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Montjuïc ( Catalan pronunciation: [muɲʒuˈik] ) is a hill in Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain .

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83-598: Montjuïc or Montjuich, meaning "Jewish Mountain" in medieval Latin and Catalan, is a broad, shallow hill in Barcelona with a rich history. It was the birthplace of the city, and its strategic location on the Mediterranean and the Llobregat River has made it significant throughout history. The hill has a medieval Jewish cemetery, declared an area of Cultural Asset of National Interest in 2007. Montjuïc has been

166-598: A gondola lift . On the eastern slope is the Miramar terminal of the Port Vell Aerial Tramway connecting Montjuïc with Barceloneta on the other side of Port Vell . Part of the slopes are covered with a well attended park and gardens . The hill is often used for amateur cycling . In June 1792 the French astronomers Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre and Pierre François André Méchain set out to measure

249-504: A book with Ausias March and Miguel de Cervantes ). The famous Magic Fountain of Montjuïc , designed by Carles Buïgas, was constructed in 1929 on Avinguda Maria Cristina at the foot of Montjuic , and amazed the public with its light and water displays. Today, it is still an emblem of the Catalan capital, and musical lightshows are often performed there during the annual festival of La Mercè , as well as during every weekend. It enchants

332-619: A folk dance festival on the mountain while attending a music festival in Barcelona. They took down the melodies and the following year they jointly wrote a suite of four Catalan dances for orchestra, which they named Mont Juic . A track called "Montjuic" was released on the 2021 album Polydans by German musician Roosevelt . 1929 Barcelona International Exposition The 1929 Barcelona International Exposition (also 1929 Barcelona Universal Exposition , or Expo 1929 , officially in Spanish : Exposición Internacional de Barcelona 1929

415-531: A former Major League Baseball team, was named for the 1967 fair). From World Expo 88 in Brisbane onwards, countries started to use expositions as a platform to improve their national image through their pavilions. Finland, Japan, Canada, France, and Spain are cases in point. A major study by Tjaco Walvis called "Expo 2000 Hanover in Numbers" showed that improving national image was the main goal for 73% of

498-637: A geographical block to share space (i.e. Plaza of the Americas at Seville '92). In the 21st century the BIE has moved to sanction World Expos every five years; following the numerous expos of the 1980s and 1990s, some see this as a means to cut down potential expenditure by participating nations. The move was also seen by some as an attempt to avoid conflicting with the Summer Olympics . World Expos are restricted to every five years, with Specialized Expos in

581-465: A great advance in the city's economic, architectural and technological growth and development, including the reconstruction of the Parc de la Ciutadella , the city's main public park. A new exposition was proposed to highlight the city's further technological progress and increase awareness abroad of modern Catalan industry. This new exhibition required the urban planning of Montjuïc and its adjacent areas and

664-663: A great sensation. On both sides of the avenue were the main buildings of the Exposition: Palace of Costumes; the Palace of Communications and Transport; and the Palace of Metallurgy, Electricity and Locomotion. Today, these buildings are used as exposition spaces in the Barcelona Trade Fair. Along the avenue was Mechanics Square (now the Plaça de l'Univers ), at the center of which stood the "Tower of Light", and

747-652: A large increase in immigration to the city from all parts of Spain. At the same time, the increase in population lead to the construction of various workers' districts with "cheap housing", such as the Aunós Group in Montjuic and the Milans del Bosch and Baró de Viver Groups in Besós. World%27s Fair This is an accepted version of this page A world's fair , also known as a universal exhibition or an expo ,

830-444: A precise theme—such as "Green Desert, Better Environment" ( International Horticultural Expo 2023 Doha Qatar ), "Growing Green Cities" ( Floriade 2022 ), or "Building a Beautiful Home Featuring Harmonious Coexistence between Man and Nature" ( Expo 2019 ). The purpose of these exhibitions is to foster cooperation and the sharing of knowledge and solutions between countries, horticultural producers and agricultural industries by addressing

913-541: A restaurant (1925). There are many sculptures in the gardens, with works by Josep Viladomat, Enric Casanovas, Josep Clarà , Pablo Gargallo , Antoni Alsina, Joan Rebull, Josep Dunyach, etc. In the Miramar zone the Montjuic swimming pool was built, as well as a restaurant which in 1959 became the first Televisión Española studios in Barcelona. At the top of the hill, next to the International Section,

