Christmas smells of sea in Barcelona

Christmas smells of fir, escudella, nougat, and chocolate, and in Barcelona, it also smells of the sea. And it is that, as a coastal city, the Catalan capital has brought the festivities to touch the waters of the Mediterranean, those that sneak between the boats of the Port Vell.

In its sixth edition and until January 6, Nadal al Port invites visitors to approach its Ferris wheel, its Christmas market, its activities, and attractions, consolidated as a traditional event during the Christmas season in Barcelona.

This year, the event has continued to grow in proposals and attractions, and also in surface area, extending along the Moll de la Fusta and beyond. The World Trade Center (WTC) has joined the celebration this year, with activities and repeating the light show of the cable car tower; the sheds have joined the party, and the lighting sprinkles trees around the Port Vell, as if pointing the way to the fair.

But this year's novelties go further, as the fair has been reoriented to highlight precisely the maritime essence of the place. Walking among the stalls of the Moll de la Fusta is like doing so underwater: a changing blue light blanket emulates the movement of the waves, and vindicates the maritime character of the event and its surroundings.

And at the stalls, food is not lacking. To the right, paella, grilled meat, French fries; to the left, churros, cotton candy, waffles, crepes. The smells mix with that of the sea, just as multiple languages are heard among those walking through the booths and queuing at the attractions.

And it is that the fair attracts visitors from all over who have decided to spend part of their holidays in Barcelona, and also a large number of local public, who have chosen to go down to the sea to celebrate the saltiest Christmas, as the motto of the Port de Barcelona event edition states.

The maritime character extends into the port water, where you can board the Pailebot Santa Eulàlia, on which the Three Wise Men will arrive in the city in just a week. A few meters away, the Open Arms ship can also be visited, offering a very different view of the same Mediterranean Sea that some see as a meeting place and others, as a border.

A fair to awaken maritime vocations

The event has been evolving since its first edition to become more than just a Christmas fair. With its proposals and activities linked to the sea and port activity, it becomes an unexpectedly ideal place to awaken seafaring vocations.

The event, which this year features more port operators involved, takes advantage of the holiday to bring the blue economy closer to all audiences, starting with young people, who come to the fair attracted by proposals such as The Limit, the new 40-meter flying chair attraction. The queue to get dizzy in the heights is full of teenagers and young people; who knows if any of them might be inspired by a maritime work future while spinning over the port.

And the approach to the sea and the economy linked to it is also brought to the youngest children, with free activities that allow them to play at fishing boats or moving merchandise containers with remote-controlled cranes.

Afterwards, it can be a good plan to ride the carousel, simulate a sled ride or fly on the luminous Ferris wheel. Or skate on the synthetic ice rink, or be surprised at the Circ Raluy Legacy, or bounce in the Fun Box inflatable park, or witness the last preparations of the Three Wise Men in the Tinglado Reial, starting on January 2nd and to have everything ready for Their Majesties to disembark in Port Vell three days later. This year, the Kings can be welcomed from the docks surrounding the WTC, which will open to the public for the first time on January 5th, to begin to bring to an end an event already integrated into Barcelona's agenda of Christmas traditions.