To
Barcelona,
the capital of Catalonia, there is a lot to offer regarding parks
and interesting gardens.
Below you can find description of the most popular ones, the ones that you don't want to miss
during your trip to Barcelona:
Guell Park (Parc Guell) is a complex of several gardens planned by the architect Antoni Gaudi.
This is the most famous park in Barcelona. This is one of the architectonic masterpieces of Gaudi,
the genius architect identified with Barcelona. The park is located in an impressive observation post
on the city, in the north side of Gracia quarter, on the EL Carmel hill in Barcelona.
The park was built in 1900-1914 and wandering in it will take you into the brain obscurity of Gaudi.
This is a one of the most beautiful parks in Barcelona and it is full with stone, ceramics, mosaic and
iron statuses.
In 1984 announce UNESCO on the park as a world inheritance.
A visit in the park is much recommended and it is advisable to dedicate half day for it.
The park foundation:
Guell Park was established as an enterprise of the business man, the marquis, Azobio De Guell,
that was impressed from similar enterprises in England. Guell's plan was to build villa's
neighborhood for the reach people of Barcelona in a distant suburb, watching the city.
To do so, Guell hired Gaudi's services and ask him to start planning the enterprise.
Between 1900-1914 Gaudi built the entrance gate to the area, two model villas (in one of them
Gaudi lived till his last day), few pavilion for the visitors and the park guards, and also
prepared the terraces on which other villas were supposed to be build.
Because of the enterprise failure, no more villas were built and the area was left
deserted for many years.
What left from the park is a public park with unique open spaces and works of art that looks
like they are part of the nature.
In 1923 the park was purchased by Barcelona's municipality and become a public park.
Park description:
The entrance square :
The entrance square intended to separate between the city tumult and the quiescence exclusive area.
In the square you can find the dragon shape fountain covered with mosaic and dominate the stairs leading
into the park.
The park entrance is decorated with ceramics flagstone and from both sides of it there are two houses
that look like they were taken from the fairy tale world.
Through the two booths in the entrance gate it is possible to get inside a public area that was
intended to enable the people gather in rainy days.
The public area:
The public area of the park is the area in with the decorated bench statue, with the colorful clays
decorations and the bumpy areas on, can be found. The bench shape was designed like that in order to
give different groups the opportunity to sit together and still discuss privately. The bench has
orthopedic shape that allow comfortable sitting.
The inclined bench surface allows the rain waters to flow from the bench through small
gutter found on it. This inclination allows the quick drying up of the bench and also it
prevents from people to sit on the wet areas in the bench.
The terraces:
Gaudi, who believed in combining architecture with local natural elements, built the terraces from
local stones only. The passes between the terraces were built naturally and inside it nidification
holes were prepared. The terraces were supposed to look like trees, and the flora on top of each
pillar was supposed to look like treetop.
The villas:
The villas in the neighborhood were supposed to integrate in the natural areas and that’s why
they are not protruding in the area. The uniqueness of the building is there chimneys.
More in the park:
In the park there are lanes decorated with all kind of art works of Gaudi and in the middle of
the park a charming pink house in which Gaudi lived until his last day. This house is serving
as a museum (Casa Museu Gaudi) and inside it some of Gaudi’s works and personal belongings are
being displayed.
Address:
Carrer d'Olot
How to go to Guell Park?
There are many ways to reach the park (metro, bus) and except the main entrance to the park,
there are more 7 entrances along the wall.
One of the more beautiful ways to the park is to get off the metro at Vallcarca station and
then go up the “Baixada de la Gloria” – “The glory slope”.
This is a narrow and steep street that parts of it equipped with escalators in order to relieve the climbing.
(This way is leading to the “servants entrance” located in the back part of the park, so the tour is
actually being done towards the front area of the park).
Other way to reach the park is to get off at Lesseps metro station and continue from there according
to the signs till the park.
Another way is simply take a bus or tourist bus and get off very close to the park entrance.
Prices:
Free entrance to the park
5 Euro to enter Gaudi's house inside the park.
Open Hours, Activity Hours:
Open daily from 10:00 in the morning till sunset.
Ciutadella Park was built towards the end of the 19th century east to the Gothic quarter and the
La Rivera neighborhood, towards the sea. It was built in an area that in the past a big and threatening
castle stood there. The castle was built in an important strategic point of the city in order to rule
the rebellious citizens of Barcelona and control there actions.
In order to prepare an appropriate area for the castle, thousands of people were evacuated from there homes
that were totally destroyed.
No wonder that this castle was hated by everybody and so, when the old city walls started to break through
and fall down, the same was done to the castle. Everybody wanted to erase the memory of this horrible castle.
In 1868, big part of the castle was destroyed, and a big public park was established instead. Some of the
original structures of the castle were left as they were, for example: the church, the governor palace and
the weapons warehouse.
The works of turning the destroyed castle area into a park lasted 15 years, and the goal date for its opening
was planed to be the date of the large world congress in 1888.
Many structures in the park were designed especially for this congress and contributed to the development of
the place. Part of those structures exists also today.
The park is an ideal place for resting at the end of a walking day in the streets of Barcelona.
