The Columbus Monument - There is not a city in Spain that does not have at least one monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus. At the end of La Rambla, there is a 60-meter tall monument dedicated to the great explorer and sailor. The monument in Barcelona is specifically devoted to Columbus’ travel to America. He first presented his findings to Queen Isabella I King Ferdinand V.
The monument consists of a 40-meter column and a 7-meter Columbus’ statue atop. Columbus points to the “New World” with his right hand, and holds a map in the left. Rafael Atche designed the sculpture. Against the monument’s pedestal there are 8 important people that were somehow related to Columbus or they participated in his travels.
There are also four figures that represent four realms of Spain: the Principality of Catalonia, and the kingdoms of Leon, Aragon, and Castile. In addition to that, there are four statues: Jaume Ferrer, a Mallorcan cartographer, Luis de Santangel Bessant, Captain Pedro Bertran i de Margarit, next to a kneeling Native American, Father Bernat de Boil, preaching to a kneeling Native American. An elevator inside the column takes visitors up to a viewing platform at the top that offers a beautiful view of Barcelona. On the monument, there are also eight coats-of-arms representing locations that Columbus visited: Huelva, Cordoba, Salamanca, Santa Fe, Moguer, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Barcelona.
Idea for the monument was proposed in 1856, but the final decision was not made until 1881. The cost of the monument is unknown, however, it is believed that most of the funds came from private donators, and only 12% was funded by the state. Copies of the monument are located in the Miniature Park in Torrelles de Llobregat and in the Mini-Europe park in Brussels.
Entrance fee with access to the elevator and a glass of wine: 10 euros.
Author of the text:
Maja Glavaš, Bachelor with Honours in Communicology. Works in Tourism.
Contact: [email protected]; instagram: travel_europe1
Photo by Pelayo Arbués on Unsplash
