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.