One of the popular attractions of Barcelona, the Columbus Monument is a stunning 197-foot tall tower dedicated to the famous explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus. Located at the southern edge of La Ramblas, a prominent street at the heart of Barcelona, the Christopher Columbus Monument is a key landmark of the city.

One of the finest examples of 19th century Catalan architecture, the monument was constructed for the first international exhibition of Spain, held in 1888. After returning to Spain from his first voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus reported to King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I about his discovery in Barcelona. The Barcelona Columbus Monument was built to commemorate the great event.

The design of the monument was selected through a contest. The design submitted by a Catalan artist named Gaieta Buigas I Monrava was approved as the plan of the monument. It took about six years to construct the monument. The entire construction work was undertaken by Catalans.

Architecture of Columbus Monument

The monument comprises of a Corinthian column that stands on an octagonal pedestal. On top of the column stands a 24 feet tall bronze statue of Christopher Columbus. The statue of Christopher Columbus depicts the explorer facing towards the New World with his right index finger pointing in the direction of the Americas. The Spanish word “Tierra”, which means land, is inscribed on the short plinth that supports the statue.

The pedestal of the monument is adorned with statues of griffins and winged victories. People related to Columbus and his voyages to the New World are represented in the portrait medallions on the buttresses against the pedestal. Statues representing Catalonia, Leon, Castile and Aragon are positioned against the buttresses. There are four more statues at the base of the monument. Important scenes associated with Columbus’ first voyage to the New World are depicted in the bas-relief panels of the plinth. The regions visited by Columbus in the Americas are represented in the coats-of-arms in between the bas-relief panels. Statues of lions encircle the monument at the base.

What to see

Four staircases at the base of the monument lead to the elevator in the column. The elevator takes visitors to a viewing platform, at the base of the bronze statue of Columbus, offering a magnificent view of Barcelona and its urban landscape. The Columbus monument is open to visitors from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM throughout the week.

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