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 bottom of the Ramblas, is a true tourist attraction. From its observation deck, you enjoy breathtaking views over the city, the harbor, and the Ramblas. But there’s much more! The basement is dedicated to wine tourism, and you can participate in wine tastings there.

Columbus Statue

The bronze statue of Columbus, by sculptor Rafael Atché, is a whopping 7 meters long and has a number of interesting details for the observant visitor. For example, the statue stands on a semi-spherical globe that reminds us of the newly discovered part of the world.

With his right arm, he symbolically points to the route to America, but in reality, he is pointing towards Palma de Mallorca. To point to America, the statue would have to be turned towards the Ramblas. Another story is that Columbus is indeed pointing towards America, but via the sea route.

Some claim that Columbus is pointing towards Genoa, Italy, the alleged birthplace of the explorer.

Regardless, an interesting fact is that the size of Columbus’s pointing finger is actually out of proportion to the rest of his body: the finger measures 10 centimeters longer so that it is more visible from the street.

At the base of the monument stand eight lions, four standing facing the sea and four sitting facing the city. Tourists often take photos here as a souvenir. If you also want to take a photo with the lions and stand on them, you need to do so carefully.

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.

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).