Escultura La Gamba
Escultura La Gamba
4
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Port Vell (Old Port)
How to get there
- Barceloneta • 4 min walk
- Jaume I • 6 min walk
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
104 reviews
Excellent
25
Very good
40
Average
38
Poor
1
Terrible
0
on_the_go_98765
Tucson18,350 contributions
Jul 2022
Things that bring a smile to our faces and make our hearts light and happy are good things. This was one of those things.
So, what is it? It has been called a shrimp, a prawn, a Norway lobster, and some composite of a crustacean with lobster feet. This may strike some as a conundrum until you understand what the artist brought with him (i.e. mental mindset).
We liked its off-center quirky smile and the cartoon-like appearance of this cutie-pie. Was this intentional? You betcha! The artist was a mega-big fan of the comics and took some well-appreciated liberties here with his self-expression. And don't we love it? Yes we do!
It is a biggie measuring in at 33 feet long. How did it come to reside here? Well, that is an epic story worthy of a Homeric poem. And it was a long road but with a happy ending (not like as in Troy and Helen and Paris).
It's personal exodus and odyssey story goes like this: designed to be a restaurant attraction prior to the Barcelona Olympic games (1992), it served its function and then the area went into a steep decline. What happened to our crustacean?
It was stored in a warehouse (thank you Gods of provenance) and then the Barcelona City Council exhumed its body, rehabilitated it, and reestablished it as it is seen today. What a gift!
Everyone of our trips to Barcelona always takes us under this comical crustacean (whatever his origins and maybe that is not important) and we adore him more each time. And those antenna, are they not further expressions? Like eyebrows?
We love to laugh, we love comedy, and we love looking at the lighter side of all things, even those not entirely in the likeness of reality (which may be why this appealed to us even more).
So, what is it? It has been called a shrimp, a prawn, a Norway lobster, and some composite of a crustacean with lobster feet. This may strike some as a conundrum until you understand what the artist brought with him (i.e. mental mindset).
We liked its off-center quirky smile and the cartoon-like appearance of this cutie-pie. Was this intentional? You betcha! The artist was a mega-big fan of the comics and took some well-appreciated liberties here with his self-expression. And don't we love it? Yes we do!
It is a biggie measuring in at 33 feet long. How did it come to reside here? Well, that is an epic story worthy of a Homeric poem. And it was a long road but with a happy ending (not like as in Troy and Helen and Paris).
It's personal exodus and odyssey story goes like this: designed to be a restaurant attraction prior to the Barcelona Olympic games (1992), it served its function and then the area went into a steep decline. What happened to our crustacean?
It was stored in a warehouse (thank you Gods of provenance) and then the Barcelona City Council exhumed its body, rehabilitated it, and reestablished it as it is seen today. What a gift!
Everyone of our trips to Barcelona always takes us under this comical crustacean (whatever his origins and maybe that is not important) and we adore him more each time. And those antenna, are they not further expressions? Like eyebrows?
We love to laugh, we love comedy, and we love looking at the lighter side of all things, even those not entirely in the likeness of reality (which may be why this appealed to us even more).
Written 25 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia26,545 contributions
Jan 2020
The installation of countless monuments to everyone and everything gradually flared up and now has taken on the character of an epidemic around the world. The monument to big shrimp was created by sculptor Javier Mariscal before the Olympics 92 in Barcelona in 1989. It served as an advertisement for a seafood restaurant. The games ended, the traffic dropped (and then it only grew non-stop). The restaurant had to close. The shrimp was removed with it. However, if the restaurant was not sorry, then the shrimp is already loved. Purchased by the city Council, the monument to lovers of shellfish and sea reptiles was installed again on the Avenue of Columbus. A rare case of a monument to the place.
Written 2 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bibcay
Gateshead, UK4,393 contributions
Dec 2019
I love the piece of art. Amazing engineering. It looks like a lobster and I think it is. While your in that neighbourhood go.
Written 30 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simsim7
Norway573 contributions
Feb 2019
I liked this sculpture better than the one behind it. It's a fun one and it looks really happy for some reason.
Written 18 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK179,496 contributions
Jul 2019 • Solo
The Escultura La Grambinus is a fun little sculpture on the northern end of Passeig de Colom, in the Port Vell area of Barcelona. It's a giant lobster and that's about all anyone can say.
