THE COLUMBUS MONUMENT

This vast monument, commemorating the return of Christopher Columbus to Barcelona in 1493 from his first trip to the Americas, stands outside the naval headquarters of Catalonia, at the seaward end of the Ramblas. It was designed by Gaieta Buigas for the Universal Exposition of 1888, with Columbus standing at the top of a column 50m (164ft) high, pointing out to sea towards Italy Take the lift to the top for breathtaking bird's-eye views of the harbor front.