Badalona & its most iconic places to visit

Badalona is a lovely coastal city located just over 10 minutes by public transport from the Catalan capital. This place is oxygen for the busy Barcelona, and many Catalan people who commute to Barcelona for work choose to live there every year since it is a very good representation of a nice residential Catalan city as well as for Catalan people’s lifestyles. Like many other towns in Catalonia, Badalona is considered a city full of Modernist art and interesting places to visit and enjoy by many. Modernism was, as in many parts of Catalonia, an artistic movement at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century that left many buildings in Badalona that can still be seen and appreciated today. But in this story, I will tell about three of the most iconic and meaningful places to check out in Badalona: The Pont del Petroli, Anís del Mono Factory, and its new and renovated boardwalk.

The Pont del Petroli 

The Pont del Petroli is one of the most iconic places in Badalona. It is a late 19th-century building that was used to unload oil tankers. At the beginning of this century, it was turned into a tourist attraction by popular demand. After being remodelled, it allows you to walk over the sea for almost 300 metres to get a very interesting view of the city's seafront. At the end of the walkway, the area's extension lets you observe the sea at the height of 5 metres.

The Anís del Mono factory 

The Anís del Mono factory is most definitely another symbol of this town. It is located just a few metres from one of Badalona's most visited beaches, on the new seafront promenade. As you walk along the coastal sand, you would be able to notice a pleasant aniseed scent. The factory was founded in 1870 and is still operational after 150 years. The distillation room stands out for its modernist style, which can be enjoyed on a guided tour. You can also see a statue at the beginning of the bridge of the famous Badalona monkey. The gossips say that Charles Darwin's face inspired this primate's face. We do not know if it is flattery or mockery, but this figure stands out on all the labels of the famous Anís.

Badolona's new board walk

A few years ago, Badalona's most pleasant pedestrian areas were Carrer del Mar and La Rambla. Carrer del Mar, which runs perpendicular to the coast, is now a lively shopping street where much of the city's activity is concentrated. This street leads to La Rambla, parallel to the sea. Although it is separated from the beach by the railway tracks, this wide avenue, with its palm trees and terraces, is still a popular place for long strolls and cool-weather gatherings. And since 2012, south of La Rambla, you can also enjoy the renovated boardwalk, which gave a radical facelift to the old industrial area where the previously mentioned Pont del Petroli and the Anís del Mono factory are located. Let's say that Badalona now has many kilometres to enjoy the coastline.

On your visit to Catalonia, do not hesitate to visit this wonderful Catalonian coastal city where many locals choose to live and its three most iconic places. Go for a long walk along its new boardwalk, take a moment to breathe and enjoy the views of the Mediterranean Sea from its iconic Pont del Petrolic, and visit its very popular Anís del Mono factory, which makes Badalona a rather well-known and popular place among many.