Salou History

The name Salou comes from the Greek "Salauris" and was first used as a port by the Greeks and Romans some 2000 years ago. The Romans prospered in this area and several buildings remain to this day, such as the Roman Praetor House and the Provincial Forum.

13th century

In September of 1229, James the I of Aragon, brought his entire fleet here and used the coast as his departure point to conquer the island of Majorca from the Moors.
Life on the coast was becoming more treacherous as Salou became a haven for the Barbary Pirates, who would use it as a regular stopping point in their journey along the surrounding coastline. The pirates mostly moored at Cala de la Font, which was the perfect hideout for them since it is protected by the Punto del Cavall promontory.

14th century

The cathedral was consecrated in 1331. In the middle of the 14th century, the war between Pedro I of Castilla, known as Pedro the Cruel, and Pedro of Aragon the Ceremonious, intensified, as did the pirates' raids.

16th century

In 1530, the Archbishop of Tarragona ordered the construction of a defense tower, the Torre Vella, to protect and defend the town and its residents. The exterior of the tower still reflects its origins, displaying the coat of arms of Pere de Cardona over the entrance. The inside was transformed into a museum.

18th century

In 1776, the Santa Maria del Mar church was sanctified and, following this, the boulevard from Salou to Reus was built.

19th century

A lighthouse was built in 1858 on Cape Salou. Salou began to grow and prosper in 1865 when they opened the Reus-Salou Railway as it brought the first wave of tourists.

20th century

Salou was segregated from Vila-seca on 30 October 1989 by a decision of the Supreme Court of Spain.