Torre de Collserola
Torre de Collserola
Torre de Collserola
an unusual TV tower
An extraordinary television tower designed by Norman Foster. On the 10th floor, the whole city of Barcelona, including Tibidabo and the hinterland, is at your feet.
My Rating:
The positives:
Norman Foster designed this extraordinary television tower. From the 10th floor you can enjoy the view of Barcelona.
The negatives:
There was no real information upon entry. After 10 minutes of standing around aimlessly, an employee came and took us to the elevator. The security guard wasn't much help and already very grumpy...
Last Modified: 19.02.2024 | Céline
The details
at a glance
address
Ctra. de Vallvidrera al Tibidabo, Barcelona
How to get there:
Take the S2 from Diagonal/Provenca towards Sabadell
address
Ctra. de Vallvidrera al Tibidabo, Barcelona
How to get there:
Take the S2 from Diagonal/Provenca towards Sabadell
address
Ctra. de Vallvidrera al Tibidabo, Barcelona
How to get there:
Take the S2 from Diagonal/Provenca towards Sabadell and exit at Peu del Funicular (four stops – this is a different Funicular because you start at a different hill). Take this Funicular to Vallvidrera Superior. Then switch to the 111 bus and exit at Ctra. de Vallvidrera-Cruilla de Carreteres.
OR: Take a look at the other possibilities listet on the Tibidabo explanation.
Torre de Collserola
Photo Gallery
What is there
to see?
Barcelona’s TV tower offers a wonderful view of Barcelona and the Tibidabo from the tenth floor, 115 meters from the ground (and 560 meters above sea level). The 360-degree roundabout walk offers a variety of signs with information on what exactly you’re looking at.
In the elevator waiting area, there’s a gallery with the highest towers in the world. Of the 24 examples listed, the Torre de Collserola is ranked 15th (at 288 meters), right after the Sydney Tower (304 meters) and the Eiffel Tower (324 meters).
You then take a glass elevator up to the platform. Weather permitting, you might be able to see as far as 70 kilometers into the distance! Unfortunately, I was there on a very cloudy day… but you should check it out for yourself anyway!
Torre de Collserola
A bit of History
The city of Barcelona wanted to update and clean up its cityscape in preparation for the 1992 Olympic Games, and wanted to add a TV tower to the concept. A new, iconic symbol of Barcelona was the idea. So this TV tower was supposed to be more than just a useful addition, it had to be visually exceptional as well.
Then came the year 1987 and with it a call for proposals. The British architect Norman Foster ended up submitting the proposal that got the commission. In 1990, construction began and in 1992, the tower was officially inaugurated. In 1993, the tenth floor was opened to the public.
Norman Foster is also responsible for the domed ceiling on the German Reichstag in Berlin, the 30 St Mary Axe or – the Gherkin – in London and the new Apple Park in Silicon Valley, which will open in April 2017.
A quick side note: On our way back from the Torre de Collserola to the Tibidabo, we met this little family of wild hogs. They didn’t mind us, but we did give them a wide berth, just to be safe 😉
Official website of the Torre de Collserola (EN): torredecollserola.com
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2016 – 2024
