There’s nowhere better in Barcelona for fun and relaxation than the Olympic Marina, which attracts locals and visitors alike, adults and youngsters. Water sports, the beaches and countless restaurants serving seafood cuisine are just some of the attractions in this, the most Mediterranean part of Barcelona.
Barcelona’s Olympic Marina has become one of the city’s most popular leisure areas. Located opposite the Olympic Village, it was built in 1991 during the redevelopment of this area of Barcelona. The marina was designed by the architects Oriol Bohigas, Josep Martorell, David Mackay and Albert Puigdomènech. The city needed a sports marina which would meet exacting standards, and it was the site of the sailing competitions during the 1992 Olympic Games. The marina has 740 berths for yachts and its entrance is visible from anywhere in Barcelona.
The two skyscrapers on either side are the Mapfre Tower and the Hotel Arts, with Frank Gehry‘s spectacular goldfish sculpture at its base, and nearby, the Gran Casino de Barcelona. Lovers of water sports can go yachting or practise other types of sailing techniques here, and in the summertime, the beaches on either side of the marina – Barceloneta and Nova Icària – are the perfect place for sunbathing or for a cooling dip in the sea.
