Mirador de Colom

TK, Barcelona
An aerial view of Barcelona and La Rambla from the Mirador de Colom. (Photo by xlibber)

Views from the top of the Columbus column by the port in Barcelona

The Mirador de Colom monument, Barcelona.
The Mirador de Colom monument. (Photo by Gina Haltmair)This 1881 architecural exlamanation point is a monument to Chrisopher Columbus on Plaça del Portal de la Pau, anchoring the south (port) end of La Rambla, Barcelona's main boulevard.

You can ride the elevator 51m (167 feet) to the top of the column portion for sweeping views over the port and the city—and up La Rambla.

In full, the monument measures 60m (197 feet) in all, from the ground to the top of the 7.2m (24-foot) statue's head.

(And yes, believe it nor not, the statue actually is pointing in the proper direction; follow Columbus's outstretched finger long enough in a stright line, and you will hit the Northern Caribbean islands where he first landed (Cuba and Hispanola).

Why is there a statue of Chistopher Columbus in Barcelona?

Few remember that Barcelona is where King Ferdiand and Queen Isabel happened to be when Columbus got back from his first trip to the New World, so this is where he reported to them in 1493 upon his return from "discovering" America.

Most local tourism literature will give you the impression that Columbus actually landed here in Barcelona. He did not. He landed in the same port from which he set off, Palos de la Frontera on the Andalusian coast—though minus the Santa Maria, which sank in America.

(And, techncially speaking, he had already made landfall in Europe, sheltering from a storm in Lisbon for more than a week before officially returning to Spain.)

Tips & Links

Mirador de Colom details

★★★

ADDRESS

Pl. Portal de la Pau
[ Barri Gotíc / El Raval ]

Tel. +34-932-853-834

OPEN

Mar-Sept: Daily 8:30am–8:30pm
Oct-Feb: Daily 8:30am–7:30pm

ADMISSION

€3.40
With Barcelona Card: May be free (some years it is, some it is not)
Hop-on/hop-off bus discount: 20%

TRANSPORT

Metro: Drassanes (L3)
Bus: 14, 20, 21, 36, 57, 59, 64, 91, 120, 157.
Hop-on/Hop-off route: East, West, South (red)

How long does the Mirador de Colom take?

Planning your day: Give it about 20 minutes in total—for the ride up and down, and to snap some pictures from the top.

» Barcelona itineraries

Save with a sightseeing pass

The Mirador de Colom is free with the Barcelona Card. » more

Useful links & resources

SIGHTS

Barcelona tourist info: Barcelonaturisme.com (info office), Guiadelocio.com (events mag); Catalunya.com (regional info), Spain.info

Sightseeing passes: Barcelona Card (20+ sights; transport; discounts), Museum Pass (6 sights)

Tours & activities: Viator.com, ContextTravel.com, UrbanAdventures.com, City-Discovery.com, Intrepidtravel.com, Gadventures.com

LODGING

Hotels: Booking.com, Venere.com, Priceline.com, Hotels.com

B&Bs: Booking.com, Bedandbreakfast.com, Airbnb.com, Venere.com

Apartments: Rentalo.com, Vrbo.com, Booking.com, Airbnb.com, Interhomeusa.com, Homeaway.com

Hostels & campgrounds: Hostelbookers.com, Hostelworld.com, Hostelz.com, Booking.com

TRANSPORT

Airfares:

Airports: Aena.es

Trains: Raileurope.com (throughout Europe), Renfe.com (within Spain), Bahn.de (throughout Europe), Seat61.com

Public transport: Barcelona Card (free transport; sightseeing); Search all public transit: mou-te.gencat.cat; Metro/Bus: Tmb.cat; Tram: Trambcn.com; Light rail: Fgc.cat; Taxi: Taxibarcelona.cat

Car rentals: Autoeurope.com, RentalCars.com, Momondo.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Kayak.com

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This article was by Reid Bramblett and last updated in September 2013.
All information was accurate at the time.

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Copyright © 1998–2013 by Reid Bramblett. Author: Reid Bramblett.