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996-455: A swimming pool. The main façade was monumental in atmosphere, with a dome and a tall tower topped with a shrine. It was decorated with sculptures, most notably the "Horse riders making the Olympic salute", two bronze equestrian sculptures by Pablo Gargallo. The building was remodelled by the architects Vittorio Gregotti , Frederic de Correa, Alfons Milà, Joan Margarit and Carles Buxadé for

1079-588: A typical universal exposition: national pavilions and exhibits concerning technology and/or the future, along with more typical amusement park rides. Meanwhile, several of the 1964 attractions that were relocated to Disneyland have been duplicated at the Walt Disney World Resort . Occasionally other mementos of the fairs remain. In the New York City Subway system, signs directing people to Flushing Meadows–Corona Park remain from

1162-545: Is a large global exhibition designed to showcase the achievements of nations. These exhibitions vary in character and are held in different parts of the world at a specific site for a period of time, typically between three and six months. The term "world's fair" is commonly used in the United States, while the French term, Exposition universelle ("universal exhibition" ) is used in most of Europe and Asia; other terms include World Expo or Specialised Expo , with

1245-521: Is related to the Latin phrase Mons Jovicus ('hill of Jove '). The city of Girona has a hill or mountain named Montjuïc just to the north of its old quarter with a similar history; its name is derived from the medieval Jewish cemetery that was there. Montjuïc, because of its strategic location on the Mediterranean, and alongside an important river communication channel, the Llobregat River ,

1328-688: The Fira de Barcelona , was established. At the same time, several buildings were remodelled, such as the City Hall, where Josep Maria Sert painted the Salón de Crónicas , and the Generalitat , where the flamboyant bridge over Bisbe street was built. The post office and the Estació de França (France Station) were completed after having spent several years under construction. The Palau Reial de Pedralbes

1411-656: The 1964 New York World's Fair (which was held over into 1965) were moved to Disneyland after the closing of the Fair. Many of the rides, including " It's a Small World ", and " Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln ", as well as the building that housed the Carousel of Progress are still in operation. The concept of a permanent world's fair came to fruition with the Disney Epcot theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort , near Orlando, Florida . Epcot has many characteristics of

1494-468: The 1992 Summer Olympics . One work which had great public success was the Poble Espanyol ("Spanish Town"), a small showground containing reproductions of different urban and architectural environments from the entire national territory, in an atmosphere which ranges from the folkloric to the strictly archaeological . It was designed by the architects Ramon Reventós and Francesc Folguera, with

1577-637: The Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina , past the Font Màgica and through the Plaça del Marquès de Foronda and the Plaça de les Cascades to the Palau Nacional . The Poble Espanyol, a "Spanish village" of different buildings built in different styles of Spanish architecture , also survives, located on the western side of the hill. Mies van der Rohe 's German national pavilion was constructed at

1660-733: The Eiffel Tower , built for the Exposition Universelle (1889) . Although it is now the most recognized symbol of its host city Paris , there were contemporary critics opposed to its construction, and demands for it to be dismantled after the fair's conclusion. Other structures that remain from these fairs: Some world's fair sites became (or reverted to) parks incorporating some of the expo elements, such as: Some pavilions have been transported overseas intact: The Brussels Expo '58 relocated many pavilions within Belgium :

1743-728: The Font màgica de Montjuïc , the Teatre Grec , Poble Espanyol , and the Estadi Olímpic . The idea of a new exhibition began to take shape in 1905, promoted by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch , as a way of bringing out the new Plan of links designed by Léon Jaussely . It was initially proposed that the Exposition should be constructed in the area of the Besòs River , but instead, in 1913, planners selected Montjuïc as

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1826-673: The Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya state , a centre of sports science ; the Piscines Bernat Picornell and the Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc , the venues for swimming and diving events respectively; and the striking telecommunications tower , designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava . Of the Piscines (swimming pools), the diving pool was selected as the setting for

1909-727: The International Association of Horticultural Producers ), and the Milan Triennial . Astana , Kazakhstan , held the most recent Specialised Expo in 2017 while Dubai , United Arab Emirates , hosted World Expo 2020 (which was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic ) and Doha , Qatar hosted Horticultural Expo in 2023 . In 1791, Prague organized the first World's Fair in Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic ). The first industrial exhibition

