Some call it a singing fountain, while others call it nothing less than magical. And indeed, watching this water-and-music show, it seems that magic must have been involved.
3620 jets 'dance' to mesmerizing music, taking on all the colors of the rainbow. The performance lasts only 20 minutes, but it leaves such a strong impression that all the previous sights of Barcelona temporarily fade into the background.
The 'Dancing Fountain' was built according to the design of Carlos Buigas. It was 1929, when Barcelona was preparing for the World Exhibition, and it was necessary to amaze all visitors with unusual futuristic structures. That is why the fountain was not made round, as usual, but built in the shape of an ellipse. Its area is 3000 sq. m, and the height of the jets during the performance reaches 54 meters, which is taller than two nine-story buildings put together! More than three thousand people worked on this grand project.
At first, the fountain only 'danced,' that is, it was a water show with beautiful lighting. And the musical accompaniment appeared only in 1992. Today, about 2,5 million people a year come to see this marvel of engineering!
And a few more technical details: in just one second, the fountain passes more than 2,5 tons of water through itself. It comes from underground sources descending from Montjuic hill. More than a hundred spotlights are used to color the jets in different shades; they are equipped with special prisms so that the light is distributed evenly.
During the show, not only classical music is played, but also modern hits. For many years, the climax has remained the song 'Barcelona,' performed by the duet of Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé. By the time the chorus begins, most spectators have already forgotten that they need to breathe. Only little sparks glitter in their wide-open eyes - the spectacle is that astonishing.
Sometimes live concerts by world-class stars, such as Bon Jovi, are held here. On these days, fireworks are added to the colorful water extravaganza. The sky lights up with hundreds of shimmering sparks, and at that moment, the heart falls in love with Barcelona forever.
The fountain operates all year round, but its schedule changes depending on the season. For example, in summer performances take place from Thursday to Sunday, starting at 21:00 and continuing until 23:30. And in the colder time of year, it gets dark earlier, so shows are organized only on Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 19:00 and ending at about 21:20.
