Columbus monument

The famous Columbus Column, pointing towards America with his finger, is a 60-meter-tall tower featuring the statue of the discoverer of America. This monument was designed for the 1888 World’s Fair and has an observation deck from where you can enjoy a fantastic view of the city, the Ramblas, and the harbor.

What to See and Do at the Columbus Monument

The Columbus Monument, located at the end of Las Ramblas, is a major tourist attraction. From the observation platform at the top, you can take in breathtaking views of the city, the harbor, and Las Ramblas. However, this statue holds even more secrets and interesting details waiting to be discovered!

Columbus Statue

The bronze statue of Columbus, created by sculptor Rafael Atché, stands an impressive 7 meters tall and features several interesting details for observant visitors. The statue is placed on a semi-circular globe, symbolizing the newly discovered part of the world.

With his right arm, Columbus symbolically points towards the route to America, but in reality, he is actually pointing towards Palma de Mallorca. To truly indicate the direction of America, the statue would need to be turned towards Las Ramblas. Another theory suggests that Columbus does point to America, but via the maritime route.

Some believe that Columbus is actually pointing towards Genoa, Italy, which is considered his possible birthplace.

A fun fact: Columbus’ index finger is disproportionately large compared to the rest of his body—it is 10 centimeters longer than usual to make it more visible from the street!

At the base of the monument, there are eight lions, as well as several reliefs depicting scenes from Columbus’ life, including:

• His reception in Barcelona
• Columbus being presented to the Catholic Monarchs in Córdoba
• A conversation between Columbus and the monarchs in Santa Fe
• Columbus setting foot on the newly discovered land

Additionally, the pedestal features eight bronze statues.

Observation Deck

Within the column on which the statue of Columbus is placed, there is an elevator that takes you to the semi-spherical base under the statue’s feet. Here, you find a 360-degree observation deck with a panoramic view of the city, Las Ramblas, and the harbor. Although the space is quite small, it offers a whole new perspective of the city that is very worth seeing. This is the main reason people come here.

Wine Cellar

The basement of the Columbus monument houses the Punt d’Informació d’Enoturisme i Vins del Mirador de Colom. For €3 per person, you can do a wine tasting with regional wines here. You will also learn about the culture of wine and cava and get acquainted with local products.

History of the Columbus Monument

The Columbus Monument was erected for the 1888 World’s Fair. The monument was designed in 1886 by Gaietà Buigas i Monravà and housed, among other things, the first elevator in Barcelona. With its dimensions (60 meters high and 233,000 kilograms), it is the largest statue in the world in honor of Christopher Columbus. This monument was created to commemorate Columbus’s return from the ‘New World’ to the port of Barcelona. He arrived with his crew in Port Vell and reported to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand about his voyage of discovery. The monument is a tribute to Columbus’s achievements and adorns the end of the Ramblas.

On an architectural level, the Columbus monument symbolizes the ‘iron age,’ a period in the second half of the 19th century when the focus was primarily on Paris, and many buildings were made with the new raw material iron. From this period date the vaults of many market halls and stations, metro entrances, street lighting, shop fronts, fountains, and benches on the street. Antoni Gaudí and other representatives of the modernist cultural movement also worked extensively with iron.

A fun fact is that Barcelona’s very first elevator was installed right here in the Columbus Monument.

Nowadays, there is also opposition to this statue: for some residents, Columbus symbolizes colonization and oppression, leading some to call for its removal. Especially on October 12, Spain’s national holiday and the anniversary of the discovery of the New World, it is not uncommon to see many protesters here.

Columbus Monument Tickets

Do you want to stand at the foot of Columbus and look out over Las Ramblas and the sea? For €8, you can reach the top of the statue and enjoy the view! It is recommended to reserve your tickets for the Columbus monument in advance to avoid the queue.

How to Get to the Columbus Monument

The Columbus Monument is located at the end of the Ramblas in front of the Maremagnum shopping center and the Moll de la Fusta harbor area. The nearest metro station is Drassanes (L3).