1992-524: The Montjuïc trial prompted the execution of anarchist supporters and led to a severe repression of the struggle for workers' rights. During this era, "Montjuïc" was synonymous with barbarism based on the torture of anarchists and others imprisoned there. On different occasions during the Spanish Civil War , both Nationalists and Republicans were executed there, each at the time when the site

2075-553: The Olympic Stadium was built by Pere Domènech i Roura within the sports section. It had a surface area of 66,075 m and a 62,000 person capacity, making it the second biggest stadium in Europe at the time, after Wembley . It contained fields for the practice of football and other sports, as well as athletics tracks and installations for various other sports such as boxing , gymnastics and fencing, as well as tennis courts and

2158-670: The Plaça d'Espanya , where four large hotels were built, through the Avenue of Americas (now the Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina ), which housed the grand buildings of the Exposition, to the foot of the mountain, the site of the "Magic Fountain", the Palaces Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia, and a monumental staircase. The Avenue of the Americas was decorated with numerous fountains, as well as glass columns—illuminated by electricity—designed by Charles Buïgas, which caused

2241-679: The latitudes of the two cities they could calculate the distance between the North Pole and the Equator in classical French units of length and hence produce the first prototype metre which was defined as being one ten millionth of that distance. The definitive metre bar, manufactured from platinum, was presented to the French legislative assembly on 22 June 1799. In 1936, the British composers Lennox Berkeley and Benjamin Britten visited

2324-408: The meridian arc distance from Dunkirk to Barcelona, two cities lying on approximately the same longitude as each other and also the longitude through Paris . The fortress on Montjuïc was chosen as the reference point in Barcelona. After protracted negotiations (France and Spain were technically at war) Méchain made his measurements from the fortress on 16 March 1794. Using this measurement and

2407-461: The telephone were first presented during this era. This era set the basic character of the world fair. The 1939–1940 New York World's Fair , and those that followed, took a different approach, one less focused on technology and aimed more at cultural themes and social progress. For instance, the theme of the 1939 fair was "Building the World of Tomorrow"; at the 1964–1965 New York World's Fair , it

2490-649: The " Slow " music video recorded in 2003 by Australian singer Kylie Minogue . The ornate Palau Nacional houses the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya , an extensive showcase of Catalan painting and sculpture. The top of the hill can be reached using the Funicular de Montjuïc , a funicular railway that operates as part of the Barcelona Metro , and then the Montjuïc Cable Car ,

2573-664: The "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations" was held in the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London , United Kingdom. The Great Exhibition , as it is often called, was an idea of Prince Albert , Queen Victoria 's husband, and is usually considered to be the first international exhibition of manufactured products. It influenced the development of several aspects of society, including art-and-design education, international trade and relations, and tourism. This expo

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2656-547: The Dutch economy. It also identified several key success factors for world-exposition pavilions in general. At present there are two types of international exhibition: World Expos (formally known as International Registered Exhibitions) and Specialised Expos (formally known as International Recognised Exhibitions). World Expos, previously known as universal expositions, are the biggest category events. At World Expos, participants generally build their own pavilions. They are therefore

2739-409: The International Section, home to pavilions representing other countries and institutions, had a more contemporary aspect, parallel to the current state of the art of the period. This particularly included Art Deco and rationalism . The exposition was opened by King Alfonso XIII on 19 May 1929. Led by Mayor Darius Rumeu y Freixa, baron de Viver, and Manuel de Álvarez-Cuevas y Olivella, President of

2822-605: The National Labor Development and the City Council, be appointed commissioners of the organization Josep Puig i Cadafalch, Francesc Cambo and Joan Pitch i Pon. In 1915, the committee presented a first draft by Puig i Cadafalch, which was divided into three specific projects, each commissioned to a team of architects. Puig i Cadafalch and Guillem Busquets reserved the area at the base of the mountain, Lluis Domenech i Montaner and Manuel Vega i March planned

2905-614: The Organizing Committee. It was attended by some 200,000 people in the general public and by many Catalan political, economic, and cultural figures, including the Prime Minister (and dictator) Miguel Primo de Rivera . In terms of cost, the exhibition lost money, with a deficit of 180 million pesetas. Its success was relative; during the event the stock market crashed in New York, on 29 October 1929, which reduced

2988-622: The United States participated in an unofficial capacity. Each country had a week dedicated to it throughout the course of the event, with a highlight of the German week being the flight of the Graf Zeppelin airship over Barcelona, on 16 May 1929. The landscaping of Montjuic mountain left works like the Teatre Grec , an open-air theatre inspired by ancient Greek theatres (particularly the Epidaurus ), designed by Ramon Reventós. Located in

