Torre Glòries / Torre Agbar

Torre Glòries, previously known as Torre Agbar, is a relatively new landmark in Barcelona. Known among the locals as the condom, penis, or dildo, the building initially caused much criticism and uproar, but over time it has grown into one of the most important symbols of Barcelona. In addition to office space, Torre Glòries features a magnificent viewpoint on its 33rd floor, which you can visit. In the evening, when illuminated, Torre Glòries is at its most beautiful.

What to see and do at Torre Glòries

With the arrival of Torre Agbar, now called Torre Glòries, Barcelona’s skyline changed forever. The modern skyscraper, the fourth tallest building in Barcelona, is beautiful from afar, but it’s only when you get close that you can appreciate all the details of its façade. Nowadays, it’s also possible to visit the beautiful “Mirador Torre Glòries” viewpoint at the top of the skyscraper, the city’s highest observation tower!

Viewpoint Mirador Torre Glòries

At the top of Torre Glòries (on the 33rd floor, to be exact), you’ll find a stunning 360-degree viewpoint that you can visit for a fee, the Mirador Torre Glòries.

With the entrance tickets, you get access not only to Torre Agbar and its breathtaking view but also to an interactive exhibition about Barcelona, making the visit to this viewpoint even more enjoyable.

Torre Glòries illuminated in the evening

The best time to admire Torre Glòries is in the evening. The tower is then illuminated by LED lights in no less than 40 different colors. A true spectacle for the eyes!

To see the illuminated Torre Glòries, visit on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday evening. In the winter, Torre Glòries is illuminated from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm, and during the summer from 9:00 pm until midnight. The Torre Glòries is also beautifully lit up for the public on holidays.

Architecture of Torre Glòries

Torre Glòries (formerly Torre Agbar) is a strikingly shaped skyscraper in Barcelona, 142 meters tall with 34 floors. It has the shape of a cylinder transitioning into a dome, leading to various interpretations. Even its creator, architect Jean Nouvel, reportedly called it a phallic symbol in an interview.

Nouvel was actually inspired by Antoni Gaudí and the Montserrat mountains to create this unique skyscraper.

Only when you get closer to the tower will you see that the outer wall is completely covered with 120 by 30 cm aluminum sunshades. During the day, these reflect sunlight, and at night they are illuminated by LED lights.

Poblenou and the 22@ technological district

The Glòries tower is located in the 22@ district, an area in Sant Martí often compared to Brooklyn, characterized by the stark contrasts between old and new. The old factory buildings have made way for modern offices (many of them housing technology companies and startups), trendy eateries, ultra-modern hotels, and apartment buildings. 22@ is not for nothing known as Barcelona’s ‘innovation hub.’

Nearby, there’s much to see. For example, Barcelona’s largest flea market (Mercat dels Encants Vells), Barcelona’s design museum (Disseny Hub Barcelona), and various old chimneys and factory buildings with new purposes, such as Ca l’Aranyó, Can Ricart, and Fàbrica Oliva Artés.

If you walk a bit further, you can also visit the Fòrum. The Fòrum is the area where the large international cultural event Forum de les Cultures took place in 2004. Nowadays, this area is used for fairs, congresses, concerts, and other events such as the annual Feria de Abril. At Fòrum, there are several modern skyscrapers, such as Habitat Sky (116 meters tall) and Diagonal Zero Zero (101 meters tall). Also interesting is a visit to Museu Blau, a natural history museum with a very good children’s program.

And if you love shopping, you must make a stop at the Glòries shopping center and the Diagonal Mar shopping center!

History of Torre Glòries (Torre Agbar)

Torre Agbar was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, commissioned by the Spanish water company Aguas de Barcelona (Agbar). That’s why the skyscraper’s initial name was Torre Agbar.

The construction of this skyscraper cost 130 million euros and began in 1999, completed in 2005. It was celebrated with a big opening party.

The offices of Aguas de Barcelona were moved here, but the 34 floors were never fully occupied. Renting out the empty floors proved more difficult than expected.

In 2013, Torre Agbar was sold to the luxury hotel chain Hyatt, which planned to turn it into a hotel. However, that plan fell through, and then Torre Agbar was sold again in 2016 to the real estate group Merlin, which planned to put offices in it again.

Today, the skyscraper serves as an office building for companies including the American Facebook and has had a viewpoint on the 33rd floor since May 2022.

Nouvel won the Pritzker Prize in 2008 for the construction of Torre Agbar, the most prestigious award in the world of architecture. Barcelona itself gained a new symbol with the city, but whether Torre Agbar can have actual utility remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the name of Torre Agbar has changed to Torre Glòries, as the skyscraper is no longer the headquarters of Aguas de Barcelona (Agbar).

How to get to Torre Glòries (Torre Agbar)

Torre Glòries is very easy to reach by metro. When you get off at the Glòries metro station (L1), you will see it immediately. The Torre Glòries also marks the starting point of the new 22@ technological district in Poblenou.