In a city with lots of over-the-top architecture, it’s my favourite extravagance:
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This waterfall in the Parc de la Ciutadella (map here) was inaugurated in 1881 as a triumphal arch and then, after six years of construction, upgraded as a fountain in time for the Universal Exhibition of 1888. The redesign is credited to Josep Fontsére, but there’s always a note that “to a small extent” Antoni Gaudí added some details.
And details there are:
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It’s the Trevi Fountain of Barcelona.
Two enormous pincers of gigantic crabs serve as stairs to access a small podium located in the centre of the monument. In front of it a sculpture (designed by Venanci Vallmitjana) of Venus standing on an open clam was placed.
Obviously, the perfect place for the wedding photos:
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Centro Comercial Glòries
Centro Comercial Glòries
Gord – if I remember my history of Barcelona correctly, the Parc is located on a the site of a former hill and Spanish fort that was used to attack any potential insurrection by those sneaky Catalans holed up in the choleric Gotik quarter, whenever they got uppity.
Once peace and home rule of a sort was established in the mid-19th century, the fort was destroyed and the hill levelled, then the Parc created. The walls of the medieval city finally came down and Cerda’s expansion ultimately ensued.
The Parc thus has a significant historical symbolism as well as it’s inherent beauty.
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Exactly right, Frank