Statue created for the Universal Exhibition of Barcelona in 1888, with the passage of time, it has acquired great popularity among tourists and locals. Although it is not the largest of the monuments, the Columbus Monument is one of the most important.
In 1888, the Catalan capital hosted the great Universal Exhibition, and in order for the city to live up to this event, many new works were inaugurated. Among them was the Columbus Monument.
This architectural work is a sculptural ensemble composed of a base, a high pillar and finally the statue of Christopher Columbus pointing towards the sea. As a curiosity in the original project, he did not point anywhere, but held a badge with his left arm and his right hand was against his chest.
This sculpture quickly became one of the city’s favorites, and a symbol of Barcelona’s identity.
The design of the monument was the responsibility of the architect Cayetano Buigas, the sculpture was built and inaugurated the same year. Being an old work, it has undergone various reforms, the most important being those that occurred in 1929 and 1984.
For many years, it was the main venue and designated meeting point for the celebrations of the discovery of America held in Barcelona. Today it continues to be an important attraction of the city, fascinating both locals and foreigners.
This great statue is not only a tribute to a great navigator, or a reminder of the great Universal Exhibition, but it is also the point of union between El Paseo de Colón and Las Ramblas. For this reason, it is a real must-see in the Catalan capital.
Due to its great cultural, historical and architectural importance, the Columbus Monument is considered an Asset of Local Cultural Interest. The statue withstood different turbulent periods in the contemporary history of Barcelona, such as the clashes that occurred during the Spanish Civil War.
The entire monument has a height of almost 60 meters, the main figure being that of the navigator, whose statue measures 7 meters. Accompanying Christopher Columbus, there are at the base of the monument some smaller statues that correspond to the Catholic Monarchs, the Caravels, the maps of the five continents, shields, lions, allegories to the kingdoms of Spain, Luis de Santángel, Pedro by Margarit, Jaume Ferrer de Blanes and Fray Bernat de Boïl.
One of the most outstanding aspects of the monument is that it is also a great viewpoint from which a good part of the Old Port of Barcelona can be observed. If the traveler wants to reach the highest part of the statue, he can go up by an elevator that is inside the structure.
The Columbus Monument is a popular tourist attraction, which is why it is usually crowded for much of the year. In addition, it is the meeting point of the two great avenues of the city.
If visiting the statue is on your bucket list, you can take advantage of the early hours of the day, when the tourist groups are not yet too many. If you travel to Barcelona during the low season, you may have more opportunities to see the statue completely clear.
Remember that this iconic monument is one of the great must-sees of the city, so you cannot miss the opportunity to see it.
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