Monument a Colom
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Why go
- The bronze Columbus statue on top of the column, its right arm pointing out to sea
- The lift up to the viewpoint 60 metres above the city, with 360° views over the port and Montjuïc
- The eight bronze bas-reliefs on the plinth, showing scenes from Columbus's first voyage
- The four bronze winged figures on the pedestal, pointing to the four corners of the world
Opening hours
Today08:30 – 20:30Show all
About the work
- artist
- Rafael Atché (the statue) Several sculptors, Josep Llimona among them, worked on the sculptural decoration.
- year
- 1888 Opened during the Universal Exhibition.
- material
- Bronze statue; stone base and iron column
- size
- Statue about 7 m tall, on a 40 m Corinthian column
Interesting facts7
-
A statue of Jaume Ferrer, a cartographer from Mallorca, stands among the figures at the base.
Columbus Monument, Barcelona - Wikipedia -
The statue faces south-southeast, nearly in line with the Rambla.
Columbus Monument, Barcelona - Wikipedia -
The word 'Tierra', meaning land, is carved on the socle beneath the statue.
Columbus Monument, Barcelona - Wikipedia -
Eight coats-of-arms on the plinth represent places that Columbus visited.
Columbus Monument, Barcelona - Wikipedia -
Smaller versions of the monument stand at Catalunya en Miniatura park and at Mini-Europe in Brussels.
Columbus Monument, Barcelona - Wikipedia -
In the first design by Cayetano Buigas, Columbus had no raised arm.
Monumento a Colón (Barcelona) - Wikipedia -
The city's cultural heritage inventory registers the monument as a local cultural asset.
Monumento a Colón (Barcelona) - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
Only Spanish artists could enter the design contest. The monument was built for the 1888 Universal Exhibition and opened while the fair was on.
- 1856Antoni Fages i Ferrer proposes the monument.
- 1881The first stone is laid after the city council approves the project.
- 1888The monument opens during the Universal Exhibition, with regent María Cristina presiding over the ceremony.
- 1889A lift is installed inside the column. On its opening day it breaks down, trapping mayor Rius y Taulet for a few minutes.
- 1892Celebrations of the fourth centenary of the discovery of America are held here, recorded on a plaque.
Show all
- 1929–1984The monument is restored in 1929, 1965, 1976 and 1984.
- TodayIt is still one of the city's emblematic monuments.
Legends and hidden details
- A 1986 art project prepared a wedding between the monument and the Statue of Liberty; the wedding took place in Las Vegas in 1992.
- The meaning of the raised finger, pointing out to sea, has been debated.
- Protests against the monument keep recurring on the Día de la hispanidad.
Best time to visit
- Open every day from 08:30 to 20:30.
- The viewpoint at the top is temporarily closed for about two weeks, so check before you go.
Accessibility
- Lift to the viewpoint A lift inside the column goes up to the viewing platform near the top. It is very narrow, holding about fifteen people for a limited time.
Sources: Columbus Monument, Barcelona - Wikipedia · Barcelona Tourism, Official Website | This is B… · History of Barcelona | This is Barcelona · Architecture | This is Barcelona · Monumento a Colón (Barcelona) - Wikipedia · Colonne Christophe Colomb - Wikipedia · checked 26 Oct 2026
- Website
- barcelonaturisme.com/
- Phone
- +34 932 85 38 32
Questions and answers
What are the opening hours of Monument a Colom in Barcelona?
Monument a Colom is open every day of the week, from 08:30 to 20:30.
Is there a lift to the top of Monument a Colom?
Yes. A narrow lift inside the column goes up to the viewing platform near the top. It holds about fifteen people at a time for a limited period.
How tall is Monument a Colom, and what can you see from the top?
The monument is 60 metres tall. From the viewpoint, 360-degree views take in the port, Montjuïc, the Gothic Quarter and the sea.
Is the viewpoint at Monument a Colom always open?
Not always. The viewpoint at the top is temporarily closed for about two weeks, so check before you go.
Where is Monument a Colom and how do I find it?
It stands at the lower end of La Rambla, where the Ramblas meet the seafront beside Port Vell, on Plaça Portal de la Pau in the Ciutat Vella district.
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