Arc de Triomf Monument & Passeig de Lluís Companys Boulevard
Designed by Josep Vilaseca as a gateway to a promenade with wrought iron lamp posts leading to the 1888 Universal Exhibition in Parc de la Ciutadella
About Arc de Triomf Monument & Passeig de Lluís Companys
Barcelona hosted the 1888 Universal Exposition, Exposición Universal de Barcelona (1888). Arc de Triomf was built as a gateway to the World fair of 1888 at the bottom of passeig de Sant Joan in Passeig de Lluís Companys boulevard and was the grand entrance forming a walk to the fairground located in Parc de La cuitadella.
Architect Josep Vilaseca designed a gateway to embody the modernity of Barcelona of the late nineteenth century. The lateral reliefs symbolise Agriculture and Industry, and on the other side, Trade and Art. Above the arch, the shields of the 49 Spanish provinces are chaired by the coat of arms of Barcelona.
Arc de Triomf is one of Barcelona city's iconic landmarks. Vilaseca chose to build the arch from brick and decorate it in a Neo-Mudéjar style which was in vogue in Spain at the time. The combination of red brick with the decorative shields and a broad horizontal band of sculpted decoration (frieze) and around the arch, make it a beautiful landmark.
Notable Features in Passeig de Lluís Companys
- Palau de Justícia: can be seen on the left side as you walk down Passeig de Lluís Companys. The courthouse was inaugurated in 1908 and designed by architects Josep Doménech i Estapà and Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia. The four facades were decorated with sculptures and reliefs, friezes and shields, and other sculptural ornaments with four weather vanes on top of the corner towers. The reliefs were chosen by a committee which comprised politicians of the liberal party. The building is made from Montjuïc quarried Stone.
- Pere Falqués Lamp Posts: wrought iron dating from 1905. As of 1841 Barcelona adopted the use of Town Gas for street lighting which allowed the city to experiment with many different forms of lighting and lamp post. The lamp posts combine the styles of classicism and gothicism eliminating the need for heavy sturdy pieces.
- Francesc de Paula Rius i Taulet statue: can be found at the bottom of Passeig de Lluís Companys before crossing the road into Parc de la Cuitadella. Francesc de P. Rius i Taulet (Barcelona 1833-Olordola 1889) was mayor of Barcelona, shortly before the First Republic in 1873, and again in 1874, after the coup of General Pavia. Deputy to Corts for Barcelona under the Bourbon Restoration as a member of the dynastic liberal party of Sagasta, was mayor of Barcelona between 1881 and 1884 and between 1886 and 1889. He promoted the great works of the Gran Vía de las Cortes, Plaça de Tetuan , Plaça del Doctor Letamendi, the demolition of the rest of the Muralla de Mar (Old city wall on seafront) to open the Passeig del Colóm, the monument to Columbus, the Universal Exhibition of 1888 and the cemetery of the southwest of Montjuïc. Founded the Municipal Laboratory and the Municipal Institute of Hygiene to prevent and combat epidemics and endemic diseases.
Image Gallery for Arc de Triomf Monument & Passeig de Lluís Companys
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