Columbus Monument

At the center of the Plaça de la Porta de Pau (Square of the Gate of Peace) stands a monumental cast iron column set on a stone pedestal and topped by a statue of Christoffel Columbus. The 60m / 197ft high monument, known as the Monument a Colom, was designed by the Catalan architect Gaietà Buigas i Monravà for the Universal exhibition of 1888. Construction of the monument started in 1882 but due to financial problems it was only completed just in time for the exhibition.

The monument is placed at the site where Christoffel Columbus arrived in 1493 after his discovery of America the year before. Columbus was presumably born in Genoa, Italy. He first moved to Portugal and later settled in Spain. Nevertheless in the 19th century Columbus was considered a Catalan - some historians still claimed he was born in Catalonia, hence the monument for the famous explorer in Barcelona.

The more than 7 meter high statue, created by Rafael Atche, shows a standing Columbus pointing towards the sea. Oddly enough, he is not pointing in the direction of the new world he discovered. The pedestal is beautifully adorned with a large number of allegorical figures.

The column and pedestal are hollow; you can access the monument, an elevator brings you to a platform from where you have an excellent view over the Rambla and Port Vell.