Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona

About Parc de la Ciutadella

The park is named after the old citadel that stood here until the 19th century. When it was pulled down, the city turned the land into gardens: in 1872 the architect Josep Fontserè began laying out a park with avenues, a lake and fountains. A decade and a half later it hosted the 1888 Universal Exposition, which brought pavilions, greenhouses and a triumphal arch at the entrance.

Today it's the favourite green space of the old town. At weekends people picnic on the lawns, musicians and jugglers perform, cyclists glide along the avenues and children run around the fountains. The park is compact and easy to cover in an hour.

The cascade and the lake

The centrepiece is the Cascada Monumental, a two-tier fountain with an arch, sculptures, grottoes and a waterfall, crowned by the golden chariot of Aurora. Fontserè built it with help from a young architecture student, Antoni Gaudí, making it one of his earliest works. Stairs lead to the top for a view over the park.

Next to it is a lake with a palm-covered islet, where you can hire rowing boats, one of the most romantic things to do in Barcelona, especially at sunset. In a far corner stands a huge life-size stone mammoth, a favourite with children.

What to see in the park

• The cascade — a fountain with a golden chariot and grottoes.
• The lake — rowing boats and a palm islet.
• Castle of the Three Dragons — a red-brick modernista pavilion.
• The greenhouses — the 19th-century Umbracle and Hivernacle.
• The mammoth — a life-size stone mammoth.
• Arc de Triomf — the grand entrance on the promenade.

The 1888 Exposition pavilions

By the Passeig de Picasso entrance stands the Castle of the Three Dragons, a red-brick building by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, built as a café-restaurant for the exposition. Its turrets and battlements look medieval, but it's early Catalan modernisme, and it later housed a natural history museum.

Nearby are two historic greenhouses: the slatted wooden Umbracle, shading palms and ferns, and the glass and cast-iron Hivernacle. They're among Spain's finest 19th-century greenhouses, and some open for exhibitions and concerts.

Tips for your visit

In the morning the park is quiet and cool; on weekend afternoons it's noisy and fun, with street performers. In summer the trees offer shade from the heat. It pairs well with a stroll around El Born and a trip to Barceloneta beach, 15 minutes' walk away.

With children you could spend half a day here: the cascade, boats, mammoth and playgrounds, plus Barcelona Zoo in the southern part, with its own ticket. The park empties when the gates close in the evening, so plan a picnic for the day or for sunset.

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How to do it right

• Entry is free.
• Hire a boat on a weekday.
• Bring a picnic.
• The beach and El Born are close.

Questions