Barcelona - Columbus Monument

At the Plaça del Portal de la Pau stands the Monument a Cristòfor Colom, 60m/197ft high and weighing 205 tons, which was erected for the World Exhibition in 1888. The iron column is completely covered with allegorical figures. Around the base is a series of reliefs depicting important stages in Columbus's life and voyages of discovery. On the top of the column is an 8m/26ft high statue of Columbus, which points out to sea (and therefore not directly towards the New World). A lift takes visitors up to a look-out area from where there are excellent views of port and the city.

On the windows transparent pictures and captions serve to facilitate the visitor's orientation. At the foot of the monument, in the Portal de la Pau, horse-drawn carriages offer tours of the area.