The Arc de Triomphe in Barcelona is in no way related to our baguette-loving neighbor – France, but still, there is not a single tourist who has not asked me during the decade that I have been a guide in the city whether there is a connection between the two?! And yet the answer is – no. So what is?
Arc de Triomphe Barcelona's was built for the first world exhibition held in the city in 1888 and dealt with innovations and inventions in the fields of science, technology and art, and was the opening shot for a series of exhibitions and events that have been held since then to this day.
The Arc de Triomphe in Barcelona – the triumph of the human spirit in the industrial revolution
1851 The first World Exhibition is held in London, and at the same time, an equally important event is taking place in the city of Barcelona - the Industrial Revolution, which, among other things, created a layer of wealthy bourgeois who ruled the city and adopted the local artistic movement - Modernismo (1880-1930) Catalan "Art Nouveau". For them, this movement was much more than an artistic movement. It was a real national symbol. The exhibition was, among other things, a great opportunity to expose it as well.
Impressed by the London exhibition, the bourgeois, led by Senor Serrano, a wealthy businessman, decide to hold a similar exhibition in the city of Barcelona.
And so the municipality decided to allocate the area of the Citadel Park to that exhibition, and the Triumphal Arch located near it served as the main entrance gate for visitors to the exhibition, and did not symbolize a victory like that of our neighbor France, but rather a victory of a different kind – the victory of the human spirit, the victory of the economic and technological progress brought about by the Industrial Revolution.
It is important to know that not all triumphal arches symbolize victory. There is another example of this in Tarragona (the southern province of Catalonia). El Arco de Bara symbolizes territorial denuclearization.
Joseph Villasca's impressive monument is made of burnt brick that was produced in a modular manner (one of the most important inventions of the revolution) and is rich in sculptures, all of which have symbolic meaning and some of which are covered in glaze. It was not destroyed at the end of the exhibition like many buildings, and to this day it is the "entrance gate" to the beautiful park - the Citadel Park, El Parque de la Ciutadella.
The Arc de Triomphe is a wonderful example of the architectural heritage that exhibitions leave behind after they have ended. Over the years, quite a few buildings have been built that still adorn the urban landscape and serve us and you, the visitors.
But it is not only about architectural heritage that we can talk about, but we can say with certainty that this is an event that changed the face of the city of Barcelona. The Catalans have known since then to take advantage of every event to create infrastructure for urban development. Moreover, it still serves as an example of urban planning, which even today, after 150 years, is valid and dynamic!
The French connection and recommendations for excellent hotels and restaurants in the area
But if you still want a French connection, I have a very nice anecdote to tell you - for that exhibition, a monument was presented (and rejected) to the jury, which they called "an inverted funnel made of tons of iron" by the architect and engineer Gustave Eiffel, who did not give up and a year later presented the same "funnel" at the World Exhibition in Paris and since then has become a symbol of the City of Lights. Eiffel Tower.
The Arc de Triomphe of the city of Barcelona is located 1.1 km from the famous Plaza Catalunya. If you want to get there by metro, you will have to take the red line of the metro and get off at the station called -Arco de Triumfo.
But I actually like to get there via Paseo Sant Joan, which has become very popular among locals in recent years as many excellent cafes and restaurants have opened there in recent years. I really like the following restaurants:
Parking pizza/parking pita.
This is one of the best pizzerias in the city, but not only because right next to it is Parking Pita. They have excellent food in a pita, which we Israelis love!
Hoffmann Confectionery
The Arc de Triomphe is located in a strategic point in terms of its location – near the wonderful Al Born neighborhood, where you can find a considerable number of restaurants and pastry shops.
Like, for example, Hoffmann's Patisserie. The legendary patisserie and its iconic mascarpone croissant (and every unnecessary word) are worth the 10-minute walk it will take you to get there.
Hoffmann Confectionery website
Accommodation near the Arc de Triomphe
Recommended hotels in the area:
Both are new and very central hotels, about 5-7 minutes from Plaça Catalunya. Both have a wonderful rooftop terrace to sit on after a long day and drink a glass of good wine, and enjoy the fact that in Spain it gets dark late in the summer months, and in general, Barcelona has wonderful weather. I personally really like Princess Negresco because the rooms are larger than Yurbban, but if you are someone who values design and aesthetics, then Yurbban wins. You will find a richer and more varied breakfast at Princess Negresco.
ohla barcelona – A central hotel within walking distance of Plaza Catalunya, the shopping street "Portal del Angel" and the La Ribera neighborhood. Perfectly connected in terms of transportation. The hotel has luxurious rooms, each decorated differently, and the hotel in general is decorated and the service is wonderful. Bonus – the hotel has a rooftop with a simply stunning view!!! Highly recommended!
Two cheaper hotels
- Chic and Basic – A cute hotel with a cool and youthful design and the rooms accordingly. The location is in the wonderful La Rivera neighborhood, which I personally love, but it can be defined as the least central of all the four I recommended. The hotel is part of a chain, so you can find other hotels throughout the city.
- Ayre Casp – Cheap (relatively), basic, and central.
Citadel Park – "Gardens for a city are like lungs for the human body"
And if I've come this far with you, then stay with me a little longer, because right next to all this goodness there is one more lovely thing you must do, and that is to go into the Citadel Park, buy a "lungi" from the Pakistani vendors there and simply have a siesta, that is, a little nap and enjoy your vacation, and also give your feet a rest because in Barcelona, you'll be walking around, there's a lot to see.
The park was built on the site of a fortress that served the forces of Philip V after the end of the War of the Spanish Succession. The fortress, which looked like a star fountain, was destroyed with joy and rejoicing by volunteers, and for the city's residents, this fortress symbolized and symbolizes to this day the loss of Catalonia's independence by the Bourbon monarchy and the loss of its rights.
A few words about Renata Bismuth
A little about me… I am Renata Bismuth, a former Israeli who has lived and breathed the city of Barcelona for the past 17 years and the owner of the travel company Travelona. Specializing in guidance and operation services for individuals and groups in Spain since 2011. Among other things, I have a variety of free walking tours based on tips only in small groups of up to 20 people.