Gloucester, picturesque town and port from “The Perfect Storm”

Boston It is one of the last stages of our road trip through the United States and Canada.

But before visiting the historic city, we decided to visit Gloucester, place from where various sightseeing tours to see whales.

Out to sea, about 25 miles, in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coastal area of Boston, there is the one known as Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, a large feeding area for whales.

Since in this area they are usually easily seen from the end of May until October, our trip coincided with the most recommended time of year to take this excursion.

Curiosities of the history of Gloucester

Gloucester It is a city of Cape AnnLocated 37 miles north of Boston, its population is about 35.000, and it is a major center of the fishing industry and a popular summer destination.

This city has a long shipbuilding history dating back to 1713 when the first schooner was built.

It also became an important fishing port, largely due to its proximity to the Georges Bank and other fishing grounds on the east coast of New Scotland y Newfoundland.

Gloucester, setting for “The Perfect Storm”

He is also known for the various businesses related to seafood fishing, but also, as an anecdote, in Gloucester The movie was filmed in 2000 The perfect Storm de Wolfgang petersen, with George Clooney protagonist.

Based on true events, the story follows a group of Gloucester fishermen who face a devastating storm as they fight to survive on the high seas.

One of the highlights of the film is its authenticity and realism, achieved in part thanks to the choice of filming locations in the Gloucester town and fishing port, known for its rich maritime history and robust fishing traditions.

This town provides a picturesque and authentic backdrop for the film, with its cobblestone streets, colonial style houses and picturesque maritime landscapes provided the ideal setting to recreate the life of the city's fishermen.

During filming, George Clooney and the rest of the cast immersed themselves in the culture and community of Gloucester. They spent time with local fishermen, learning about their daily challenges and sacrifices.

This allowed them to more accurately capture the details and emotions of the fishermen's lives on screen.

The production also faced significant challenges due to the filming location.

Filmed in the Atlantic Ocean, the film required scenes on the high seas to capture the magnitude of the storm, which involved adverse weather conditions and the need for precise coordination to achieve authenticity and safety for actors and crew.

"The perfect Storm" Not only is it a thrilling story about the power of nature and human struggle, but also a tribute to Gloucester's fishing community, honoring their resilience and bravery.

Gloucester's Portuguese and Italian influence

Regarding its history, Gloucester maintains a strong Portuguese and Italian influence that is evident in the population, descendants of immigrants who arrived in the 19th century in search of work in its flourishing fishing industry.

In its history of more than 350 years, Gloucester has lost more than 10.000 fishermen in the Atlantic Ocean.

You can see the names of all those missing since a certain date written on a huge mural on the main staircase of the Town hall, and also in a commemorative memorial Located on a seafront promenade.

In the port, the emblematic statue called The man on the wheel.

What to see and do when visiting Gloucester

At walk through Gloucester We could see the characteristic architecture of their houses, which in many cases dates back to the time before the american revolution.

Once we get to Gloucester, we head to the docks to the company offices Cape Ann Whale Watch, one of those who organize the boat trips to see the whales.

There was no problem and we reserved both seats for the second departure of the day, at 13:30 p.m. The planned duration of the excursion was four hours.

As it was 09:30 in the morning, we had four hours to visit Gloucester.

With so much time ahead of us, we were able to make a very complete visit. As soon as we parked the car right in front of the beach, a woman who lived next door approached us with the usual can I help you?

He very kindly explained to us what were the most characteristic points of su Gloucester.

We thanked him for the information, and headed to a large promenade beach front full of American flags, where the memorials dedicated to deceased fishermen.

The day was like a movie, with lots of sun, very clear (which, if not ruined, was ideal for the whales) and with a special luminosity.

On the promenade there was a natural port that was reached by a canal that crossed the beach and the street.

If the ship had masts or was tall, a bridge was raised to allow the vessels to pass.

By raising the bridge, logically the road was closed.

The bridge was actually very old, with sophisticated machinery dating back to 1907, but we could see that it was still working very satisfactorily.

On the walk there was also a monument to vietnam veteran soldiers and another dedicated to the wives and children of the fishermen.

We then walked through various shopping streets, where shops sell very specific local craft products. All the businesses were peculiar and maintained a common aesthetic.

In sum, Gloucester is a typical fishing town, with a lot of history, with beautiful and uniform wooden houses, with many seagulls on the docks and in the bay, very pleasant to walk.

Map: how to get to Gloucester

Gloucester is located 40 miles north of the city of Boston, past Salem, and you will arrive there in three quarters of an hour.