The "Arc de Triumph" was build as the entrance to the World Exposition in 1888. Around the arc, the emblem of Barcelona and the Spanish provinces had been affixed.

The red brick and in neo-Moorish-style built Arc de Triomf is located about 300 metres from the Parc de la Ciutadella, the site of the World Fair of 1888.

From the Arc you reach the Parc de la Ciutadella on the car free  Passeig de Lluis Companys. The sculpture Homage to Picasso, the world-famous sculptor Tàpies and an artificial build moat evaluates the road.

The road separates the Old Town district El Ribera of the district Eixample.

The bats on the Arc de Triomf

On the triumphal arch, you will find attached some stone  bats. It was the emblem of King Jaume I. (1213-1276) (James of Aragon). Under Jaume I., Barcelona flourished economically and he liberated Valencia, Menorca and Mallorca from the Moors. On 31 December 1229 his troops concered the city of Medina Mayurka. The bat was his lucky charm. Th city of Medina was later called Ciudad de Mallorca and in 1717 it was renamed again in Palma de Mallorca, as the city was called in Roman times.
The bat is still the emblem of Valencia and was for example also part of the first crest of FC Barcelona.

You will find the bat again and again in structures of Modernism, the Catalan Art Nouveau. In Modernism were repeatedly used animal symbols, which symbolizes the independence of Catalonia. The dragon, which symbolizes the patron saint of Catalonia Sant Jordi , is a good example.

Here you can find the Arc de Triomf on the map of Barcelona.