You can share our videos: / @barcelonamemory If you want to collaborate with a small contribution for the maintenance of the channel: https://es.tipeee.com/barcelona-memory. THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF 1929. The year was 1888: the Universal Exposition of Barcelona was held in the Ciutadella Park, this event promoted urban development and modernization of the city. Stimulated by its success, the elites would try to inaugurate another exhibition years later. The project, highly desired by the Catalan bourgeoisie, was concretized in the voice of the architect and future president of the Mancomunitat de Catalunya (1917-1925), Puig i Cadafalch, a figure who would represent the ambitions of the bourgeoisie. To this end, a commission of representatives of various Catalanist entities was created, whose commissioners were Josep Puig i Cadafalch, Francesc Cambó and Joan Pich y Pon. The Mountain was declared a Public Utility Area. The affected land was expropriated (1917-1923) and some 1000 families were evicted. Josep Puig i Cadafalch erected four Ionic columns on Avenida de América that symbolised the four stripes of the Catalan flag. The works were completed in 1923. That same year, Primo de Rivera staged a coup d'état and the opening of the Exhibition was postponed until 1929. Puig i Cadafach was eliminated from the project. A series of changes took place: The four columns that he had ordered to be built were demolished in 1928, because they “broke the perspective”. The name of the architectural museum known as Pueblo Español, previously called Iberona, was also changed. And the Plaza de España was given its name. The architect Pere Domènec i Roura was appointed master builder and Mariano de Foronda y González-Bravo, “Marquis of Foronda” was appointed organiser of the event. At the entrance from Plaza de España to what is now Avª de la Reina Mª Cristina, two towers by Ramón Reventós were installed, inspired by the bell tower of San Marcos in Venice. At the end of the avenue, in front of the National Palace, an impressive fountain of colours was installed, the work of architect, engineer and lighting technician Carles Buïgas. The construction was carried out by technicians from the Westinghouse company. At night the fountain displayed its magic… The brand new Palau Nacional (1926-1929) presided over the Exhibition, near it the Spanish Village was built. At the top of the mountain the Olympic Stadium was built, the work of Pere Domènech i Roura. The second largest in Europe, after Wembley. And near Miramar a large municipal swimming pool was built. The exhibition was the hot topic in all the media. The public came from everywhere and by various means: on foot, by car, bus, by metro to the recently remodelled Plaza de España where the ticket offices were. There was great interest in seeing the opening events. It was 20 May 1929!! All of Barcelona looked to the sky when they saw the Graft Zeppelin appear flying over the city. A funicular (1928) provided access to the upper part of the Exhibition. The Avenida de la Reina Maria Cristina had 116 art deco glass columns lit by electric light, designed by Marià Rubio i Bellver and a series of fountains, created by Carles Buïgas, welcomed the guests. The imposing National Palace was accessed by several staircases or by two very long escalators… The opening ceremony was attended by King Alfonso XIII, his wife and the princes. They were bathed in crowds. At dusk, the view was impressive. Beams of light came out of the National Palace. The illuminated waterfalls and the light shows of the Magic Fountain left everyone in awe. And no wonder! An electric car service was available to travel between pavilions… And… as everything ends, the event closed on January 30, 1930. 51. Finally, the Exhibition, which cost 130 million pesetas, left a negative balance of 180 million that the people of Barcelona paid for over 34 years… To collect the amount, a stamp was created on postal letters that was mandatory. Despite all efforts, the big international businesses remained a mirage… But Barcelona was no longer the same.