3071-544: The aerial tram did not open until 1931, after the fair was closed. Construction, while somewhat delayed, was completed in 1923, but the introduction that year of the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera delayed the actual exposition, which finally occurred in 1929, coinciding with the Ibero-American Exhibition in Seville. Also, the delay made obsolete the goal of promoting electrical industry, so that in 1925

3154-564: The area atop the mountain—designated the International Section, and Enric Sagnier and August Font i Carreras Miramar developed a Maritime Section. The principal difficulty of the project was the amount of land required. The exposition would need at least 110 hectares, and the Barcelona City Council had only 26 by 1914. Thus, using an 1879 law, they resorted to land-expropriation. In 1917, development work began at Montjuïc, with assistant engineer Marià Rubio i Bellver. Landscaping

3237-497: The artistic advice of Miquel Utrillo and Xavier Nogués. The exhibition is divided into six regional areas: Castile and Extremadura , Basque Country and Navarre , Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands , Andalusia, Aragon and Galicia , around a Grand Plaza and surrounded by walls (a replica of the walls of Ávila ). With a surface area of 20,000 m , it contains 600 buildings, of which 200 can be visited. Among

3320-647: The buildings of various architects, some loyal to the Noucentisme prevailing at the time, others reflecting recurring historicist and eclectic trends that persisted since the late 19th century, with particular influence from the Spanish Baroque , in particular the architecture of Santiago de Compostela , in Galicia . Despite this diversity, most buildings—at least the official ones—had a common theme of monumentality and grandiosity. In contrast, buildings in

3403-562: The city, the improvement of links with the city's peripheral neighbourhoods, the Sarrià train being moved underground ( Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya ), the electrification of public trams and the extension of metro line 3 to Sants , connecting the Plaza de España with the Exhibition district. The construction of all these public works lead to a great demand for workers, causing

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3486-627: The city: Tetuán, Urquinaona and Letamendi squares were landscaped; the Marina bridge was built; the Plaça de Catalunya was urbanised; and the Avinguda Diagonal was extended to the west and the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes to the southwest. Various public works were also carried out: street paving and sewer systems were improved, public bathrooms were installed and gas lighting was replaced with electricity. The tradition of ongoing fairs,

3569-441: The club left for a new stadium in Cornellà / El Prat upon its completion in 2008. The roads in the slopes facing the city were once the Montjuïc circuit Formula One race track , hosting the Spanish Grand Prix on four occasions. However, a terrible accident in the 1975 race saw Rolf Stommelen 's car crash into the stands, killing four people; as a result the Spanish Grand Prix never returned to Montjuïc circuit. Montjuïc

3652-413: The countries participating in Expo 2000 . Pavilions became a kind of advertising campaign, and the Expo served as a vehicle for "nation branding". According to branding expert Wally Olins , Spain used Expo '92 and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona in the same year to underscore its new position as a modern and democratic country and to show itself as a prominent member of the European Union and

3735-413: The event was renamed the International Exhibition in Barcelona. The change of objective led to the reorganization of the exhibition, so that it was devoted to three aspects: industry, the sports, and art. In this new period, the organization fell into the hands of Pere Domènech i Roura, the Marquis de Foronda, and Director of Works. Further development of the event allowed for a great stylistic diversity in

3818-414: The existence of the medieval Jewish cemetery in Barcelona, considered the largest in Europe of its time. Barcelona's Montjuïc is a broad shallow hill with a relatively flat top overlooking the harbour , to the southwest of the city centre. The eastern side of the hill is almost a sheer cliff, giving it a commanding view over the city's harbour immediately below. The top of the hill (a height of 184.8 m)

3901-404: The fair, including Germany, Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Romania and Switzerland. In addition, private organizations from the United States and Japan participated. Hispanic American countries as well as Brazil, Portugal and the United States were represented in the Ibero-American section in Sevilla . The previous 1888 Barcelona Universal Exposition had led to

3984-417: The foot of the hill, near the Plaça del Marquès de Foronda. It was demolished in 1930 but was rebuilt in 1988. Also completed in 1929, the Olympic stadium was intended to host an anti-fascist alternative Olympics in 1936, in opposition to the 1936 Berlin Olympics . These plans were cancelled due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War . The stadium served as the home for football team Espanyol , until

