Plaça d'Espanya

The Plaça d'Espanya was created for the 1929 World Exhibition. Designed in 1915 by the architect Josep Amargós, it was only completed just in time for the exhibition.

Another architect, Josep Maria Jujol designed a large fountain at the center of the square. His modernist style is clearly influenced by Gaudi, with whom Jujol frequently collaborated on projects like the Casa Milà and Parc Guëll. The sculptures adorning the fountain were created by the Spanish sculptor Miguel Blay Fabregas.

A wide avenue, the Avinguda de la Reina María Christina, is flanked by two towers and leads to the Magic fountain and the Palau National at the Montjuïc. The avenue is often used for trade fairs.

The 47m / 154ft high towers are modeled on the Bell Tower of the St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. They were built by Ramon Raventós for the 1929 International Exhibition.

At the other end of the Plaça d'Espanya stands the 'Arenas de Barcelona'. The bullring in neo-Mudéjar style brickwork was built in 1900. But bullfights have never really caught on in Catalonia and the arena has now been turned into a modern domed shopping center. Its roof is accessible to the public and offers great 360 views over the city.

The area behind the arena was originally known as the Parc de l'Escorxador or Park of the abattoir as it was the location for the bullring's abattoir.

In the 1980s the park was renamed Parc de Joan Miró for the local artist who left his mark on the square with a 22m high colorful sculpture, known as 'Dona i Ocell' or Woman and Bird.

Originally the idea was to put a forest of sculptures like these in the park, but Joan Miró's death in 1983 prevented these plans from being implemented.