Arc de Triomf, Barceloneta or Ciutadella Vila Olympica

The park is open daily, 8am to 10pm. Entry FREE.

The Museu de Zoologia and Geologia are open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 2pm. Entry €4.

The Zoo is open daily 10am to 5pm (7pm in summer). Entry costs €15, concessions €9.

Barcelona’s largest park was thoughtfully designed to allow visitors to experience and enjoy nature, recreation and culture. Few would believe that it was the site of the most despised building in Barcelona – the formidable Ciutadella. In 1714, after a long siege, Barcelona fell to the army of King Philip V during the war of the Spanish Succession. In order to keep firm control over the rebellious citizens of Barcelona, King Philip V built the largest fortress in Europe, a star-shaped citadel or Ciutadella. The citizens of Barcelona were frequently jailed within its thick walls and executions were common. This much hated symbol of central government was finally demolished during the 1870’s when the local Catalan general handed over the Ciutadella to the city. Only three buildings survived: the chapel, the Governor's palace and the arsenal, now home to the Catalan Parliament.

The Catalan Parliament building

During the 1880’s Barcelona was in high spirits. It had become the most developed city in a largely backward Spain and had developed transatlantic trade routes. The majority of Catalans were living well, largely due to slave labour in Cuba. The local government decided to celebrate this success by holding a Universal Exhibition in 1888. The site left by the demolished Ciutadella was designated as the stage for this grand exhibition and work started to convert the site. Many of the pavilions and buildings constructed for this exhibition still remain and form the basic structure of the park.

The grandest entrance is the Arcade Triomf, its angels offering wreathes and playing horns from their lofty position. A popular attraction in the park is the Zoo de Barcelona, which contains around 7000 animals from 400 species. Visitors can marvel at the elephants, penguins, crocodiles and giant anteaters. Younger guests flock to see the frequent dolphin shows and the snakes being fed! In the opposite corner is the Museu de Zoologia, whose building gives the impression of a fairytale medieval castle. Its displays of specimen jars and stuffed animals are rather old-fashioned but the colossal whale skeleton and stuffed sabre-tooth tiger are striking.

The Arc de Triomf

Museu de Zoologia

Exotic plants inside the Hivernacle

In the centre of the park is an artificial lake where rowing boats can be rented and a model mammoth watches curiously over the visitors.  Facing the lake is the “Cascada” fountain which was built for the 1888 Exhibition. The Baroque-style design, loosely based on the Trevi Fountain in Rome, boasts winged horses with serpent tails and cherubs splashing in the water. The designer was Josep Fontsère, but he was assisted by a young Antoni Gaudi, who was still a student. This made it one of the famous Gaudi’s first assignments in Barcelona.

Cascade Fountain

Rowing boats on the lake

Recent excavations near the park, revealed a network of medieval cobbled streets. These streets, which until the early 18th century formed part of a lively medieval neighbourhood of Barcelona, were swept away to make room for the giant Ciutadella fortress.

Relaxing in the park

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