Torre Jaume I, Cast-iron tower in Port Vell, Spain
Torre Jaume I is a cast-iron tower standing in the water of Barcelona's harbor, serving as the central pylon of the Port Vell Aerial Tramway. It connects two shorelines through cables and gondola stations, with one end at Barceloneta beach and the other at Montjuïc hill.
The tower was built in 1931 for the Barcelona International Exposition and was considered a technical achievement of its time. It later served as a military observation post during the Spanish Civil War.
The tower is named after James I of Aragon, a 13th-century king who expanded Catalan maritime power across the Mediterranean. The cable car it anchors still runs today, linking the Barceloneta beach area to Montjuïc hill.
The aerial tramway station at the base of the tower is a short walk from Barceloneta metro station. A visit is best on a clear day, since much of the experience takes place outdoors and above the water.
When it opened in 1931, this was the tallest aerial tramway structure in the world, a record it held for several decades. This makes it a rare surviving example of early large-scale cable car engineering.
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