Nowadays, we often take running water for granted whenever we shower or turn on a tap. However, until about a hundred years ago, if you wanted water in your home, you had to fetch it from a public fountain. The first piped, or at least channelled, water system in Barcelona was installed by the Romans,…
Tag: fountains
Can You Drink the Tap Water in Barcelona?
If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona you’re probably wondering whether the tap water in Barcelona is safe to drink. Yes, tap water in Barcelona is completely safe to drink and is continuously monitored to ensure that it meets the standards established in EU directive 2220/184 and under Spanish law, Real Decreto 140/2023. Both these…
Hercules Fountains & The Origins Of Barcelona
According to legend, Barcelona was founded by the Greek God Heracles, who, together with his brother Hermes, accompanied Jason and the Argonauts, searching for the Golden Fleece. The brothers set sail with a fleet of nine ships, one of which was lost in a storm somewhere in the Mediterranean. After days of searching for the…
Statue of Little Red Riding Hood
Who isn’t familiar with the story of Little Red Riding Hood? The tale of a young girl and her grandmother who are saved from a fierce wolf by a burly woodcutter. The Little Red Riding Hood fountain in Barcelona portrays a smiling Red Riding Hood casually stroking a friendly-looking wolf. Presumably, inspired in the girl’s…
Neptune’s Fountain: History and Symbolism
Neptune is one of the best known Roman gods and there are fountains dedicated to him in numerous European cities including Rome, Florence, Madrid and Berlin. Neptune’s fountain in Barcelona was inaugurated in 1882. Originally located in the Port Vell harbour, in 1912 the fountain was moved to the Laribal Gardens on Montjuïc where it…
The Medieval Fountains of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
Barcelona was founded by the Romans in the first century AD. As the city’s population increased, two aqueducts were built to bring water from springs in the mountains nearby. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the aqueducts fell into disrepair and were eventually abandoned. During the tenth century AD, a channel called El Rec…
Fountain of Diana
Located on the intersection of Gran Via and Roger de Lluria, the Fountain of Diana is a six and a half metre tall marble fountain topped by a statue of the Roman goddess Diana the huntress. The Renaissance styled Fountain by Venancio Vallmitjana was commissioned by Barcelona city council in 1913. Apparently, the young goddess…
Barcelona’s Oldest Fountain: La Font de Santa Ana
From the narrow streets and alleyways of the Gothic Quarter to the wide boulevards of l’Eixample district, wherever you go in Barcelona, you’ll see fountains of all shapes and sizes. The earliest fountains were built during the Middle Ages to provide water for Barcelona’s inhabitants and livestock. Simple and functional, early fountains were sparsely decorated…
Plaça d’Espanya
Plaça d’Espanya was built for the 1929 International Exhibition and was originally flanked by purpose-built hotels designed to house people visiting the exhibition. Only one of the hotels remains and nowadays the square is basically a large roundabout with an impressive fountain in the middle and magnificent views of the Palau Nacional and Montjuïc. The…
The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
I have to admit that the first time I visited the Magic Fountain, I was pretty sceptical. Let’s face it, an illuminated fountain that changes colour in time to music sounds pretty cheesy! All I can say is forget any preconceived ideas you might have and check it out. The sheer volume of water in…
Laribal Gardens – Montjuïc
The Laribal gardens (Jardines de Laribal) are located on the lower slopes of Montjuic between the MNAC and the Miró foundation. Tranquil and shady, the park is made up of a series of terraces linked by narrow paths and stairways and was designed by Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier and Nicolau M. Rubió Tudurí for the…
The “Maja Madrilenya” Fountain
The “Maja Madrilenya” is a 5m high white marble fountain in Plaça Vila de Madrid (just off La Rambla). The statue was unveiled in 1956 and is the work of Catalan sculptor Lluís Montané Molfulleda. So what exactly is a Maja? “Majas” or “Majas Goyescas” date back to 18th century Madrid. At the time women’s…
Three Charming Art Nouveau Fountains by Josep Campeny
One of the things that makes Barcelona such a great place to live is the fact that, no matter how long you spend here, there’s always something new to discover. Everyone is familiar with sights such as the Sagrada Familia or the Pedrera, but I suggest you spend a few hours simply exploring and going…
The Canaletas Fountain (Font de Canaletes)
I’d estimate that 95% of tourists who visit Barcelona walk straight past the Canaletas Fountain without even noticing it which is a shame because this fountain come lamp post at the top of La Rambla is linked to a couple of interesting traditions. Canaletas Traditions #1: Tradition has it that if you drink from the…