Torres Venecianes, Barcelona, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

The Venetian Towers (Torres Venecianes in Catalan) are a pair of tall brick towers that flank the start of Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina at Plaça d'Espanya in Barcelona. Built for the 1929 International Exhibition, they mark the entrance to the avenue that climbs towards Montjuïc, and they remain one of the best-known sights of the square.

The story behind it

The towers were designed by the architect Ramon Reventós, who worked on other projects for the International Exhibition. Their style takes its cue from Venice, though in place of canals you get one of the busiest traffic squares in the city. They rise to about 47 metres and have no practical use. Their job was to be a grand gateway, welcoming visitors to the avenue and the exhibition grounds on Montjuïc.

Like many structures of the exhibition, they were built with fairly modest materials, because they were meant to be temporary and to come down once the fair ended. They stayed instead and became part of the city's skyline, and they have been restored over the years to keep them in good shape.

What to look for

• The two towers stand as a matching pair on either side of the avenue, so look at how they frame the view straight up towards Montjuïc.
• The slender, tall shape and the pointed tops recall Venetian bell towers, which is the inspiration behind the name.
• Look at the brickwork and decorative details near the top, which show the exhibition-era taste for ornament over function.
• Turn around and look back across Plaça d'Espanya to see how the towers sit in the middle of the traffic, fountain and the surrounding buildings.

Tips for your visit

• The towers are best seen from the outside, as a stop of ten to fifteen minutes. Do not plan on going up them.
• Late afternoon light is flattering on the brick, and the square is calmer outside the rush hours.
• The avenue beyond the towers leads towards the exhibition halls, the Magic Fountain and the slopes of Montjuïc, so it is easy to combine with a longer walk. Check current opening hours for anything you want to enter.
• Take care at the crossings, as Plaça d'Espanya is a large roundabout with a lot of traffic.

See it on a quest

You can pass the towers as one stop on Magical Barcelona: Witchcraft at Montjuic Castle, a self-guided walk with a Montjuïc theme. You reach each place on foot, the app tells you about it as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start any time, with no guide and no group to join.