The Magic Fountain

The number two tourist attraction in Barcelona, the Font Magica ("Magic Fountain") is only two blocks from our apartment. Built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, it took three thousand workers one year to complete. Four nights per week (Thursday through Sunday), from February through New Year's, a 90 minute display of water, light, color, music and motion, entertains thousands of onlookers...and it is free! The fountain sits in front of four ionic columns that represent the four stripes of the Catalan flag. These columns were demolished in 1928 during Rivera's dictatorship, in order to avoid having any Catalunya symbols being seen during the Exposition. Further up the Montjuic hill, behind the columns, is a palace-looking Italian style building housing the National Museum of Catalunya Art. Having all three attractions so close to our apartment was a real treat for us. It made for a beautiful day of exploring.

Warming up the fountain for the night's entertainment.

Looking through the fountain to the four columns and up the hill to the National Museum of Catalunya Art.

A view looking down the Montjuic hill towards La Plaza Espanya.

The National Museum of Catalunya Art with its own cascading water display.

Early evening start of the Magic Fountain show.

Even the white lights against the darkening mountains in the distance were impressive.

As darkness descends, and the music builds, the colors get more vibrant.

Each combination of music, water, and color is as wonderful as the previous one.

...and while these pictures are nice, they really do not do justice to the actual event.

I love this picture of the four columns through the fountain display.

What was truly entertaining was the mix of music added to the show; classical, popular, and even the theme from Star Wars. We loved it!