Why are those three women dancing back-to-back in the middle of Plaça Reial? Welcome to the Font de les Tres Gràcies, a captivating centerpiece of this vibrant square. The Font de les Tres Gràcies, or Fountain of the Three Graces, isn’t an original creation for Barcelona. It’s a standard model, purchased in 1876 from the French foundry of Antoine Durenne. The design, however, has a rich history. The figures represent Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, the three Graces of Greek mythology, goddesses of charm, creativity, and fertility. Their intertwined pose, a triple Hecate, is a copy of statues created by Germain Pilon around 1560 for a Parisian church. These statues, now residing in the Louvre Museum, were themselves inspired by a drawing by Primaticcio. The fountain’s journey to Plaça Reial has been a bit of a waltz itself. Initially installed in 1876, it was removed in 1888 to make way for a luminous fountain. The Font de les Tres Gràcies then took a temporary residence on Rambla del Poble Nou in 1907. It wasn’t until 1926 that it returned to its rightful place in Plaça Reial thanks to city officials. Even during its short stay in Poble Nou, the fountain left a mark. Local businesses, a bakery and shoe store, were named “El surtidor,” or “The Fountain,” in its honor. The bakery still stands today, a subtle reminder of the fountain’s temporary relocation. The fountain underwent a significant restoration in 1983 when Plaça Reial was renovated. Now, as you admire the Font de les Tres Gràcies, remember its intricate history. A design inspired by Renaissance masters, cast in a French foundry, and relocated multiple times before finally finding its home here in the heart of Barcelona.
Església Nostra Senyora de la Mercè
The Virgin’s gaze from the dome. A silent sentinel overlooking Barcelona. This is the Església Nostra Senyora de la Mercè.