Eixample

The monotony of the central reservation of Barcelona’s Gran Via is suddenly broken by the presence of a monumental sculpture. Who hasn’t been captivated by the beauty of this fountain of Diana which seems to be gazing at the elegant façade of the luxury hotel across the road?.

Venanci Vallmitjana, the brother of Agapit Vallmitjana, who was also a sculptor, created this monument dedicated to the goddess Diana the huntress, which stands in the central section of Barcelona’s Gran Via. The sculpture depicts the goddess seated at the top of a fountain that faces the hotel opposite. The figure is wearing a tunic and carries the bow which helps us identify her. In 1913, the sculpture we see today replaced the image of Diana that was presented at the 1898 Fine Art Exhibition and portrayed the goddess naked, to the displeasure of the authorities of the time.

The fountain was restored in 1987, and stands inside a small flower bed. It exudes an academic classicism that was very much in vogue in the early 20th century. The taste for classical mythology and 19th-century elegance fits in with the style of the area of Barcelona’s Eixample district where it is located.