Barcelona Zoo from the Festival Village

Choosing these all inclusive apartments in Salou give you the opportunity to spend you well earned extra cash on experiencing what the Costa Dorada has to offer.

What better family excursion then visiting the Barcelona Zoo, with easy transport links from directly outside the Festival Village Apartments it could not be easier for the family to have a fun day out

Barcelona Zoological Park first opened its gates on the Day of the Merçe, patron saint of Barcelona, 1982. The collection of animals on show there came from a private collection kept by Lluís Martí I Codolar at la Granja Vella, his estate in Horta. He offered the animals to Barcelona city Council, and the mayor, Manuel Porcar, gave his approval to their purchase and the subsequent move to the publicly-owned site that was left vacant in Ciutadella Park after the 1988 Universal Exposition.

The approach to the zoological park has evolved with the times, forming a process in which improvements in the living conditions of the animals has been the prime objective

Barcelona Zoo is set in a magnificent garden over 100 years old, covering 13 hectares of Ciutadella Park and containing a collection of some 7,500 individual animals belonging to more than 400 species from all over the world, including:

A large collection of primates, all in danger of extinction. Barcelona Zoo was privileged to have had Snowflake (Gorilla) who was the star attraction. He was the only albino gorilla known to exist, and was found in 1966 in what was the Spanish Guinea. He lived with a total of 4 females, all black, and they had many offspring, 5 of which 1 male and 4 females survived. Nevertheless, the Bormean orangutants (Pongo pygmaeus) are also important – a baby called Jawie was born in 1997 – as is the collection of this, the world’s smallest monkeys, and the small primate house, where there are the grey and collared mangabeys (Cercocebus sp.), whose reproduction in captivity is being monitored by our zoologists. Snowflake died in 2003.

The collection of tamarins, the smallest monkeys in the world and the gallery of small primates, the grey mangabey and white-crowned mangabey (Cercocebus sp.) among others, whose reproduction in captivity is controlled by the zoo. There are lots more animals for everyone to see and enjoy for a fantastic family holiday.

This Salou apartments, the unique to offer all inclusive in Salou, is the perfect base to discover Salou, the Costa Dorada and Barcelona.

Salou

Salou is a tourist and residential city that has consolidated its capital role as the leisure and service centre of the Costa Dorada through the diversity of its offer and the quality and quantity of its tourism facilities.

With this, on the hand, it presents itself as a holiday destination and reference point, concentrating the majority of the basic tourism industry infrastructure in the Tarragona region. Salou is home to the amazing theme park Port Aventura which attracts millions of holiday makers to this area.

The Festival Village Apartments is situated in Cap Salou just on the edge of Salou but with easy access right in to Salou either by public transport, or leisurely walking.

The Costa Dorada offers good temperatures; safe, orderly shallow beaches offering all services and equipment; hidden coves of great natural and scenic interest; an urban design plan that gives centre stage to green spaces, plants, design and the architecture of the landscape; points of historical, architectural and monumental interest; a varied entertainment and leisure on offer; and quality facilities have all helped to run Salou into the “Capital of the Costa Daurada” and to earn the top rating for a family holiday destination in Catalunya.

The main stretch of beach in Salou is 3 km long making it ideal for sunbathing and swimming in the shallow waters of the Mediterranean. For the more adventurous journey, try the water sports on offer such as water skiing or jet skiing.The promenade runs alongside the beach making it an ideal walk, especially at dusk to watch the fantastic sunsets, and fountain show of an evening with music and lights

On the promenade you can see a statue of king Jaime I, from the 16th Century. Another relic of the area is the Torre Vella, a building which is located just behind the railway station, and helped Salou to be safe from the Turkish pirates and is now used as a museum or weddings.

The main shopping area of Salou is at the far end of the promenade and is where you will find the Avenida Andorra. Around here you will find shops open in the day and most evenings.

Out of all the apartments in Salou, the Festival village offers you a fantastic location to explore the area of Salou and the Costa Dorada along with been the only apartments also offer you all inclusive, making it the ideal destination for families.

Reus from the Festival Village Salou

Reus is an example of a medium sized Catalan town with a clear Mediterranean influence, located at 100 km from Barcelona and 8 km from the beaches of the Costa Dorada, and 20-25 minutes journey from the Festival Village Aparments in Salou. Today it is a major shopping and cultural centre for southern Catalonia.

Reus is also home to the local airport for Salou and the Costa Dorada just 20 minutes away from the Festival Village Aparments in Salou.

The world famous architect Antoni Gaudi was born in Reus on 25th June 1852, it was here that the future architect grew up, made friends and received his early education before leaving for Barcelona. Some of his closest associates were also from his home town, including the architects Joan Rubio I Bellver, Domenech Sugranyes and Francesc Berenguer, as well as several of his future clients.

On the 150th anniversary of the birth of Antoni Gaudi, the itinerary “Gaudi’s Reus” was created, a sentimental journey to find out about Antoni Gaudi’s life and his links to his town. The town still recalls the places the young Gaudi frequented during the sixteen years he lived here, as well as on his later visits: the house where he was born, the church where he was christened, the school he attended, the place where he met up with friends and associates.

We also recommend that you visit the exhibition “Gaudi’s Reus” at the Salvador Vilaseca local museum. This presents Gaudi’s background and family, and helps visitors to find out about some of the most significant sides to this personality and view of the world, as well as his links to Reus throughout his life.

The arrival of Lluis Domenech i Montaner, the other great architect of the time, marked the beginning of Reus brilliant modernist period. He was in charge of the building project which was to create the Pere Mata psychiatric institute, begun in 1898.

The Reus modernist Trail was created to help to find out about this modernist heritage. It is a pleasant stroll through the centre of Reus, where there is a wide range of shopping and leisure facilities on offer. The route is especially signposted and the buildings are identified with plaques, so that you can discover the town’s finest modernist sights.

Cap Salou and the Festival Village Salou is the ideal family base for a fantastic holiday to explore the means and facilities the Costa Dorada has to offer with a huge range of history.