4067-502: The global community. At Expo 2000 Hanover, countries created their own architectural pavilions, investing, on average, €12 million each. Given these costs, governments are sometimes hesitant to participate, because the benefits may not justify the costs. However, while the effects are difficult to measure, an independent study for the Dutch pavilion at Expo 2000 estimated that the pavilion (which cost around €35 million) generated around €350 million of potential revenues for

4150-598: The host committee and participants because the architectural fees are lower and they only have to customize pavilion space provided free of charge from the Organiser, usually with the prefabricated structure already completed. Countries then have the option of "adding" their own colours, design etc. to the outside of the prefabricated structure and filling in the inside with their own content. Horticultural Expos (formally known as A1 International Horticultural Exhibitions) are co-regulated by International Association of Horticultural Producers . Like Specialised Expos are organized in

4233-445: The in-between years. Specialized Expos (formally known as International Recognized Exhibitions) are usually united by a precise theme—such as "Future Energy" ( Expo 2017 Astana ), "The Living Ocean and Coast" ( Expo 2012 Yeosu ), or "Leisure in the Age of Technology" ( Brisbane , Expo '88 ). Such themes are more specific than the wider scope of world expositions. Specialized Expos are usually smaller in scale and cheaper to run for

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4316-465: The monuments reproduced some of the most notable are the Mudéjar belltower of Utebo ( Zaragoza ), the palaces of the marquis of Peñaflor ( Seville ) and of Ovando Solís ( Cáceres ), the cloister of Sant Benet de Bages and the Roman belltower of Taradell . Just as in 1888, the 1929 Exhibition had a great impact on the city of Barcelona at an urban level, not only in Montjuic district, since improvement and refurbishment works were carried out throughout

4399-634: The most extravagant and most expensive expos. Their duration may be between six weeks and six months. Since 1995, the interval between two World Expos has been at least five years. World Expo 2015 was held in Milan, Italy, from 1 May to 31 October 2015. Specialised Expos are smaller in scope and investments and generally shorter in duration; between three weeks and three months. Previously, these Expos were called Special Exhibitions or International Specialized Exhibitions but these terms are no longer used officially. Their total surface area must not exceed 25 hectares (62 acres) and organizers must build pavilions for

4482-516: The number of participants in the event. At the social level, it was great success as it allowed for a large influx of people and achievements for the city of Barcelona, especially in the fields of architecture and urbanism. The Exposition Center, el recinte de l'Exposició , was built to designs by Puig i Cadafalch with two different types of buildings: palaces, the sections devoted to the official competition; and flags, representing countries, institutions and companies. The exposition's main axis began at

4565-415: The official participants were Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (later Yugoslavia ); most of these countries had their own pavilions, except for Austria, Czechoslovakia, Finland and Switzerland. Apart from these countries, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom and

4648-401: The paramount issues of healthy lifestyles, green economies, sustainable living, education and innovation. List of official world expositions (Universal and International/Specialised/Horticultural) according to the Bureau International des Expositions . Most of the structures are temporary and are dismantled after the fair closes, except for landmark towers. By far the most famous of these is

4731-447: The participating states, free of rent, charges, taxes and expenses. The largest country pavilions may not exceed 1,000 m ( 1 ⁄ 4 acre). Only one Specialised Expo can be held between two World Expos. An additional two types of international exhibition may be recognized by the BIE: horticultural exhibitions, which are joint BIE and AIPH-sanctioned 'garden' fairs in which participants present gardens and garden pavilions; and

4814-426: The pavilion of Jacques Chocolats moved to the town of Diest to house the new town swimming pool. Another pavilion was relocated to Willebroek and has been used as dance hall Carré ever since. One smaller pavilion still stands on the boulevard towards the Atomium : the restaurant "Salon 58" in the pavilion of Comptoir Tuilier. Many exhibitions and rides created by Walt Disney and his WED Enterprises company for

4897-412: The public with a backdrop of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya . Originally, four columns were built in this location by Puig i Cadafalch to represent the Catalan flag , but these were removed by Spanish dictator Primo de Rivera's orders. As the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 was taking place simultaneously in Seville, no Spanish American countries participated. From the remaining countries,

4980-466: The renovation of public spaces, principally Plaça d'Espanya . The exposition called for a great deal of urban development within the city, and became a testing-ground for the new architectural styles developed in the early 20th century. At a local level, this meant the consolidation of Noucentisme , a classical style that replaced the Modernisme (in the same vein as Glasgow Style / Art Nouveau / Jugendstil , etc.) predominating in Catalonia at

