Parc de la Ciutadella - Parc de la Ciutadella information and pictures



Parc de la Ciutadella: Barcelona’s City Park

The Parc de la Ciutadella is 30 hectares of beautiful parklands located in Barcelona’s Gothic quarter, featuring the Barcelona Zoo, the Cascada fountain and waterfall, a manmade lake, orange trees, museums, greenhouses and cozy cafes. The Arc de Triomf, welcomes visitors to the Park, which was the entrance to the 1888 Exhibition.

Various statues and sculptures artfully dot the landscape, such as the popular wooly mammoth. Visitors can rent rowboats, bicycles and even play ping-pong. During the warmer months, the Parc de la Ciutadella is a popular venue for outdoor concerts.

Park History - The Citadel Park was originally used as a military citadel built by King Philip V in the 1700s to ward off the rebellious Catalans. Napoleon Bonaparte even kept prisoners behind its fortified walls. Catalan General Prim returned the lands to the City of Barcelona in 1869 when most of the reviled fortress was destroyed. It was later developed into a park for the Universal Exhibition of 1888. A statue of General Prim is now part of the many park landmarks.

Park Museums and Gothic Style Architecture - The Citadel Park is the location of the Natural Science Museum, which features zoology and geology exhibits. Most of the exhibits are housed in the distinctive, Castel dels Tres Dragons, a Catalan Gothic castle built for the 1888 Exhibition by architect Domènech Montaner. The permanent exhibits include extensive paleontology, mineralogy and petrology specimens.

The Museum of Modern Art is located in the Palau de la Ciutadella, the home of the Catalan Parliament and the former arsenal building of the 18th century fortress. Two floors are devoted to Catalan artists and feature pieces from Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí.

The Cascada - The Cascada is a beautiful fountain and waterfall framed by a massive arch in the Baroque style, adorned with playful cherubs and winged horses. Josep Fontsère along with young Antoni Gaudi, then a student, designed the Cascada for the 1888 Exhibition. The design is based on the Trevi Fountain in Rome. A visitor can climb a massive stairway to the top of the waterfall for a lovely view. Children can often be seen climbing on the wooly mammoth statue, which stands by the waterfall.
Parc de la Ciutadella Barcelona
Where is Parc de la Ciutadella: Gothic quarter

How to get to Parc de la Ciutadella: By Subway – Line 4 to Ciutadella I Villa Olimpica





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