Barcelona, The City of Dragons
Barcelona’s devotion to dragons is curious and hidden, but once you start searching for them, you’ll see dragons all around the city. In parks, atop buildings, carved into stone, or even formed out of sand on the beach.
Even though Europe has historically perpetuated a very negative representation of dragons as symbols of evil and destruction, Barcelona’s connection with dragons is more unique than that. Dragons in the city are perceived as symbols of wisdom and power, and are associated with important Catalan cultural and architectural periods, such as the Renaixença and the Modernisme movement.
Many of the most famous sights in Barcelona include dragons in one way or another. Many of these monuments are dedicated to the legend of Sant Jordi (Saint George), while others highlight dragons as guardians of treasure, or simply seek to call attention to their mythical significance throughout Catalonia. Read on to find a list of some of the most famous and awe-inspiring dragons of Barcelona, and where you might come across them in daily life in the city.
Dragons of Barcelona
The Legend of Sant Jordi
Sant Jordi, also known as ‘the Valentine’s Day of Catalonia’, is celebrated on the 23rd of April every year. The day is dedicated to the legend of Saint George and the Dragon, and Barcelona is filled with roses and books. The tradition behind this celebration is the most prominent connection Barcelona has to dragons, and references to Sant Jordi can be found all throughout the city.
According to one version of the tale, a dragon once wreaked havoc on the city of Montblanc in Tarragona, destroying everything in the region. The townspeople were forced to sacrifice one person a day, chosen through a random draw, to appease the ravenous beast. When one day the princess was chosen in the draw, the knight George rode in to fight the dragon, thereby saving the princess and the town. Where the dragon’s blood fell upon the earth, a red rose bloomed, and George gave the flower to the princess as a gift.
From the 15th century onwards, Saint George was established as the patron saint of Catalonia, and his legacy has been celebrated from then on on the 23rd of April. While there are many versions of the tale of who Saint George really was and what he truly achieved in his lifetime, the tale of his defeat of the dragon is by far the most famous and the most visible in Barcelona. If you want to find out more about the legend and history of Sant Jordi, and how the holiday has developed today, check out our article below!
Dragon Symbolism in Catalonia
Historical Perspective
There is no doubt that the legend of Saint George and the Dragon has had a strong influence on why dragons are significant in Barcelona. But how exactly has history played a part in this image, and why does Barcelona have such a unique attitude towards dragons in comparison to other medieval cities in Europe?
While in many Asian cultures, dragons are customarily positively viewed as guardians, symbolize royalty, or are associated with existing in harmony with nature, dragons have historically had a much more negative connotation in Europe. Because of religious and cultural influences, dragons were often attributed with chaos, greed, and the devil during the Middle Ages; they were traditionally seen as symbols of evil in the West. Like in the tale of Saint George and the Dragon, these mythical creatures were viewed as obstacles a hero had to overcome in order to succeed, rather than being seen as a force of good in their own right.
In Catalonia, however, the legend of Sant Jordi gave dragons a different meaning. The dragon in the story became a symbol for resistance and enduring cultural identity, since the creature represents an evil that was conquered by a heroic and significant Catalan figure. Additionally, dragons have also historically been seen as guardians of the home, and play a significant role in Catalan festivities. Because of this, dragons can frequently be seen on house facades as statues or doorknockers, or as large costumes during the ‘correfoc’, or fire-run, which is often a part of traditional Catalan street parades.
Renaixença
The Renaixença period, which was also known as the Catalan Renaissance, and took place during the mid-19th century, made the dragon symbolism specific to Catalonia much more visible and popular. This time period saw a romantic revival of Catalan traditions and cultural identity, and sought to reestablish the Catalan language in literature, art, and theatre. One method to accomplish this was to return to Catalan legends, such as that of George and the Dragon. Therefore, Sant Jordi grew significantly in popularity during this time, becoming one of the most important celebrations of Catalan culture to this day.
Els Jocs Florals
The Renaixença also saw the revival of the Jocs Florals, or ‘Flower Games’, an annual poetry contest that was held both in Barcelona and Toulouse during the Middle Ages. The contest was brought back to life in 1859 and continued regularly until 1936. This event placed a strong cultural focus on Catalan literature, legends, and symbolism, and brought stories such as that of Saint George back to the forefront of Catalan consciousness. At the same time, it established Catalan as a modern and cultured language, thereby paving the way for it to receive official recognition later on.
Nowadays, the Jocs Florals are held once more in Barcelona, and a yearly prize is awarded to one Catalan poet who submits a collection of their work to Barcelona City Council. The continuation of this tradition cements the connection of Sant Jordi and literature, making not only the 23rd of April a day of books and poetry, but also continuing to revive the legend of Saint George and the tradition of telling stories in a contemporary context.
Dragons in Architecture
In total, Barcelona boasts over thousands of dragon designs all throughout the city. If you look at a building close enough, there is a very good chance you will find a dragon staring back at you somewhere. Many of Barcelona’s most significant architects, such as Antoni Gaudí and Josep Puig i Cadafalch, incorporated dragon symbolism and the legend of Sant Jordi into their most famous buildings. Below, you will find some of the most prominent buildings of ‘Drakcelona’ on this list, and see where exactly dragons are hidden in some of the most visible locations.
