Plaça de Tetuan,
Tetuan

A lavish sculptural display in honour of Barcelona´s fave physician and former mayor Bartolomeu Robert i Yarzábal. Josep Llimona created the figures in 1905, and it is thought that Gaudí had a hand in the design of the base. The monument is an allegory of Catalanism; and as such it was dismantled during the Franco years, only to be re-erected following the dictator's death.

Modernista perfection just aching with symbolism. From the seventeen iconic figures that swirl down around the rather stern bust of Dr. Roberts, to the grotto-like base, this monument is screaming old-school Catalan virtues.

But it's in the curvaceous base that it all becomes most surreal. The stone is cut from Montjuïc rock to represent the sacred Catalan mountains, Monjuïc, Montseny and Montserrat. A line of three fountains runs along the front, and two on each side. These fountains take the unmistakable form of large perfectly formed breasts, the swollen shapes enticing you (when the fountains are working) to drink from their brass nipples. It´s Mother Catalunya -- Sigmund Freud, where are you?

contributor: Nigel Hayler