Fuente de la Portaferrissa
Fuente de la Portaferrissa
Fuente de la Portaferrissa
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: El Congrés i els Indians
How to get there
- Liceu • 3 min walk
- Catalunya • 7 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
9,749 within 3 miles
Attractions
1,600 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
44 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
27
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,274 contributions
Jan 2020
This water trough and wall mural caught my eye one day. It’s on a corner off Las Ramblas on Portaferrissa St but it is easy to miss. Whilst you wouldn't traipse out of your way to see it, it's an interesting diversion if you are close by or if you are at the Boqueria Market.
From the 14th century, water was piped from Montjuïc and Collserola to fountains that were built within the city walls. There are still a few of these old fountains throughout the city. Even though this one is more than 400 years old and was built in 1604, it’s still one of the newer ones.
The Portaferrisa Fountain is named after the fact that it stood closest to the Porta Ferica gateway which was a part of the 13th century city walls.
I was surprised to find out later that the mural is nowhere near near as old as I first thought. In fact the mural was only put there in 1959. Nevertheless, the colourful tiles are like a page out of a picture-book history of the city. It shows a lively scene of 17th century people going about their daily routines and recreates what this part of the city would have looked like when its old city walls still stood. A sentry stands guard with his gun at the gateway and a woman passes under the arch with a basket carried on her head. Market stalls are set up right outside the wall and sell plants, cloths, pots & pans and vegetables while a fellow brings a load of timber into the city on the back of his donkey.
The water seems fresh so you can still fill up your water bottle. Someone had a drink while we were stopped by.
GETTING THERE: It’s on Calle Portaferrissa, only a couple of minutes from La Boqueria Market, but on the opposite side of Las Ramblas.
From the 14th century, water was piped from Montjuïc and Collserola to fountains that were built within the city walls. There are still a few of these old fountains throughout the city. Even though this one is more than 400 years old and was built in 1604, it’s still one of the newer ones.
The Portaferrisa Fountain is named after the fact that it stood closest to the Porta Ferica gateway which was a part of the 13th century city walls.
I was surprised to find out later that the mural is nowhere near near as old as I first thought. In fact the mural was only put there in 1959. Nevertheless, the colourful tiles are like a page out of a picture-book history of the city. It shows a lively scene of 17th century people going about their daily routines and recreates what this part of the city would have looked like when its old city walls still stood. A sentry stands guard with his gun at the gateway and a woman passes under the arch with a basket carried on her head. Market stalls are set up right outside the wall and sell plants, cloths, pots & pans and vegetables while a fellow brings a load of timber into the city on the back of his donkey.
The water seems fresh so you can still fill up your water bottle. Someone had a drink while we were stopped by.
GETTING THERE: It’s on Calle Portaferrissa, only a couple of minutes from La Boqueria Market, but on the opposite side of Las Ramblas.
Written August 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia34,642 contributions
May 2023 • Family
This fountain has been located on this site since 1680. This fountain was so popular that when excellent water was brought to Barcelona through the Bash de Moncada aqueduct at the beginning of the XIX century, residents of the city still came here, attributing miraculous qualities to the fountain. The ceramic panel that attracts attention is already a 1959 restoration. 373 tiles depict the entrance gate to the city with two towers and walls. The foreground depicts scenes from the daily life of the XVIII century. The name of the fountain and the street comes from the iron bars that were at these gates.
Written April 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,621 contributions
Jul 2019 • Solo
The Fuente de la Portaferrissa is a fountain just off the walking, talking shopping street of La Rambla. The fountain is part of the walls back in the day when Barcelona was a walled city. Porta Ferrissa can be translated as Iron Gate. It’s name coming from the iron bars that once decorated the gate.
The ceramics tiles that decorated with ceramics were only added in 1957 and made for the occasion of the Mare de Déu de la Mercè festival. The mural reflects an everyday scene of 18th century Barcelona, with scenes of people strolling in front of a Porta Ferrissa, full of commercial activity and an image of Saint Josep Oriol. The central part of the fountain, is some text written with a historical account of the fountain.
The tile decorates are nice and worth a detour if you’re in this part of La Rambla, but don’t go out of the way to see it though.
The ceramics tiles that decorated with ceramics were only added in 1957 and made for the occasion of the Mare de Déu de la Mercè festival. The mural reflects an everyday scene of 18th century Barcelona, with scenes of people strolling in front of a Porta Ferrissa, full of commercial activity and an image of Saint Josep Oriol. The central part of the fountain, is some text written with a historical account of the fountain.
The tile decorates are nice and worth a detour if you’re in this part of La Rambla, but don’t go out of the way to see it though.
Written July 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia21,381 contributions
Nov 2022
Located within the gothic quarter is this lovely ceramic mural fountain depicting the daily life happening around the gate during the 18th century, easily missed however worth a look.
Written December 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Torkm68
Pitmedden, UK897 contributions
Oct 2019
Seemingly lost in the blur of the La Rambla is this quiet tiled fountain that can be seemingly overlooked as the hordes travel past , the mosaic is of everyday life in the 18th century at the gateway to the city the ' Porta ferrica '
Written October 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jacessex250
Westcliff-on-Sea, UK38 contributions
May 2018
I recently visited Barcelona, and while walking around the side streets took a photo of this amazing mosaic, made from tiny pieces. When I returned home, and did a little research, I found out it depicts one of the old gates to the City, and a scene of how life was. It's a lovely piece of local art/history to look at, providing nice photo opportunity.
Written August 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
adalbert3
Newport Beach, CA5,005 contributions
Feb 2018 • Family
Right off of Las Ramblas--near Mare de Deu Betlem Church. It takes a few moments, and is on a path that most will travel while in Barcelona, so it is certainly worth a quick visit. The tile work shows the old city walls.
Written May 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,266 contributions
Jul 2017 • Solo
If your on Las Ramblas, take the time to find this fountain. It is not far from Canaletes but lacks a great legend like Canaletes. Still it is the best tile design in Barcelona. Don't worry about getting a drink but do take the time to get a picture because it is a great design.
Written July 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I_See_the_World_Now
Turlock, CA168 contributions
Jun 2017 • Family
We filled out water bottles here. Cool water on a warm day. It was clean and free! Great to splash on you on a warm day. Right off Las Rambla rd.
Written June 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there a picture of the back -- I have one with grey walls and small beige encased windows with green tiles that I believe to be the back.
Written January 3, 2019
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