Modernisme
Similar to the Renaixença, the Modernisme movement, which followed directly in its footsteps, from around 1885 to 1920, also furthered the visibility of Sant Jordi and the dragons of Barcelona. This Catalan architectural, literary, and artistic period of renewal drew inspiration largely from nature and organic forms, and united these with the romantic ideals of the Renaixença. In this way, Catalan national identity was expressed through the symbolism of the dragon conquered by the knight, and the incorporation of medieval elements that draw attention to these traditional core legends, which led in part to dragons making such frequent appearances on the buildings from this era.
Eixample District
It is no wonder, then, that the most famous figures of the Modernisme movement, such as Gaudí, Puig i Cadafalch, and Domènech i Montaner, all embraced dragon symbolism in their architectural styles, or that most dragons in the city can be located in the Eixample district.
This neighbourhood of Barcelona, which was built during the height of the Modernisme period in the 19th century, as a way for Barcelona to expand through modern buildings and the structured layout of wide, identically spaced-out streets and octagonal city-blocks, was most especially influenced by dragon mythology and the tale of Sant Jordi due to the influence of this cultural movement. This led many architects of the time to incorporate this mythological symbolism into facades, doorknobs, and other decorations throughout the streets of Eixample, shaping Barcelona to become the city of dragons it is today.
Gaudí's Dragons
Casa Batlló
Casa Batlló, created by Gaudí in the early 1900s, is an incredibly unique and fascinating building, and one of the biggest tourist attractions in all of Barcelona. A lesser-known fact, however, is that the house’s architecture is directly based on the story of Saint George. Intricate details in and on the house reflect different aspects of the story.
The roof, for example, is meant to symbolize the dragon’s back, and features scale-shaped tiles. The shift in colour on the tiles illustrates where blood was spilled, while the pillars resembling bones represent the remains of the dragon’s victims. The cross that sits atop the small turret can be interpreted as the place where George’s sword pierced the dragon’s back.
The wooden staircase at the core of the house is also said to represent a dragon’s spine, which arches through the entire building like a real spinal cord in a living organism would, making it a central focal point of this architectural monument.
Due to this connection to the legend, on Sant Jordi, Casa Batlló goes all out. From the 21st to 23rd of April, the house is decorated with and covered in roses. And at the gift shop, you can purchase special limited-time-only Sant Jordi-related souvenirs. If you can, definitely stop by during this festive holiday to enjoy the celebrations and learn more about the history behind what the house and the day represent.
Park Güell
One of the most famous dragons in the city can be found in Gaudí’s Park Güell, made of colored glass in a beautiful mosaic pattern. It is perched atop the magnificent Dragon Stairway that functions as the centerpiece of the park, drawing attention through its height and sparkling colours.
This dragon was made to represent Python, the serpent that, in Greek mythology, Apollo killed and buried beneath the Temple of Delphi. The meaning has been somewhat lost today, however, and the statue now acts more as yet another dragon symbol of ‘Drakcelona’.
Pavellons Güell
The Pavellons Güell, located on the Avinguda Pedralbes, are the first works that the entrepreneur and politician Eusebi Güell commissioned from Gaudí. Once created as the gatehouse and stables for the patron’s estate, the pavilions are now most famous for one thing in particular: the large iron gate, which is guarded by a massive dragon, its mouth wide agape in warning to reveal its pointed teeth and forked tongue.
This incredible piece of metalwork represents the legendary dragon Ladon, also known as the Hydra in Greek mythology. Ladon, who guarded the golden apples of the goddess Hera in myth, now protects a peaceful and almost forgotten orchard of oranges and green-tiled fountains only five minutes away from the city’s bustling Avinguda Diagonal.
While the dragon not only acts as an impressive reference to Greek mythology, Gaudí also designed the pavilion’s iron gate as a tribute to the Catalan poet Jacint Verdaguer, and his work ‘L’Atlántida’, which won the Jocs Florals in 1877. The poet’s contribution greatly aided the Renaixença movement in gaining more popularity amongst the Catalan people, making it a central work in recovering and honoring Catalan culture and literary tradition.
Puig i Cadafalch's Dragons
Casa de les Punxes
In the Casa de les Punxes, Catalan for ‘House of Needles’, which is designed in an almost medieval, fairytale-like style, you’ll find an entire museum dedicated to the legend of the battle of Sant Jordi.
One of the highlights of the castle-like mansion is the mosaic panel on one of the exterior facades, featuring Sant Jordi treading on a furious dragon, alongside a well-known quote throughout Catalonia: ‘Sant Jordi, patró de Catalunya, torneu-nos la llibertat’, which, translated to English, means: ‘Saint George, Patron Saint of Catalonia, give us back our freedom’.
Domènech i Montaner's Dragons
Castell dels Tres Dragons
As can be derived from the name, the ‘Castle of the Three Dragons’ is yet another landmark that highlights the importance of the dragons of Barcelona. The Modernisme mansion, which was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in 1888, is located in the Parc de la Ciutadella. Similar to many buildings of the time, such as the Casa de les Punxes, the Castell dels Tres Dragons also resembles a medieval castle, thereby embodying the romantic and legendary qualities of the Renaixença.
