The idea to build a big monument came from Antoni Fages i Ferrer, who thought it would be cool if the entire thing was built by Catalans. For sixteen years no one liked his idea, until finally, in 1872, it was accepted by the mayor of Barcelona, Francesc Rius i Taulet, and after nine years, the city finally began plans for the construction, in 1881. For the design of the monument, a big contest exclusively for Spaniards was held and the design submitted by Gaietà Buigas i Monravà (a Catalan) was chosen. All of the funding was from Spanish sources, and most of it was privately raised. Also, the entire construction, labor and materials, was done by Catalans, just as the original person who had the idea wanted it to be. The construction began in 1882 and finished six years later in 1888.

This monument has a statue of Columbus on the top. This statue, 7.2m tall (24 ft), was sculpted from bronze by Rafael Atché. Columbus was meant to be pointing towards the New World, while holding a

scroll in the other hand, but when it was placed on top of a big column to make the monument, he was placed in a different way. He is said to be either pointing out to the sea where he landed to report to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, or it could be pointing further out towards his home town, Genoa.

There are many other smaller statues representing people related to Columbus, and there are stairs at the base, with four sort of 'indents' or entrances, each one flanked by two lions, some standing, others in some sort of crouching/sitting position. There is supposed to be a lift inside the monument which can take up into a viewing platform

just underneath Christopher Columbus, but when I went to see this monument, I didn't see any open entrances that would lead to a lift. And the column seems pretty thin for an elevator.

Reference:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Monument,_Barcelona,

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Antoni Gaudi used a technic called trencadis. This is using irregular pieces of broken ceramics, glass, and sometimes bottles, to make a pattern or design. He also used different other unusual techniques using opportunities, such as for the creation of the long serpentine bench on the platform. To make the curves in this bench, Gaudi used the naked posterior of one of his workmen. The workman would sit onto the wet clay, and the curves would be created. In February 2007, a group of adults publicly vandalised the famous ceramic lizard guarding the park entrance. Using a metre long piece of metal, they managed to severely damage the lizard's head and torso. The group of 'punks' were arrested and their intentions have never been known. The lizard was restored back to normal, and a security guard was posted near it to prevent further vandalism.

Unlike most of the pictures available on wikipedia and tourist sites, the park was packed when I visited it. And that was in the middle of February, on a cold cloudy day. Imagine the amount of people in summer on a hot, sunny day. It was hard to get a picture of the world famous lizard. And even the one we managed to get has the elbow of some stranger in it. In certain areas, where there is nothing to see I must add, there was practically no one. In the more famous parts of the park, however, where most of the people went, there were a number of artists playing and performing in hope of a few bucks, some homeless people who settled in the crevices in the walls of the park, and there were also people setting up shop on the floor, selling necklaces and gadgets. But it was still a very interesting and culturally nurturing visit, and it is one of Barcelona's main tourist attractions, and I couldn't leave with seeing it.

One thing I enjoyed in the park, were the green parrots hanging around the palm trees. I learned that they are called Monk Parakeets. They are originally from South America, and were probably imported into the park to add to the already overflowing rush of colours. Or they may have escaped from captivity. Since then, they have spread and can be seen everywhere where there is a bunch of palm trees in Barcelona. They have become almost as abundant as pigeons.

Reference: [wiki] [monica's travel blog] [barcelona, spain] [typicallyspanish] Photos all from my voyage, except the vandalised lizard.

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Reference: http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/sf-eng/index.php, http://www.roughguides.com/website/shop/products/Barcelona-DIRECTIONS.aspx

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