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The Arc de Triomf of Barcelona was made as principal entry, in 1888, for the Universal Exhibition, which was located in the park of the Ciudadella. The frieze on the front, created by Josep Reynás, represents Barcelona welcoming visitors. The frieze at the back was made by Josep Llimona which represents a delivery of prizes. The Plaça de l´Arc de Triomf was the monumental gateway which led to the enclosure of the 1888 World Fair.
This imposing, exposed-redbrick arch was built by Josep Vilaseca as the grand entrance for the 1888 Universal Exhibition. Though it is similar in size and sense to the traditional triumphal arches of ancient Rome, this one does not refer to any specific military triumph that anyone can recall. In fact, Catalunya’s last military triumph of note may have been Jaume I el Conqueridor's 1229 conquest of the Moors in Mallorca - as suggested by the bats, always part of Jaume I's coat of arms, on either side of the arch itself.
The arch is built in reddish brickwork in the Moorish Revival style. The front frieze contains the stone sculpture “Barcelona rep les nacions” which in Catalan stands for “Barcelona welcomes the nations”. The opposite frieze contains a stone carving named “Recompense.
The top of the arch is decorated with the Barcelona coat of arms as well as a representation of all 49 other Spanish provinces, work of Torquat Tassó and Antoni Vilanova. The arch is located between the Passeig de Lluís Companys and the Passeig de Sant Joan, at the end of a wide promenade connecting with the Park of the Ciutadella.
The crown of the arch is adorned with a stone carving of the Coat of Arms of Barcelona. All the other Spanish provinces are represented as well on either side of the crown. The arc is also adorned with twelve statues of women, symbolizing fame.
This brick arch was designed in Mudejar style as the entry gate for the 1888 Expo by Josep Vilaseca. The coats-of-arms representing all the Spanish provinces were placed around it, with Barcelona’s in the middle, in place of honor. On the sides of the arch are four statues of women symbolizing fame. Other stone carvings represent other countries’ participation in the Expo and Barcelona thanking them for their attendance. It is general impression that it is not as grand as the Paris version, but still beautiful and worth a visit.
The design by Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas stand out from other well-known arches - in particular the Arc de Triomphe in Paris - by its colorful brickwork in mudéjar style, a style which has its origins in Moorish architecture. The arch is decorated with stone carvings.
In the field of art and architecture, the 1888 Exhibition reflected the spirit of the first years of Modernism, giving rise to some of the monuments most emblematic of the city. Outstanding examples of this are the Castell dels Tres Dragons restaurant by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the Arc de Triomf, to which sculptors Josep Llimona, Josep Reynés, Torquat Tasso and Antoni Vilanova contributed, and the Monument a Colom, built by Gaietà Buïgas and crowned by a sculpture by Rafael Atché.
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