La Font

The Fountain

The Palau Nacional was erected for the 1929 International Exhibition and houses the Museu nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC).

FYI - The first modern public exhibition was held in London in 1756. World's Fairs originated in the French tradition of national exhibitions, and culminated with the French Industrial Exposition of 1844 held in Paris.

It was soon followed by other national exhibitions in continental Europe and finally came to London where the first real International Exhibition was held on May 1, 1851 and nearly every year after.

It is the largest museum in Catalonia and also the most important center for Romanesque Art in the world.

And really beautiful at night.

Just at the base of the Palau Nacional is the Montjuic Magic Fountain.

Also built for the 1929 International Exhibition, the Montjuic Magic Fountain, designed by engineer Carles Buigas, was completely restored for the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. Every year, the Magic Fountain is the chosen site for the "Piromusical", a huge firework display with a music and laser show, which is the closing event for Barcelona's main festival, La Merce'.

FYI - La Merce' is the annual festival held since 1871 to observe the Roman Catholic feast day (September 24) of Our Lady of Mercy, La Mare de Deu de la Merce, in Catalan. Parades include papier mache' giants known as gegants i capgrossos and a popular dance, where participants form a circle, called the Sardana.

But every evening at 7:00 pm, you can see this . . .