5063-466: The sculpture El Treball , by Josep Llimona. The Plaça d'Espanya was included in Ildefons Cerdà 's plan for the expansion of Barcelona, the Eixample . It was to be a major point of communication in the route between Barcelona and the towns of Baix Llobregat . After a first draft by the urbanized square Josep Amargós in 1915, the square was finally built to plans by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Guillem Busquets, and then finished by Antoni Darder i Marsa. It

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5146-456: The semi-regular Milan Triennial (not always held every third year) art and design exhibition, held in Milan, Italy , with the BIE granting official international exhibition status to 14 editions of the Triennale between 1996 and 2016. World Expos (formally known as International Registered Exhibitions) encompass universal themes that affect the full gamut of human experience, and international and corporate participants are required to adhere to

5229-405: The site of an old quarry , it has a 460 m semicircular area, with a diameter of 70 m and a 2,000 person capacity. It is currently the site of a summer festival in Barcelona, the Festival Grec . The theatre is situated within Laribal Gardens, designed by Forestier and Rubió, where the famous "Cat Fountain" is located at the entrance to a building by Puig i Cadafalch which has been convertred into

5312-421: The site of various fortifications, including the Castle of Montjuïc dating back to the 17th century. The area was also associated with political imprisonments and executions, and held significance during the Spanish Civil War. The hill was chosen as the site for the 1929 International Exposition , which led to the construction of several buildings, including the Palau Nacional and the Estadi Olímpic. Montjuïc

5395-419: The site. While originally planned for 1917, the exposition was delayed due to World War I. Puig i Cadafalch's project was supported by the Fomento del Trabajo Nacional, especially Francesc d'Assis, one of its leaders, who took charge of negotiations with the various agencies involved in the project. Thus, in 1913 the organization created a joint committee for organizing the event, consisting of representatives of

5478-525: The square another monumental fountain was built, designed by Josep Maria Jujol. Its ornate decoration is an allegory of Spain, surrounded by water. Three niches with sculptures symbolize the three principal rivers of the Iberian Peninsula , the Ebro , Guadalquivir , and Tagus . Around the central sculpture, three decorated columns symbolize Religion (a cross with Ramon Llull , Saint Teresa of Jesus , and Saint Ignatius of Loyola ), Heroism (a sword with Pelagius of Asturias , James I and Isabella), and Arts (

5561-432: The theme in their representations. Registered expositions are held every 5 years because they are more expensive as they require total design of pavilion buildings from the ground up. As a result, nations compete for the most outstanding or memorable structure—for example Japan, France, Morocco, and Spain at Expo '92 . Sometimes prefabricated structures are used to minimize costs for developing countries, or for countries from

5644-398: The turn of the 20th century. Furthermore, it marked the arrival in Spain of international avant-garde tendencies, especially rationalism , as seen in the design of the Barcelona Pavilion, created by German Bauhaus architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe . The Exposition also allowed for the erection of several emblematic buildings and structures, including the Palau Nacional de Catalunya ,

5727-428: The word expo used for various types of exhibitions since at least 1958. Since the adoption of the 1928 Convention Relating to International Exhibitions, the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions has served as an international sanctioning body for international exhibitions; four types of international exhibition are organised under its auspices: World Expos, Specialised Expos, Horticultural Expos (regulated by

5810-560: The years from 1850 to 1938. In these years, world expositions were largely focused on trade and displayed technological advances and inventions. World expositions were platforms for state-of-the-art science and technology from around the world. The world expositions of 1851 London , 1853 New York , 1862 London , 1876 Philadelphia , Paris 1878 , 1888 Barcelona , 1889 Paris , 1891 Prague , 1893 Chicago , 1897 Brussels , 1900 Paris , 1904 St. Louis , 1915 San Francisco , and 1933–1934 Chicago were notable in this respect. Inventions such as

5893-431: Was "Peace Through Understanding"; at the 1967 International and Universal Exposition in Montreal, it was "Man and His World". These fairs encouraged effective intercultural communication along with sharing of technological innovation. The 1967 International and Universal Exposition in Montreal was promoted under the name Expo 67 . Event organizers retired the term world's fair in favor of Expo (the Montreal Expos ,

