Summer nights at Barcelona's Maritime Museum are back again this summer.
Set in the museum's garden from early summer until the end of August, this year's set of musical nights feature performances from three of the Hamelin-International Laie School of Alella's big bands, as well as the League of Astonishing Strings and Birmingham's Lady Manners School.
These annual events always showcase a combination of swing, jazz and pop, as well as soundtrack classics from various films.
Music at the Maritime Museum of Barcelona — Photo courtesy of Maritime Museum of Barcelona
Summer nights in Barcelona are never complete without a musical interlude. Thankfully, the Maritime Museum not only provides an excellent space for concerts, but it's also one of the city's most interesting sites.
Situated on the southern edge of Ciutat Vella ("Old City") towards the end of the well-known La Rambla, it serves as the former shipyard. Built between the 13th and 18th centuries, it housed war and merchant ships. It was Barcelona's supreme naval yard during the expansion of the Mediterranean.
As of 1929, the lot was turned into a permanent exhibit, showcasing the maritime history within Catalunya. The exhibition space covers more than 10,000 square meters, and it's certainly a destination point for ship aficionados.
For those interested in exploring the museum during daylight – and before the music kicks off – it's a fun and extremely insightful and interesting display of information.
You can see exposed boats, including ships and container ships, as well as various artifacts such as atlases, charts, navigational instruments, guns, equipment to load goods, prints, weapons, documents and more.
Each boat has its own personality, name and character, and it's also accompanied by stories, myths and expeditions that bring the vessel to life.
Whether you're interested in conflict, leisure, world discovery, transportation of goods, piracy, travel or technological change, there's something for everyone at Barcelona's Maritime Museum.
Even if you find the topic of seafaring slightly dry, you're sure to learn something new and different at this museum. It's definitely worth a look before enjoying the garden concert in the evening.
And after the music ends, you couldn't be better situated than at the bottom of La Rambla for a drink or a night on the town. Clubs line the famous walkway, and right around the corner is Escudellers Street, Plaza Reial, the Raval neighborhood and even the water – if you're up for a short stroll.
Concerts remaining in 2015 will be held on Aug. 13, 14, 18 and 22. The music events all run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
