The Exposición Universal de Barcelona was Spain's first international Exposition

World's Fair

World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...

 and ran from May 20 to December 9 1888.

Summary

Eugenio Serrano de Casanova tried to launch an expo in 1886, and when that failed the Mayor (Francesc Rius i Taulet) took over. The fair was hosted on the 115 acre site of Parc de la Ciutadella

Parc de la Ciutadella

The Parc de la Ciutadella is a park in Ciutat Vella, Barcelona, Spain. After its establishment during the mid 19 century, it was for decades the only green area in the city, and hitherto of the most popular...

 with Vilaseca's

Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas

Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas was a Catalan architect and artist who formed part of the Modernista movement.He studied architecture in Madrid and qualified in 1873. He travelled with Lluís Domènech i Montaner in Germany...

 Arc de Triomf

Arc de Triomf

The Arc de Triomf is an archway structure in Barcelona, Spain. It was built for the Exposición Universal de Barcelona , as its main access gate by architect Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas.The arch is built in reddish brickwork in the Neo-Mudéjar style...

 forming the entrance. More than 2 million people visited the fair and the fair made the equivalent of 1 737 000 dollars.
The fair was opened by Alfonso XIII of Spain

Alfonso XIII of Spain

Alfonso XIII was King of Spain from 1886 until 1931. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, was appointed regent during his minority...

 and Maria Christina of Austria

Maria Christina of Austria

Maria Christina of Austria was Queen consort of Spain as the second wife of King Alfonso XII of Spain...

. 27 countries participated including China, Japan and the United States

Music

The piano manufacturer Erard sponsored a series of 20 concerts featuring Isaac Albéniz

Isaac Albéniz

Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz y Pascual was a Spanish Catalan pianist and composer best known for his piano works based on folk music idioms .-Life:Born in Camprodon, province of Girona, to Ángel Albéniz and his wife Dolors Pascual, Albéniz...

Legacy and remnants

The Columbus Monument

Columbus Monument, Barcelona

The Columbus Monument is a tall monument for Christopher Columbus at the lower end of La Rambla, Barcelona, Spain. It was constructed for the Exposición Universal de Barcelona and is located at the site where Columbus returned to Spain after his first voyage to the Americas...

 was built for the expo, and remains today.

See also

• 1929 Barcelona International Exposition
  1929 Barcelona International Exposition
  The 1929 Barcelona International Exposition took place from 20 May 1929 to 15 January 1930 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain...
  
  
• 1992 Summer Olympics
  1992 Summer Olympics
  The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
  
  
• 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures
  2004 Universal Forum of Cultures
  The 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures - was a 141-day international event that took place in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain from May 9 to September 26, 2004.-History:...