficult for the population, such as the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, the Second Republic and, finally, the Spanish Civil War.
Origin of this balcony
This balcony, made of iron, was designed in 1889 by the Tarragona architect and art historian Ramon Salas i Ricomà. Joan Miquel Guinart was later commissioned to forge it and make its characteristic shape a reality at the beginning of the 20th century. Previously, the place where the balcony now stands was occupied by a wall that delimited Passeig de les Palmeres.
It should be noted that, according to some sources, it is said that its name dates back to several years ago, when the president of the First Spanish Republic, Emilio Castelar, made a visit to the capital of the province and named, for the first time, this enclave, as Balcó del Mediterrani, for its magnificent views of the sea.
Remember that, with Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services, you can travel to Tarragona from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Location and views
If you walk along Rambla Nova, from Plaça Imperial Tarraco, towards the sea, you will reach the highest point of this main road, which will invite you to marvel at the incredible views of Mediterranean Sea from this famous balcony. During this walk to the viewpoint, you will be able to enjoy one of the busiest areas, an artery built in the mid-19th century.
At this end of Rambla Nova is also the monument to Admiral Roger de Llúria, erected in 1889. It is a bronze statue in the late Romanesque style, made by the Catalan sculptor Fèlix Ferrer i Galceran in Rome.
Leaving Rambla behind you, on your left you will see Passeig de les Palmeres, which joins Balcó del Mediterrani with the end of Rambla Vella and the Roman amphitheatre. In this park, you can also enjoy privileged views while strolling under the shade of the trees.
From Balcó del Mediterrani, some 40 metres above sea level, you will be able to make out various representative areas of Tarragona.
First of all, at your feet, you will find one of the main beaches that make up its coastline, Platja del Miracle, with an extension of about 500 metres, which ends at Punta del Miracle, where you will also find Fortín de la Reina, a construction that served as a defence during the French War.
In addition, Balcó del Mediterrani allows you to observe the port of Tarragona and Passeig Marítim Rafael Casanova, which runs along the coast until it reaches the port facilities.
The popular expression ‘tocar ferro’ (touching iron)
Your visit to Balcó del Mediterrani cannot end without doing one of the most popular actions among the people of Tarragona. This is ‘tocar ferro‘ (touching iron), an expression that encourages people passing by to touch the railing as a symbol of good luck.
The origin of the expression ‘tocar ferro’ dates to medieval times, when people who were threatened by some situation, such as possible murders or assaults, were warned with the expression ‘toca ferro’, so that they would be alert and take their weapon, which, at that time, was usually made of iron. This term is very similar to the expression ‘tocar madera’ (knock on wood), which is also used to ward off bad luck.
Replica of Balcó del Mediterrani
On Passeig Marítim Rafael Casanova, bordering Platja del Miracle, you will find a curious little place. It is a replica of the famous Balcó del Mediterrani, from which you can enjoy incredible views of the sea from a totally different perspective, just a few metres from the sand.
Come and enjoy the incredible panoramic views that this area of Tarragona has to offer. Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services allow you to travel to Tarragona from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
