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Welcome to the beautiful Barcelonan Arc de Triomf.
This arch was built for the World Expo of 1888, which took place here in Barcelona.
The arch was built to become one of the main attractions while at the same time serving
as the entrance to the exposition, which took place at the nearby Parc de la Ciutadella.
The arch was designed by the noted Catalan architect Josep Vilaseca. As I'm sure you
can see, the design by Vilaseca stands out from other well-known triumphal arches, in
particular the Arc de Triomphe in Paris . Instead of using sandstone or marble, Vilaseca decided
to build the arch using red bricks. Using bricks as the main material is a typical
feature of the rather unusual architectural style the arch is built in. Unknown to many,
even a lot of Barcelonans, is that the arch is inspired by Muslim architecture. The style
is known as "Mudéjar" which emerged during the 12th century on the Iberian Peninsula.
The style was created by the Moors and Muslims who remained in the area after the Christians
had recaptured and repopulated the whole Iberian Peninsula. When you look at the arch and think
about it, the Muslim influence is actually showing pretty clearly.
The arch is dominated by its several beautiful stone carvings. Above the arch itself you
can see carvings depicting the Barcelonan coat of arms with a small crown above it.
On either side you can see the coat of arms of the other provinces in Spain.
Above these stone carvings you can see a detailed stone relief. The one on the other side of
the arch depicts a prize giving ceremony and is known as "Recompense". The one you have
in front of you now is known as "Barcelona rep les nacions", Catalan for "Barcelona welcomes
the nations". It represents the various countries' participation in the World Expo and Barcelona
thanking them for their attendance. If you look closely, you can see that the man in
the middle bears the Barcelonan coat of arms on his chest. The Barcelonans are generally
very proud of their city and the Catalan region; you can even find the coat of arms on the
lampposts in front of the arch! Do you know why the Barcelonan coat of arms
looks the way it does? The crosses, which are red on a white background, represents
the patron saint of Barcelona; Saint George. The striped sections, which are red on a yellow
background, represent the Catalonian coat of arms. The legend has it that the red stripes
are the blood from a mortal wound the Barcelonan Count, Wilfred the Hairy, suffered during
the defense of Barcelona against the Moors in the 9th century. The blood is said to have
been painted on the Count's golden shield by the French ally, Charles the Bold, as a
sign of gratitude. Surrounding the arch you can see twelve angels
representing fame. The grand arch is crowned with yet another coat of arms. The one at
the top represents the arms of the Spanish monarchs. The pillars held by the lions are
known as the Pillars of Hercules, which is the ancient name given to the Strait of Gibraltar.
Under the lions, even though it can be hard to spot from ground, stands the words "Plus
Ultra" -- a motto which means "Further and beyond" in Latin.
Today, the arch still serves its purpose as an entrance; not to the World Fair but to
the great Park de la Ciutadella. Many say that the beauty goes on beyond the arch itself.
The arch, with its open surroundings and rather relaxed environment, has become a favorite
spot for a lot of people, both visitors and Barcelonans. One quickly understands why the
arch became such a success during the World Expo. It is easy to imagine visitors passing
under the arch into the promenade leading to the World Expo in Parc de la Ciutadella.