Take a walk in Ciutadella Park

If you are spending some time in Barcelona you’ve probably already know or have walked through the Ciutadella Park, located at the end of Paseo de Lluis Companys, which culminates in the emblematic Arc de Triomf. But, do you know the history of this charming place? From ShBarcelona we suggest you to take a walk at its broad avenues or lay on the lawn of its great esplanades now that spring warmth arrives. Many people enjoy this green oasis in the city during spring and summer months, there are some of them that even take yoga classes outdoors, do juggling shows or improvised percussion concerts. All this in a relaxed and friendly environment with tourists and locals. We recommend you keep an eye on your belongings there because pickpockets and thieves don’t take any breaks…

This giant park in the middle of the city of Barcelona was built in the second half of the nineteenth century and tries to imitate the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. It was a needed green space in an increasingly crowded and polluted Barcelona as a result of industrial development. For a long time this was the only public park in the city and was modified to accommodate the Universal Exhibition in 1888 and then to host the Barcelona Zoo. Today Ciutadella Park hosts many recreational and institutional buildings that still survive such as the beautiful greenhouse, the Geology Museum, the Zoology Museum, the Plaza de Armas with The Grief sculpture by Josep Llimona in front of the Parliament of Catalonia, etc. Within the park you’ll also find a lake where you can navigate with rowboats for 5 €/half an hour, and the waterfall, next to which we can find the Romantic Garden.

The park’s vegetation is one of the main attractions of the park for all botany lovers: Australian oaks, lindens, Canary palms, sacred trees, blue palms, magnolias, silk trees, black walnuts, strawberry trees, etc. If you go to the greenhouse you’ll also enjoy exotic plant species that are rarely seen in the Mediterranean weather. Besides the plant life of the Ciutadella Park, this green space is also known for its variety of over a hundred species of birds that live in its trees and plants.

HELPFUL INFORMATION:

• Zoology Museum: Tuesday – Wednesday / Friday – Sunday from 10am to 2pm and Thursday from 10am to 6.30pm

• Geology Museum: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 2pm. On Thursday from 10h to 6.30pm, closed on Monday.

• MAM: Modern Art Museum: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm, Sundays and holidays from 10am to 2.30pm, closed on Monday.

• Parliament of Catalonia: Open Saturday from 10am to 7pm, 10am to 2pm Sunday and holidays.

• Barcelona Zoo: January-February from 10am to 5pm, March: 10am to 6pm, 10am to 7pm; April, and May to August from 9.30am to 7.30pm, September from 10am to 7pm, October from 10am to 6pm, November to December from 10am to 5pm.