The monument to Gaudí inaugurated in Barcelona

A statue of Antoni Gaudí, sculpted by Joaquim Camps, was unveiled and officially dedicated recently at the newly restored Portal Miralles, on the Passeig Manuel Girona, in Barcelona, making it the first monument in the city of Barcelona dedicated to the brilliant architect from Reus.

The inauguration of the bronze statue, presided by Barcelona Mayor Joan Clos, marked the end of a morning dedicated to Gaudí. It all began at the headquarters of the Gaudí Chair, held by Juan Bassegoda Nonell, in the Finca Güell. Nearby, a plaque identified the Carrer de George R. Collins, a small street dedicated to an outstanding American scholar on Gaudí's work and modernism in general.

Beside the statue, the mayor also awarded the Modernist Keys of Honor - an artistic creation by the same sculptor - granted by City Hall to companies who sponsored the monument and support the Barcelona Route of Modernism. Barcelona, along with Brussels and other cities, is pushing the creation of a "European route of modernism" to promote touristic and cultural itineraries based on works of this movement.

Pacts were signed marking cooperation agreements between the City Governments of Barcelona, Astorga (Leon), Canet de Mar, Sant Joan Despi, and La Garriga, to promote awareness of modernism.

The monument to Gaudí had already been shown over the previous weekend, and the earlier extended weekend of October 12 (Columbus Day), at the site of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Many citizens took advantage of those days to have their picture taken next to the figure, which is 1.80 meters tall. Although the urbanistic history of Barcelona cannot be explained without mentioning this architectural genius, the city had not yet dedicated any statue to Gaudí, even though the archbishopric, for example, had already initiated the procedures to request his beatification.