The Four Columns, Modernist stone columns in Montjuïc, Spain
The Four Columns are cast stone structures with Ionic capitals measuring 18.7 m tall and 2.5 m wide, arranged in a line across the Montjuïc hill. They frame views of Barcelona and define the landscape with their clean geometric presence.
Architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch designed these columns in 1919 as part of his modernist vision for the hill. They were dismantled in 1928 during a period of political suppression and later reconstructed in 2010.
These columns echo the four red stripes of the Catalan flag and serve as a symbol of regional identity that people encounter while exploring the hill. They stand as a reference point for understanding the region's cultural expression in Barcelona's public spaces.
You can reach the columns easily by taking the Montjuïc cable car from Parallel metro station or by walking up from Plaça d'Espanya. The location allows plenty of time to explore and take photos with good views in all directions.
The original design called for winged victory figures to crown each column, taking inspiration from monuments at the West Point military academy. This planned decoration was never completed and remains a fascinating part of the structure's unrealized vision.
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