Monument in memory of gays, lesbians and retaliated transsexuals

The Monument in Memory of Gays, Lesbians and Retaliated Transsexuals stands in Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona, honouring LGBT people persecuted for their sexual orientation and gender identity throughout history. It is a quiet, symbolic memorial rather than a conventional sightseeing stop, and visitors are encouraged to approach it with the respect its subject deserves.

How do you get there?

The monument sits inside Parc de la Ciutadella, one of Barcelona's largest and best-known parks, close to the Born and Gothic Quarter neighbourhoods. It is located in the Jardins de Fontseré i Mestre, near one of the park's entrances. The park is an easy walk from the city centre, and the nearest metro stations are Arc de Triomf (line L1) and Ciutadella/Vila Olímpica (line L4). Entry to the park and access to the monument are free of charge.

What will you see?

The memorial takes the form of an inverted triangle carved from stone quarried on Montjuïc hill, laid flat on the ground. The triangle is outlined with a pink metal band, with a four-metre base and two three-metre sides. The shape is deliberate: the inverted pink triangle recalls the badge used to mark gay prisoners in Nazi concentration camps, a symbol later reclaimed by the LGBT movement as an emblem of remembrance and defiance against persecution.

The monument carries an inscription in Catalan: "En memòria dels gais, les lesbianes i les persones transsexuals que han patit persecució i repressió al llarg de la història" — "In memory of the gays, lesbians and transsexual people who have suffered persecution and repression throughout history."

It was unveiled on 21 March 2011, commissioned by Barcelona City Council. The location within the park was not chosen at random: it was here that a transgender woman named Sonia was murdered on 6 October 1991. That fact gives the site an added, tragic dimension, tying the memorial to a specific act of hate-motivated violence rather than leaving it as an abstract tribute.

Why does it matter?

Barcelona has a long-standing reputation as one of Europe's most significant cities for the LGBT community, and this memorial was among the first of its kind in Spain. It connects a local tragedy — a murder that took place within the park itself — to the broader European history of persecution faced by gay and transgender people, a history that stretches back to the Second World War. For visitors, it offers a moment of reflection during a walk through the park, set against the wider story of LGBT rights in Catalonia and Spain.

When should you visit?

Parc de la Ciutadella is open daily throughout the year, and a stop at the monument itself takes only a few minutes. Early morning or late afternoon tends to be quietest, away from the crowds that gather in the park during midday. It is easy to combine the visit with other sights inside the park, such as the Parliament of Catalonia, the Barcelona Zoo, or the Cascada fountain, whose design a young Antoni Gaudí helped shape.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the monument located? Inside Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona, in the Jardins de Fontseré i Mestre, near one of the park's entrances.

What does the monument's shape represent? The inverted pink triangle refers to the badge used to identify gay prisoners in Nazi concentration camps, a symbol later adopted by the LGBT movement.

When was it unveiled, and who commissioned it? It was unveiled on 21 March 2011, commissioned by Barcelona City Council.

Is there an entrance fee? No — access to Parc de la Ciutadella and the monument is free and open to all visitors.