The streets of Barcelona hold within their cobblestones memories that transformed the city’s history forever. To mark the centenary of that tragic event, the Eixample district has installed a commemorative plaque on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, directly in front of number 665, the spot where the renowned architect Antoni Gaudí was struck by a tram three days before his death on June 10, 1926.
The unveiling ceremony for this memorial seeks to pay tribute both to the artist’s local roots and to the enormous international significance of his work. The ceremony, which included a reading of historical texts and a dance performance by Esbart Gaudí, served to highlight the stark contrast between the anonymous end of a man who was not initially recognized after the accident and the status of a universal icon he holds today.
The initiative aims to ensure that pedestrians keep the memory of this historic and tragic episode alive right in the middle of the street. The urban fabric thus becomes a permanent reminder of the artist’s life story. In this regard, the Director General of Heritage for the Government of Catalonia, Joaquim Borràs, highlighted the importance of this new memorial site:
Prelude to a historic inauguration
This neighborhood and institutional recognition is part of the Gaudí Year celebrations, taking on even greater significance as it coincides almost exactly with another highly anticipated milestone in the city.
The plaque was installed just three days before the official inauguration of the Tower of Jesus at the Sagrada Família, scheduled for June 10—the exact date marking the centennial of the architect’s passing.
