Ciutadella Park

Barcelona’s first public park

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The venue of the 1888 Universal Exposition is now a large park with two museums, an extensive collection of public art and much more. With a surface area of 17 hectares, Ciutadella Park is Barcelona’s largest urban park after Montjuïc and an open-air sculpture museum.

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Why visit Ciutadella Park?

The park, which is on the land that was occupied by the old citadel, was designed by Josep Fontserè i Mestre based on the Luxembourg Garden in Paris. It was opened in 1881 and in 1888 it held the Barcelona Universal Exposition, from which the restaurant built by Domènech i Montaner in the early Modernisme period has been preserved. The glasshouse and the shade house, dedicated to the conservation of botanical species have also been preserved, and the arsenal of the old military fortress is now the Parliament of Catalonia. Barcelona Zoo, which is also located in the park, dates back to 1892.

In addition to its large gardened area, central lake, and more than a hundred species of flora, many of which were planted in the 19th century, Ciutadella Park is also known for its monumental fountain, which was built from 1875 to 1888 following Josep Fontserè’s general design over a hydraulic project by Antoni Gaudí. Throughout the park there are sculptures and busts of great artistic value by artists like Frederic Marès, Josep Clarà, Josep Llimona and Pablo Gargallo, which contributed to the declaration of the park as a Historic and Artistic Monument of National Interest in 1951.

How do you get to Ciutadella Park?

Hop off at the Pla de Palau – Parc de la Ciutadella stop on the Red Route of Barcelona Bus Turístic and then walk along Passeig d’Isabel II and Avinguda del Marquès de l’Argentera to one of the side entrances to the park.

For the most curious of you

Did you know? In 1911 an amusement park called Saturno Park was installed in the old bailey of the citadel and included attractions that were then at the cutting edge, such as roller coasters, but it closed in 1921.

Local’s tip: Ciutadella Park has become one of the places with the most recreational and cultural activities in Barcelona. It is common to find people having picnics, forming drum circles and practising yoga, especially at the weekend.