Ictineo II, Historical submarine replica in Gothic Quarter, Spain
The Ictineo II is a 14-meter-long replica of a historical submarine built with a wooden hull and copper plating. The vessel displays the technical solutions that engineers of the 19th century developed to navigate underwater.
The original vessel was built in Barcelona's port in 1864 and was one of the first working submarines in the world. Its construction showed that people could work scientifically to create machines that traveled underwater.
The vessel is named after an ancient diving device and honors the Catalan inventor Narcis Monturiol, who pioneered underwater engineering work in Barcelona. Visitors can see the careful craftsmanship in the wooden construction and copper plating, which show how engineers of that era built such machines.
The model is located near the port and is easy to reach by metro. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as the surrounding area invites walking.
The vessel used a chemical reaction system with zinc and other materials to power its steam engine instead of ordinary burning. This was an unusual method that shows how resourceful engineers were back then.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
