COLUMBUS MONUMENT

Description

Essentials about the Columbus Monument in brief

What does Christopher Columbus actually have to do with Barcelona? The city is neither his birthplace nor did the discoverer of America ever live here. But what few people know is that Columbus landed in Barcelona after his first voyage to America and was received by Spanish King Fernando I and Queen Isabel and celebrated for discovering the New World. From the observation deck of the monument, 60 meters high, you can enjoy a great view of the center and surroundings of Barcelona. And after enjoying the view from the top, you can still enjoy a glass of Catalan wine in the excellent wine cellar in the basement of the monument.

The architecture of the Columbus Monument

At the end of the Rambla on the Plaça del Portal de la Pau, a seven meter tall statue of Columbus is enthroned on a 60 meter high column in honor of the discoverer of America. In his left hand Columbus holds a parchment, presumably a map. His outstretched right hand points a finger in the direction of the southeast. That’s not where America lies, but at least it’s Mallorca, the place where he set out on his voyage of discovery.

The Columbus Monument was designed by Catalan architect Gaietà Buïgas for the 1888 World’s Fair. The column stands on an octagonal pedestal. The pedestal is decorated with bronze victory angels and lions and designed with eight bronze reliefs. They narrate sections of the navigator’s life and the voyage that led to the discovery of America.

The view from the Columbus Monument

At the top of the Columbus Column, at a height of 60 meters, there is a very small viewing platform, which can be reached more comfortably via an elevator inside the column. Although there are higher viewpoints in Barcelona, you can still get a nice overview of the center of Barcelona from here. To the north, you can see the famous La Rambla promenade and the Barri Gòtic Gothic Quarter with the Cathedral. To the west, the Eixample district, known for its Modernist architecture, and Barcelona’s second local mountain, Tibidabo, can be seen in the distance. Towards the south, the local mountain Montjuïc opens up. And to the east you have a beautiful view over the old port Port Vell.

The wine cellar in the Columbus Monument

By the way, wine drinkers should also be interested in the Columbus Monument. In the basement of the monument there is an extremely well-stocked wine cellar, which exclusively stocks wines from the wine region D.O. Catalunya.