Museu Marìtim

Save

Let us know if these details are incorrect

Lonely Planet review

Much of Barcelona's medieval prosperity depended on sea trade. In these one-time Gothic shipyards, you can get a sense of the glory and adventure of centuries of maritime history , from the era of rafts to the age of steam. Entry also gives access to the 1918 three-master Pailebot de Santa Eulàlia , moored at Port Vell ( M0086, B4).

The centre of the shipyards is dominated by a full-sized replica (made in the 1970s) of Don Juan of Austria's flagship. A clever audiovisual display aboard the vessel brings to life the ghastly existence of the slaves, prisoners and volunteers(!) who at full steam could haul this vessel along at nine knots. They remained chained to their seats, four to an oar, at all times. Here they worked, drank (fresh water was stored below decks, where the infirmary was also located), ate, slept and went to the loo. You could smell a galley like this from miles away.