Monument a Colom
Erected for the 1888 World’s Fair, the monument to Christopher Columbus is a good place to get your bearings. It stands 60m (197-ft.) tall on a traffic circle at the junction of La Rambla and the waterfront. Bas-reliefs around the plinth recount the feats of the great explorer, and sculptures depict key figures in his life, including the Catholic Monarchs Isabel and Fernando who commissioned his voyage to the New World. He returned to Barcelona after his first trip to report back to them on his discoveries. At the top of the cast iron Corinthian column stands a bronze figure of Columbus pointing out to sea.
For those with a head for heights, a tiny elevator ascends to the crown just below his feet in around 30 seconds for panoramic views of the city. The original elevator, the first in Barcelona, took 4 minutes. Warning: The tower sways on windy days.
Erected for the 1888 World’s Fair, the monument to Christopher Columbus is a good place to get your bearings. It stands 60m (197-ft.) tall on a traffic circle at the junction of La Rambla and the waterfront. Bas-reliefs around the plinth recount the feats of the great explorer, and sculptures depict key figures in his life, including the Catholic Monarchs Isabel and Fernando who commissioned his voyage to the New World. He returned to Barcelona after his first trip to report back to them on his discoveries. At the top of the cast iron Corinthian column stands a bronze figure of Columbus pointing out to sea.
For those with a head for heights, a tiny elevator ascends to the crown just below his feet in around 30 seconds for panoramic views of the city. The original elevator, the first in Barcelona, took 4 minutes. Warning: The tower sways on windy days.
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