On my final day in Barcelona, I visited the Christopher Columbus Monument, which is at the Placa de la Porta de Pau. The Statue of Columbus is on the top of a 60 meters (197 feet) column and overlooks the sea. It was designed by Catalan architect Gaieta Buigas i Monrava for the Universal exhibition of 1888. The statue itself is more than seven meters tall and was created by Rafael Atche. Columbus points towards the sea, but not in the direction of the new world he discovered. The pedestal is adorned with allegorical figures.
Under the tower is something like a visitors center with information and a shop. There is also the elevator to go to the top! The fee is six euros and the elevator was tiny - barely big enough for the elevator operator and me.
I walked around the top several times, looking all around Barcelona.
American President Grover Cleveland was the first to be carried to the top during the 1888 event. The elevator operator told me it took quite a long time to get him to the top, as he was a large man. It was very quick when I went up.
Amazing monument, the views from the top make the squeeze lift trip worth while!
ReplyDeleteHi Pamela wow amazing views and sights,you sure had a marvellous time xx
ReplyDeleteYou have so many adventures on your trips!
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ReplyDeleteThat's a monumental ..monument, and a great experience for you!
It makes me wish to visit Barcelona. I visited only Madrid, many years ago.
Very interesting -- and enormous! But wonderful views. This looks like a most wonderful holiday!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting monument, and worth getting to the top to see the views.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing monument! I do hope they put a new elevator in sometime in the last 130 years, though.
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