5976-570: Was also built as a residence for the royal family, designed by Eusebi Bona and Francesc Nebot. During this period the first skyscraper in Barcelona was also constructed: the Telefónica building on the corner of Fontanella and Portal del Ángel, designed by Francesc Nebot. Finally, they improved the city's communications, with construction during the 1920s of the Barcelona El Prat Airport , the removal of level crossings within

6059-602: Was also the location for several venues during the 1992 Summer Olympics, with the Olympic stadium as the centerpiece. The hill is now home to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya and various parks and gardens , and can be accessed via the Funicular de Montjuïc and the Montjuïc Cable Car. Montjuïc translates to " Jewish Mountain" from medieval Latin and Catalan , and remains of a medieval Jewish cemetery have been found there. Some sources suggest that Montjuïc

6142-456: Was done by Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, who was assisted by Maria Rubio i Tudurí Nicolau. Their design was distinctly Mediterranean, with classical influences, combining the gardens with the construction of pergolas and terraces. Likewise, a funicular was built to allow access to the top of the mountain, as well as an aerial tram , which connected the mountain with the Port of Barcelona. However,

6225-648: Was fully complete by 1926. They designed the square as a monumental rotary , to be surrounded by a Baroque colonnade . The design was influenced by Bernini 's St. Peter's Square in Rome. Dividing the square from the Avenue of the Americas Ramon Reventós designed two bell -towers, known as the Venetian Towers , which were heavily influenced by St. Mark's Campanile in Venice. At the center of

6308-598: Was held by their opponents. The former president of the Generalitat de Catalunya Lluís Companys was also executed there in 1940, having been extradited to the Franco government by the Nazis . Naturally wooded, the slopes of the Montjuïc were traditionally used to grow food and graze animals by the people of the neighbouring Ciutat Vella . In the 1890s, the forests were partially cleared, opening space for parklands. The site

6391-691: Was on the occasion of the coronation of Leopold II as king of Bohemia . The exhibition was held in the Clementinum , and celebrated the considerable sophistication of manufacturing methods in the Czech lands during that time period. France had a tradition of national exhibitions , which culminated with the French Industrial Exposition of 1844 held in Paris . This fair was followed by other national exhibitions in Europe. In 1851,

6474-627: Was selected as the site for several of the venues of the 1992 Summer Olympics , centred on the Olympic stadium. Extensively refurbished and renamed the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys , the 65,000-seat stadium saw the opening and closing ceremonies and hosted the athletic events. Around it the Anella Olímpica (the "Olympic Ring") of sporting venues was built, including the Palau Sant Jordi indoor arena,

6557-463: Was selected to host the 1929 International Exposition (a World's Fair ), for which the first large-scale construction on the hill began. The surviving buildings from this effort include the grand Palau Nacional , the Estadi Olímpic (the Olympic stadium), the ornate Magic Fountain of Montjuïc (Font Màgica), and a grand staircase leading up from the foot of Montjuïc at the south end of

6640-855: Was the birthplace of the city of Barcelona. Archaeological discoveries have added greatly to the history of Barcelona. During the Iberian period, and especially during the Roman period Montjuïc became the main quarry of Barcelona, drastically changing the shape of the mountain. On March 15, 2007, the General Directorate of Heritage of the Generalitat of Catalonia, in accordance with the Catalan Cultural Heritage Law (Law 9/1993, of September 30), declared Montjuic an area of Cultural Asset of National Interest (BCIN), due to

6723-418: Was the precedent for the many international exhibitions, later called World Expos , that have continued to be held to the present time. The character of world fairs, or expositions, has evolved since the first one in 1851. Three eras can be distinguished: the era of industrialization, the era of cultural exchange, and the era of nation branding. The first era, the era of "industrialization", roughly covered

6806-483: Was the second World Fair to be held in Barcelona , the first one being in 1888 . It took place from 20 May 1929 to 15 January 1930 in Barcelona , Spain. It was held on Montjuïc , the hill overlooking the harbor, southwest of the city center, and covered an area of 118 hectares (291.58 acres) at an estimated cost of 130 million pesetas ($ 25,083,921 in United States dollars). Twenty European nations participated in

6889-561: Was the site of several fortifications , the latest of which (the Castle of Montjuïc ) remains today. The fortress largely dates from the 17th century, with 18th-century additions. In 1842, the garrison (loyal to the Madrid government) shelled parts of the city. It served as a prison, often holding political prisoners, until the time of General Franco . The castle was also the site of numerous executions. In 1897, an incident popularly known as

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