Fountain of the Century (Font del Centenari)

The most famous fountain of Tarragona, Font del Centenari (Font del Centenari on the map), "fountain of the Century", is located in the center of a small square formed by the intersection of the New Rambla, Christopher Columbus street and three other streets.

In 1954, the city Council of Tarragona decided to give citizens a holiday on the occasion of the centenary of the construction of the main street of the city - the New Rambla. The broad Boulevard was laid out in the mid-19th century on the site of a demolished city wall that separated the old (upper) and new (lower) parts of the city. The appearance of a new street was the impetus for the development of a new district, which became the center of modern Tarragona. To commemorate the event decided to erect a fountain, which was preceded by a heated debate in the city Council. Some suggested to conserve be limited to a plaque with the names of the builders, others claimed that the fountain in the center of the Boulevard, you'll ruin the rest of his term and will become a hindrance for pedestrians (I think that was right), offering to decorate the fountain alley Vallellano, in the center of urban development in the second half of the 20th century, a third party was not against the fountain on Las Ramblas, but offered to build it on the site of the Monument to the Heroes of 1811, which continued to confuse some people with their naked figures. The monument was supposed to be moved out of sight to an inconspicuous place. The winner of the competition of projects has become a Catalan sculptor Josep Viladomat (Josep Viladomat), who depicted four sculptural groups, including people and animals, typical representatives of the four continents. Therefore, the source is sometimes called the" fountain of the Four cardinal directions "or"Four continents". The fountain was inaugurated on August 4, 1954.

Bears and a man with European features symbolize the North,

Tarragona. Fountain of the Century (Font del Centenari)

Hippo and moor represent the South,

Tarragona. Fountain of the Century (Font del Centenari)

the man in the turban and the elephant-East,

Tarragona. Fountain of the Century (Font del Centenari)

crocodile with the Indian - West.

Tarragona. Fountain of the Century (Font del Centenari)

For the manufacture of sculptures, Burgos marble was used, which is easy to process, but very unstable, and after a couple of decades, the fountain became unsightly. In the 90s, the fountain was closed for restoration, as a result of which it received new elements. The opening of the renovated fountain again became a citywide holiday, which was held on February 4, 1995.