The Torre Glòries (formerly Torre Agbar) is an impressive 38-story office building located at the gateway to Barcelona’s technological district and offers visitors a chance to admire the 21st-century architecture at its finest.
Barcelona is well known for its impressive works of famed architect Antoni Gaudi, but since 2006 The Agbar Tower has quickly become a recognized landmark in the Catalonian capital.
While the building’s observation deck is for private employee use only, it’s well worth visiting to enjoy the towers spectacular light show (free of charge) at dusk.
Opening Hours
The light show can be enjoyed from close up or afar and starts at the below times:
- Winter Tower Illumination: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: 8pm – 11pm
- Summer Tower Illumination: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: 9 pm – 1 am
Note that sometimes throughout the year a free exhibition is put on in the building’s lobby. The exhibitions tend to be quite small and usually cover the history of water (as the building is owned by a municipal water company).
To find out whether there’s an exhibition on during your visit to Barcelona, check out the tower’s website or enquire in the lobby as you pass the building.
History & more information
Torre Glòries, commonly known as Torre Agbar, is a symbol of Barcelona’s modern architecture and urban edge and is home to the headquarters of Aguas de Barcelona (the name comes from the letters of Aguas de Barcelona), a municipal water company.
Although it is still referred to as Torre Agbar by many, the skyscraper actually had its name changed in 2017 after Merlin Properties bought it and renamed it Torre Glòries.
The tower, which will be the second tallest building in Barcelona once construction on the Sagrada Familia is complete, was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and covers 50,693 square meters of surface area.
Initially, the tower received some criticism due to its unusual shape and lack of character, but gradually the locals grew to favor the structure and consider it to be the new face of the city.
The tower’s location links in well with its design too as you’ll find it in the urban Poblenou neighborhood, an area that was once the industrial heart of the city and is today a popular destination for local creatives and innovative minds. The building is surrounded by art studios, co-working spaces, and funky microbreweries!
Designer Nouvel noted that inspiration for the shape and design of the building came from the nearby mountains of Montserrat which sit behind the city. Nouel wanted the tower to look like a bubbling Geysir exploring into the sky.
Illumination Show
The building’s main draw is the static evening light show which takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights all year round. The light show makes use of the building’s impressive square glass windows and the illuminative glass within them.
How to get to Torre Glòries
The tower is fairly easy to find as it stands out from Barcelona’s skyline thanks to its modern design and towering height! Head to the intersection of Avenue Diagonal and Carrier de Badajoz and you’ll find the structure right on the corner.
- From Port Olympic, the tower is a 30-minute walk, a 20-minute metro ride (line T4), or a 10-minute taxi drive away.
- From the Gothic Quarter, the tower is a 40-minute walk, a 20-minute metro ride (line L4 followed by line L1), or a 15-minute taxi drive away.
- From the Sagrada Familia, the tower is a 20-minute walk, a 15-minute metro ride (line L2 followed by line L1), or a 10-minute taxi drive away.
Nearby Attractions
Make the most of your time in Barcelona, and visit some of the highlights located close to Torre Glòries. The below attractions are all within 1.5 miles to the tower and can easily be accessed on foot:
- Sagrada Familia
- Arc de Triomf
- Parc de la Ciutadella
- Barcelona Fish
- Palau de la Musica Catalana
- Eixample
- Santa Maria del Mar
- Placa del Rei
- City History Museum
- La Seu Cathedral
Best time to visit
The light show takes place during the winter and summer months on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights between 8am – 11pm (winter) and 9pm – 1am (summer).
Facts about Torre Glòries (Torre Agbar)
- The Torre Glòries was built by the Grupo Agbar and houses its headquarters. Since water is the focus of the Augas de Barcelona, the tower represents a water fountain that constantly changes its appearance.
- The Torre Agbar was designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel in association with the company b720 Arquitectos from Barcelona. It is said that Nouvel was inspired by the organic forms of Gaudí’s buildings in Barcelona and by the hills of Montserrat.
- At this moment, the Torre Agbar is the highest building in Barcelona. Only the Sagrada Familia will surmount it once the construction works are over.
- Torre Glòries is illuminated at night. During the illumination, the 4,500 illuminated glass panels constantly change their colors.
- Construction on the building began in June 1999 and ran through to January 2006.
- There are 4,500 windows, 32 floors, and 4,349 window cases on the building.
- Technically, the building is made up of two non-concentric oval cylinders topped by a glass and steel dome. There are no internal columns in the structure, but rather, the building’s services and emergency stairwells are located in the concrete core.
- The first skin of the exterior of the building is a layer of polished aluminum in blues, greens, and grays. The second skin, which adds iridescent sparkle to the building, is made up of 59,619 sheets of clear glass.
- Twenty-eight of the building’s thirty-four floors are currently used for offices and an additional three house the technical components of the building.
- All of the windows in the tower are square and measure the same size (92cm by 92cm)!
FAQ’s (Things to know before you go)
Can you go inside Torre Glòries?
The majority of the building is home to private office spaces and not open to the public. There’s also an observation deck and restaurant/ cafe that is not yet open to the public though it could be in the future. For now, visitors can head inside the lobby to find out if there are any exhibitions on, otherwise, the tower is best enjoyed from outside.
What can I expect from the light show?
The Torre Glòries light show is a spectacular display of color and light. The building’s 4,500 reflective lights illuminate the building in tones of yellow, blue, pink, and red and it can be spotted from miles away.
Where is the best place to view the Agbar Tower from a distance?
A popular place to enjoy the tower with a drink in hand is at the neighboring Silken Diagonal Hotel. During the summer months, non-guests are allowed access to the rooftop bar where you can admire the tower in all its glory.
Do you have more questions about Torre Glòries in Barcelona? Leave a comment below!