ARC DE TRIOMF

Description

Essentials about the Arc de Triomf in brief

It may not be quite as imposing and famous as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but Barcelona’s Arc de Triomf (Arch of Triumph) has a beauty all its own. It is located on the northern edge of Barcelona’s old town at the beginning of the wide promenade Passeig de Lluís Companys, which leads to the Parc de la Ciutadella. The Arc de Triomf was built as the main entrance gate for the 1888 Barcelona World Fair, which was held on the adjacent parkland.

The architecture of the Arc de Triomf

The architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas designed the triumphal arch, about 30 meters high, in the reddish brick construction of the so-called Neo-Marian style. The monument was intended to symbolize the respect that the city of Barcelona had for the nations and provinces that participated in the 1888 World Fair. Thus, the frieze at the front of the arch shows the stone sculpture Barcelona rep les nacions (Barcelona welcomes the nations) by Josep Reynés. The opposite frieze represents a stone carving called Recompense by Josep Llimona, depicting the awarding of participants in the World’s Fair.

The friezes on the broadsides of the Arc de Triomf are decorated with allegories of art, commerce, industry and landscape. On the columns of the Arc de Triomf are stone bats, the heraldic animal of King Jaume I, who ruled Barcelona in the 13th century. At the top of the arch are arranged the coat of arms of Barcelona and the coats of arms of the Spanish provinces.