Walk around incredible parks

Ciutadella Park

Ciutadella Park was the only park in the city of Barcelona for many years.

It is located on the grounds of the fortress built by Philip V to control the city after the War of the Spanish Succession in the 18th century. The fortress was demolished during the Revolution of 1868.

In 1888, for the celebration of the Universal Exhibition and at a time when Barcelona was being opened up to the world, Francesc Rius i Taulet, the city’s mayor, commissioned the development of the park to architect Josep Fontserè, on the site of the demolished Citadel.

The park is currently one of the largest in the city.

Within the park grounds are Barcelona Zoo, and buildings remaining from the former fortress (the chapel, the Governor’s palace and the arsenal) and the 1888 Universal Exhibition (the umbracle, the greenhouse, the Geology Museum, and the Zoology Museum). The park also includes extensive garden areas, areas to walk around including the lake and waterfall, the romantic garden, and the oval pond. There are various sculptures dotted around the park.

The headquarters of the Catalan Parliament is housed within the park.

Gardens of Father Costa i Llobera

The Father Costa i Llobera Gardens were created in the early 60s and are located on a site that was previously occupied by anti-aircraft batteries.

The gardens cover an area of 6.15 hectares and specialise in cacti and tropical plants. Cultivation of these plants is favoured by the microclimate in this location on the southeast side of Montjuic mountain, where the temperature is two degrees higher than in the city. This orientation also protects the gardens from wind.

Cervantes Park / Rose Garden

At one of the entrances to Barcelona is this magnificent nine-hectare park that is home to an extensive collection of rose bushes in all shapes and colours and from every continent.

The park has held an international rose competition since 2001, where new species are presented.

The park currently has 2,000 rose varieties and a total of 10,000 rose bushes.

Mediodia Park / Botanic Gardens

This Botanical Park specialises in Mediterranean plant species, and also contains plants from the Pacific and other species adapted to our climate. It has a phytogeographical arrangement (plants are grouped according to place of origin).

Joan Miró Park

Joan Miró Park was opened in 1983 and is located in the old municipal slaughterhouse. It is also known as ‘Parc de l’Escorxador’ (Slaughterhouse Park).

It occupies a space equivalent to four blocks of the Eixample district and has a paved plaza which is designed to host all kinds of events; a pond; various leisure facilities; and the local public library. The vegetation is mainly Mediterranean, based on pines and oaks. In Tarragona Street is the Joan Miró sculpture, ‘Dona i Ocell’ (Woman and Bird), which is 22 metres high and covered with coloured tesserae (mosaic tiles).

Turó Park

In the early 20th century, in 1912, a small amusement park was set up in the gardens of the Bertrand-Girona family.

In 1929, the park was closed and the family reached an agreement with the City Council, handing over part of the land in exchange for permission to develop the rest.

The architect Nicolau Maria Rubio i Tudurí was commissioned to design the new structure of the park, which opened in 1934.

Within the park we find extensive vegetation with oak trees, palm trees, and magnolia among others; several sculptures; a pond full of water lilies in the central area; a playground; and a small stone stage where performances used to be given.