Six Tourists Stuck At The Top Of The Columbus Monument In Spain

By Author: Aubrey Cadman
Total Articles: 8
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Watching the city of Barcelona from top of the Columbus Monument is a popular attraction among locals and visitors to Spain. The 60m tall monument, built in the memory of Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas, is a popular destination in the itinerary of tourists in Barcelona. A lift takes visitors to the viewing platform at the top of the column, just below the socle supporting the bronze statue of the explorer.

Tourists Trapped on Top of Columbus Monument

However, the exciting trip to the top of the monument turned into a nightmare for six tourists last April when the elevator broke down. Two Japanese and four Spanish from Malaga had to wait on the viewing platform for about seven hours, before they were rescued by the fire fighters.

Rescuing Tourists from Columbus Monument

After attempts to repair the elevator from the ground failed, a helicopter was brought in to rescue the tourists from the top of the monuments. However, when the tourists could not be airlifted, a huge crane with a cabin was constructed that lifted a team of firefighters to the viewing platform, from where the ...
... tourists were finally rescued.

The ordeal of the tourists that started at 10AM finally ended by 5PM.

Attraction of Columbus Monument

Notwithstanding the nightmare elevator ride and the broken lift, the Columbus Monument is still one of the most-visited attractions of Barcelona.

It is a majestic symbol of modern Catalan architecture. The monument, designed by the Catalan architect Gaieta Buigas I Monrave, comprises of a 40 m high Corinthian column placed on top of a stone pedestal. On top of the column stands a 7.2 m tall bronze statue of Christopher Columbus created by Rafael Atche, a Catalan sculptor. The statue shows the famous explorer pointing his index finger towards the sea. The socle, the pedestal and the plinth are gorgeously decorated with mythical and historical figures related to Columbus and his voyages. An elevator inside the column takes visitors to the viewing platform on top of the column from where you can enjoy a stunning view of La Rambla.

The elevator ride to the viewing platform is available every day from 8:30 AM to 8:30 PM. Visitors are required to pay four euros for the ride. Although the details of the magnificent monument can be observed from Placa de la Porta de Pau, the square where the monument is located, viewing La Rambla and its neighborhood including Port Vell from top of the monument is the main reason for visiting the Columbus Monument.

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