This is a pleasant place for strolling for those who are tired from architecture and old or wired buildings.
This is definitely a romantic place for couples. During the weekends the place is full of people who are playing,
dancing and drumming, inspiring lively atmosphere in the place.
In the park the following attractions can be seen:
Parliament seat:
In the center of the park there is the castle that is using today as parliament seat for the
Catalan government and also using as home for the modern art museum.
Zoo:
Not so large zoo in which inside it there is a zoological park with over 7000 different kinds
of animals in it. To the animal fans, the visit in this zoo is recommended.
Lake:
In the large artificial lake located in the park you can rent paddle boats and paddle pleasurably.
Statues:
Different statues are spread in the park. The most famous of them is a giant mammoth made of stone,
and a cat made of metal. A more conventional statue is that of general Frim, the one who enable the
ruin of the castle from the beginning.
Vegetation in the north side:
Vegetation that brought to the park from all over the world and become acclimatized in it.
Beside every tree there is a little sign showing its name and kind. Between the trees there
is a circular pool which waterfowl are swimming at.
Fountain:
In front of the flora in which a pond is located in the middle of, a big fountain is found, a fountain
that was built in the end of the 19th century in baroque and neo classic styles. This is the most
charming attraction in the park. The fountain is being called "Cascada" due to the cascades falling
from it and it was built with the Roman Travi fountain inspiration.
The impressive fountain known also in its name "The lady with the umbrella" is using many times as
a decoration to couples arriving to take photos before there wedding.
Barcelona municipality ordered the fountain building forward the 1888 exhibition, and the one that
designed and built it was Josef Fontsera. A young briligant student that was helping Fontsera was Antoni Gaudi.
Geology museum and Zoology museum:
The museums are located in the west corner in the park. The Zoology museum is located inside a building
that is called "The 3 dragon's house". This is a structure that was designed as a medieval
castle in a neo gothic style, and in the time of the big exhibition in 1888, it served as a restaurant.
Court area:
In front of the Zoology museum there is a wide boulevard leading to the court area of Barcelona.
Triumphal Arch:
The big and beautiful triumphal arch in the park is made of red bricks. The triumphal arch was built
by Josef Vilaska just in order to adorn the park for the visitors of the 1888 exhibition, and not
in order to commemorate important war victories as it is in other triumphal arch over the world.
Address:
Pg Picasso 1
How to go to Ciutadella Park?
Will be updated soon
Prices:
Free entrance.
Open Hours, Activity Hours:
Open everyday, 10:00-24:00
Website:
For more info see the
Ciutadella Park
website.
The amusement park, Port Aventura, is located south to Barcelona, on a hill in the
shoreline of Costa Dorada, a distance of one hour of driving.
The park is spacious, managed and owned by Universal Studios and it shows different cultures
from the world in special atmosphere.
The park is divided into several regions:
The Laberint Park is located in the center of Vall dHebron region from the end of the 18th century.
This is an ancient park (some are saying the most ancient) , wired and amazing park, that a labyrinth
built from cypress tress with a statue of Eros in the center of it, is located in the middle of it.
The park is built in an Italian style, and it is an outstanding example for the gardening style of the
18th century. It is surrounded with pinon grove and flowers garden beds and it includes several
gardens and structures: the crazy garden (Jardi del boixos), the local garden (Jardi domestic),
the romantic garden, the romantic canal, the neo-classic palace and others.
The park is divided into 3 terraced terraces:
In the upper part there is a lake.
In the center part there are several small temples with dome on pillars.
In the lower part there is the labyrinth, the park climax.
In the past there was an aristocracy estate in the middle of the park, and the garden surrounded
it used the elites ruled the city. Until 1971 the garden was owned by the marquis Antoni Desolas,
which after he couldn't pay the current expenses on it, gave it to the Barcelona municipality that
turned it into a public park.
Today the park is open to the public and is especially loved by kids due to the labyrinth in it,
a labyrinth that is challenging them (and not only them).
Address:
The park is located in C/Germans Desvalls, Passeig Vall d`Hebron
How to go to Laberint Park?
Metro: Green Line, get off at Mundet station. After that there are 10-12 minutes of walking.
There is a need to pass the sport playgrounds and than cross the road using the pathway going under the road.
Bus: 60, 73, 76, 85, 173
Price:
On Sundays and Wednesdays the entrance is free.
Open Hours, Activity Hours:
November-February: 10:00-18:00
March-October till 19:00
September-April till 20:00
May-August till 21:00
Website:
Joan Miro Park is located in the north side of the Montjuic mountain.
The famous statue of Miro, "Women with a Bird", is found inside a poll, in the park.
The park itself is a very popular place for jogging or relaxing.
How to go to Joan Miro Park?
All arrival options to the Montjuic Mountain.
Metro: Line 1, get off at Espanya station, Line 3, get off at Tarragona station.
It is possible also to use trams.
Open Hours, Activity Hours:
November – February: 10:00 - 18:00
March and October: 10:00 – 19:00
April and September: 10:00 – 20:00
May – August: 10:00 – 21:00
