The Font del Centenari (Centenary Fountain) is a large stone fountain in the middle of a roundabout on the Rambla Nova, Tarragona's main boulevard. Unveiled in 1954, it marks a hundred years since the city was allowed to pull down the wall that held it in, the decision that made the Rambla Nova possible, and its four sculpted groups stand for the four points of the compass and the peoples of the world.
The Font del Centenari at a glance
- Where: on the Rambla Nova at its crossing with Carrer de Pau Casals, Rovira i Virgili, Ramón y Cajal and Cristòfor Colom
- Created: 1954, unveiled during the Sant Magí festivities
- By: Josep Viladomat i Massanas, a Catalan sculptor from Manlleu
- What it is today: a landmark and meeting point in the middle of the Rambla, set in a planted roundabout
- Time needed: 10 minutes to walk around it and look at the four groups
A wall comes down, a boulevard goes up
For centuries Tarragona's upper town was closed off by walls, and the Muralla de Sant Joan separated it from the Marina district down by the port. In 1854 the demolition of that wall was authorised, and the land it freed became the line of the Rambla Nova, the wide promenade that now runs from the Balcó del Mediterrani towards the newer city. A century later, the city celebrated that turning point with this fountain, commissioned under mayor Enric Olivé Martínez.
The choice of Viladomat, whose design had been a finalist in a competition in Barcelona, caused some debate in Tarragona, where some would have preferred a local artist. The fountain was carved in Hontoria stone from Burgos and first stood on the central walkway of the Rambla. In February 1995 it was remodelled and moved to its present roundabout, and a plaque records the mayor who commissioned it and the one who promoted its restoration.
What to look for
- The four sculpted groups, one facing each point of the compass, which together represent the continents and the human family.
- The western figure, a man with Native American features holding a crocodile.
- The southern figure, a man with African features leaning on a hippopotamus.
- The warm, honey-coloured Hontoria stone, which glows in the low evening sun.
- The plaque from the 1995 remodelling, naming mayors Enric Olivé Martínez and Joan Miquel Nadal.
A fountain that has been hurt and mended
Standing in the middle of the city's busiest boulevard has its risks. In September 2018 the local press reported that two of the four figures had been damaged, with a head, feet and a hand broken off. It was a reminder that open-air sculpture needs looking after; as you walk around, look closely at the hands and faces of the figures.
Tips for your visit
- Cross to the roundabout only at the pedestrian crossings: traffic flows around it from every side.
- Walk all the way around, as each figure faces a different street and you only see one or two from any single spot.
- Late afternoon is best for photos, when the sun comes down the Rambla and lights the stone.
- Use the fountain as a starting point for a walk down the Rambla Nova to the sea.
Nearby
- Monument als Castellers: a bronze human tower on the Rambla Nova, honouring Tarragona's tradition of building towers of people.
- Mercat Central: Tarragona's Modernista covered market, a few minutes' walk away, good for a snack.
- Balcó del Mediterrani: the viewpoint railing at the sea end of the Rambla Nova, looking over the port and the coast.
- Roman amphitheatre: the 2nd-century arena by the sea, below the Balcó del Mediterrani, part of the Tarraco World Heritage site.
See Tarragona with World City Trail
Our Tarragona scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around two hours, with about 32 minutes of walking. It includes places such as the Monument als Castellers and the Mercat Central. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch.
If you prefer a different format, Tarragona also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Tarragona scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Tarragona →
Play the outdoor escape game in Tarragona →
Facts checked in October 2026.