Despite its many uses over the years as a restaurant, an artists’ atelier, a music school, and a natural history museum, the building is currently undergoing refurbishment and is planned to once again be open to the public, housing a museum, library, and café in the future.
Hospital de Sant Pau
The Recinte Modernista Sant Pau, a museum that used to function as a Modernisme hospital complex during the 20th century, was built alongside the expansion of Barcelona through the Eixample district. Domènech i Montaner designed the area to contain 48 separate buildings, of which only 27 were built in total, all in line with the newest architectural, technological, and medical developments. The buildings are bright and airy, with gardens in between and underground tunnels connecting them, and the facades are decorated with Art Nouveau design elements of animals and nature. You do not have to search for long to find dragons amidst the intricate decorations.
Additionally, the museum is also displaying Domènech i Montaner’s biography and legacy in an exhibition in one of the rooms of the hospital. Shaped to resemble a dragon, with the individual plates of its spine revealing more about the architect’s life and times, the artistic installation curves beneath the domed mosaic ceiling of the Modernisme building, and reminds visitors of the significance of dragon symbolism in Domènech i Montaner’s life’s works.
More Dragons Throughout Barcelona
Palau de la Generalitat
The Palau de la Generalitat houses a statue of the triumph of Sant Jordi over the dragon. Created by Andreu Aleu, this statue is the most central of countless mythical elements found throughout the building, such as the dragon statues made by Frederic Galcerà at the fountain in the ‘Pati dels Tarongers’ (orange tree patio), as well as the intricately sculpted gargoyles in the same courtyard.
Additionally, on Carrer del Paradís, the street just behind the Palau de la Generalitat, Sant Jordi can be found chiseled into the wall, where he is depicted slaying the famous dragon from the legend. Due to its significant location within the city, the legend of Saint George represents hope for the Catalonian people and the institution of the Palau de la Generalitat, and strengthens the belief in the triumph over the economic, cultural, and political suffocation that Catalonia has historically endured, and continues to protest against to this day.
Parc de la Ciutadella
The Font de la Cascada, the monumental fountain located in the Parc de la Ciutadella, also has an array of four monumental winged dragon statues spewing water from their stony maws. The fountain was designed by Catalan architect Josep Fontserè, with possible minor contributions by a young Antoni Gaudí, who at the time was still an unknown architecture student.
Similar to other remarkable buildings of its time, the Font de la Cascada also embodies a wide selection of mythological symbolism. Constructed to carry some similarities to the Trevi Fountain in Rome, it displays a statue of Venus in a clam shell, horses that represent the ocean god Triton, and two large staircases that resemble the pincers of a crab. Designed for the 1888 Universal Exhibition, the fountain thereby combines Roman mythical elements with those significant to Catalonia to appeal to an international audience, while also showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Barcelona.
Casa dels Paraigües
The Casa dels Paraigües, or the ‘Umbrella House’, more officially known as the Casa Bruno Cuadros, is located on the Ramblas and displays a magnificent Japanese dragon in metalwork arching over the lively boulevard from the front corner of the building. Despite the facade’s Modernisme elements, the design is also partially inspired by ancient Egyptian and Japanese architecture, which the dragon, fashioned by Josep Lomas, as well as the fan and parasol features, evidently also pick up on.
Although the building no longer serves its original purpose as an umbrella, fan, and shawl shop, it is still marvellous to behold, and serves as yet another reminder that Barcelona is indeed the city of dragons and vibrant architecture.
Casa dels Entremesos
The last highlight on our list, the Casa dels Entremesos, displays its dragons in a museum, rather than on its facade. Its bestiary museum contains not just one, but two dragons, who parade the city for events such as the Festes Majors that are held regularly throughout the neighbourhoods of Barcelona.
The ‘Drac de la Ciutat Vella’, the Dragon of Old Town, which is 2,8 meters high and acts as a symbol of evil, performs in the traditional Catalan fire runs (‘correfocs’) and in bonfire festivals, and even has its own particular dance.
The ‘Víbria de Barcelona’, meaning the Viper of Barcelona, is another one of these processional beasts, and represents malice and treachery. It is 1,8 meters high and 2,15 meters long, and also participates in the traditional fire runs and other events that involve pyrotechnics.
Considering that historical references of these festive figures exist as early as 1399 shows the significance of tales such as that of Sant Jordi, and shines a light upon how long the dragons of Barcelona have already commanded center stage.
Dragon Hunting in Barcelona
Barcelona is truly a city of dragons, seeing as their presence has been incorporated into legends, architecture, and festivals. While the tale of Sant Jordi centered the dragon as a symbol of resistance and strength for the Catalan people, dragons have long been present in Barcelona as symbols of protection. Nowadays, their legacy and history can be explored simply by taking a walk through the city streets and allowing the dragons that live there to share their stories with you.
That being said, keep an eye out next time you explore Barcelona, and if you come across dragons that we did not mention, please feel free to share them with us. Within this city of dragons, there are always more secrets to uncover!
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