Fun, but don't go out of the way to see it.
Fun, but don't go out of the way to see it.
Written 16 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia44,462 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
Escultura La Gamba is a different kind of sculpture. It was originally meant to be a landmark for a seafood restaurant! However after the restaurant went out of business, the local council acquired the sculpture and, here it is! It's in a prominent spot where it can be easily seen. Go, take a few snaps, and continue on your way.
Written 21 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rabih SOUAID
Beirut, Lebanon2,212 contributions
Feb 2019 • Solo
Free
Visit Duration: 10 minutes
Location: Port Vell
La Gamba or Gambrinus is a Mariscal artwork presenting a crayfish. It was inaugurated in 1989, when Moll de la Fusta (In Port Vell area) was invaded by restaurants due to the Olympic Games.
This Giant prawn was located on top of an existing restaurant. It was a creative way to locate the restaurant since a strict ban existed on on putting signs at the top of restaurants.
After ten years from the Olympics, the council didn't renew the licence to the restaurants and then this monument was removed before being restaured in 2004 and becoming one of the city's landmarks.
Many of these establishments (including the Gambrinus itself) closed forever but in 2004 the City Council acquired and restored this prawn with lobster legs.
Visit Duration: 10 minutes
Location: Port Vell
La Gamba or Gambrinus is a Mariscal artwork presenting a crayfish. It was inaugurated in 1989, when Moll de la Fusta (In Port Vell area) was invaded by restaurants due to the Olympic Games.
This Giant prawn was located on top of an existing restaurant. It was a creative way to locate the restaurant since a strict ban existed on on putting signs at the top of restaurants.
After ten years from the Olympics, the council didn't renew the licence to the restaurants and then this monument was removed before being restaured in 2004 and becoming one of the city's landmarks.
Many of these establishments (including the Gambrinus itself) closed forever but in 2004 the City Council acquired and restored this prawn with lobster legs.
Written 19 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dclemets
New York City, NY24 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
This sculpture is right on the marina and the perfect starting point for a nice 15 minute stroll to the beach. I would recommend going in the morning before vendors overwhelm the area.
Written 17 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil K
Liverpool, UK618,690 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
While walking along the fantastic Passieg De Colom you cannot fail to see this amazing lobster,it's a wonderful looking crustacean that besides being a great landmark also offers great photographic opportunities.
Barcelona is packed with some amazing statues and monuments but this stuck in my mind the most ,not only did it stop me in my tracks it also made me laugh,it's cool and fits in perfectly with the port and marina area.
Easy to locate on Passeig De Colom.
Barcelona is packed with some amazing statues and monuments but this stuck in my mind the most ,not only did it stop me in my tracks it also made me laugh,it's cool and fits in perfectly with the port and marina area.
Easy to locate on Passeig De Colom.
Written 12 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
on_the_go_98765
Tucson18,350 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
A restaurant requested this art piece to promote their seafood menu. Times change, the restaurant went out of business. The Barcelona City Council became enamored with this cartoon-ish creation and bought the super-sized crustacean.
Today, it resides on Passaige de Colon's walkway by the marina/harbor. It is really hard to miss (actually, it is impossible to miss) it if your eyes are open.
As the saying goes: "art is in the eye of the beholder."
Today, it resides on Passaige de Colon's walkway by the marina/harbor. It is really hard to miss (actually, it is impossible to miss) it if your eyes are open.
As the saying goes: "art is in the eye of the beholder."
Written 30 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingESCULTURA LA GAMBA: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Escultura La Gamba
- Hotels near Escultura La Gamba:
- (0.06 km) Friendly Rentals Dali
- (0.07 km) Serras Barcelona
- (0.10 km) Hotel Duquesa de Cardona
- (0.10 km) Duquesa Suites Barcelona
- (0.19 km) Wittmore Hotel
- Restaurants near Escultura La Gamba:
- (0.04 km) Kulas Burgers|Tapas|Cocktails
- (0.05 km) Port Nou
- (0.05 km) Restaurant Sedna
- (0.06 km) La Fusta
- (0.13 km) Pizza Pazza