Torre Jaume I, Cast-iron tower in Port Vell, Spain
Torre Jaume I is a cast-iron tower in Barcelona's harbor that serves as the central support pylon for the Port Vell Aerial Tramway system. The structure rises above the water and spans between two shorelines through cables and gondola stations.
The tower was built in 1931 for the Barcelona International Exposition as a technical feat of its era. During the Spanish Civil War it later served as a military observation post.
The tower takes its name from James I of Aragon, a medieval king, linking Barcelona's present to its past as a maritime center. The aerial tramway it supports shapes the harbor landscape today and visually connects the city to its waterfront areas.
The tower is most easily reached from Barceloneta metro station, which provides direct access to the aerial tramway station at its base. On clear days, the ride across the water offers good views of the city and harbor.
When it opened, this was the world's tallest aerial tramway structure and held that record for several decades. This distinction shows how advanced Barcelona's engineering was in the early 1930s.
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