Columbus Monument
The famous statue depicting the explorer with his right arm extended and index finger pointing towards the horizon
The monument honoring Christopher Columbus stands before the Port of Barcelona, between La Rambla and Paseo de Colón. The sculpture reaches 56 meters in height, and within the column, there is an elevator providing access to the observation deck beneath the statue’s feet, offering a 360-degree panoramic view of Barcelona.
Access to the viewpoint is temporarily closed.
Barcelona Bus Turístic, on the Hola Barcelona app
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Why visit the Columbus Monument?
The monument was designed by Gaietà Buïgas i Monravà, and the statue was created by the sculptor Rafael Atché. The ensemble was awarded the gold medal at the 1888 Universal Exposition and has since become a true icon of Barcelona.
The image of Columbus, which it depicts, stands atop an iron column that includes an elevator allowing visitors to ascend to the feet of the statue. Located in the Plaça del Portal de la Pau, between Las Ramblas and the pier, the monument offers a panoramic view of Port Vell, Montjuïc mountain, and the neighborhoods of Raval and the Gothic Quarter.
How to get to the Columbus Monument?
From the Colón – Maritime Museum stop on the Red Route of the Barcelona Tourist Bus, you can admire the monument and take a walk around the Port Vell area.
For the curious
- There are 64 sculptures dedicated to Columbus worldwide—this is the largest of them all.
- From the observation deck, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of Barcelona, spanning from the sea to the mountains.
- The Columbus statue was built as the grand centerpiece of city improvements along the coastline, in celebration of the 1888 Universal Exposition of Barcelona.
