BARCELONA: CIUTADELLA PARK

Ciutadella Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Barcelona, really peaceful. Inside this park there is a nice fountain and the Parliament of Catalonia. I took this pictures during the visits I did to this park in 2008 and 2010.

This is an image of a part of the great cascade or ornamental fountain of Ciutadella Park. This fountain is what I like the most of this park

As it can be seen in the previous picture, dragons and jets are the main decorative elements of this fountain of Ciutadella Park. Palm trees, bushes and other decorative plants give this fountain an special charm

It's very pleasant to the eye to see this birds to glide gently over the transparent water of this fountain of Ciutadella Park

The constant movement of the water caused by jets and sculptures makes that this fountain has his own life

More pictures of these jets and dragons of this fountain


Overall view of this nice fountain of Ciutadella Park


This fountain is also a fantastic environment for a portrait


Ciutadella park is ideal for a walk on saturday or sunday morning

Inside the Ciutadella Park is the Three Dragons Castle, an example of early Barcelona modernism which can be seen in the background of this photo. The building was built by Doménech i Montaner in 1887. Since 1920 it has housed the Zoology Museum

Between the cascade and the lake, we can see this immense stone mammoth

Formerly the arsenal of the Ciutadella garrison fortress, the building in the background of this image became the seat of the Catalan Parliament in 1932

Another image of the Catalan Parliament in Ciutadella Park. It was closed after 1939 throughout the period of the Franco regime, until it was restored as Parliament in 1980


In front of the Catalan Parliament is an oval pond surrounded by gardens

In the middle of the pond is one of the most striking sculptures of Catalan Modernism, crafted by Josep Llimona in 1903. This beautiful piece is known as El Desconsol

At the end of this promenade, in the background of this image, is the Arc de Triomf of Barcelona, built as the entrance gate for the 1888 Universal Exhibition so it is not, strictly speaking, a triumphal arch as it was not built to commemorate any military victory. Nevertheless, it is built and named as a triumphal arch.

I also would like to give you some useful information in case you want to visit this nice park:

- Address: Parc de la Ciutadella s/n
- How to get there:

• Metro: L4, stop Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica.
• Bus 14, 39, 40, 41, 42, 51 and 141.
• Barcelona Bus Turístic, stop Parc de la Ciutadella-Zoo.

- Web site: www.bcn.cat/parcsijardins
- Opening time:

• December, January, february, from 10am to 8pm.
• March & November, daily from 10am to 7pm.
• April & October, daily from 10am to 8pm.
• From May to September, daily from 10am to 9pm.

Of course, you can visit more fantastic parks in Barcelona like:

• Laberint d'Horta Park
• Park Güell
• Pedralbes Gardens
• Montjuïc - Joan Maragall Gardens
• Montjuïc - Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer Gardens
• Montjuïc - Mirador Gardens
• Montjuïc - Mirador del Migdia Park
• Joan Miró Park
• Cervantes Park and Rose Garden
• Castell de l'Oreneta Park
• Collserola - Sant Pere Màrtir leisure area
• Collserola - Carretera de les Aigües
• Collserola - Pantà de Vallvidrera
• Torreblanca Park in Sant Feliu de Llobregat
• Can Vidalet Park in Esplugues de Llobregat
• Can Mercader Park in Cornellà de Llobregat

Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to more beautiful and interesting places in Barcelona, among them, other nice parks and gardens in Barcelona.