Arc de Triomf

The Arc de Triomf of Barcelona

The Barcelona audio-guided tour has you admire the Arc de Triomf, erected as part of the universal exhibition to serve as the monumental entrance to the exhibition grounds. Entirely in red brick, it differs radically from its Parisian counterpart.

An arch in the Mudejar style

The arch opened onto the promenade leading to the gates of the fair in Parc de la Ciutadella. Its typically Mudejar style, a hybrid movement of Spanish architecture blending Christian and Muslim influences, gives it its warm red-brick appearance. More than a gate, the Arc de Triomf is a symbolic passage towards modernity, celebrating the scientific, economic and artistic progress of late nineteenth-century Barcelona.

What there is to see

The arch is richly adorned with sculpted friezes: one shows Barcelona welcoming with respect the nations invited to the exhibition, the other represents the awarding of prizes to the participants. The great tree-lined avenue that extends it, the Passeig de Lluís Companys, leads to Parc de la Ciutadella. It is an emblematic and photogenic monument, an ideal starting point towards the park.

Practical information

The Arc de Triomf stands at the start of the Passeig de Lluís Companys, which leads to Parc de la Ciutadella, in Barcelona. The monument can be contemplated freely at all hours and on the level, in a wide pedestrian space. It is served by the metro and easily accessible on foot.

Why was the Arc de Triomf built?

To serve as the monumental entrance to the universal exhibition of 1888, held at Parc de la Ciutadella.

What is the style of the arch?

A Mudejar style, in red brick, blending Christian and Muslim influences of Spanish architecture.