Pictures Parc de la Ciutadella

Pictures Parc de la Ciutadella


The Ciutadella Park Barcelona was opened to the public in 1877 on the site of a former citadel garrison fort, which was built after Catalonia rebelled against Spain during the 'Spanish War of Succesion'  which ended in defeat for Catalonia in 1714. After the city fell to King Philip V he built the citadel, which at the time was the largest fortress in Europe. Today the Ciutadella is Barcelona's biggest and most popular public park. In the summer months of June to August there are free evening jazz concerts usually at 22.00 on Wednesdays and Fridays nights. Ciutadella park also has a small boating lake where you can rent rowing boats, and a wonderful fountain and waterfall called 'La Cascada' which Antoni Gaudi helped to design when he was just a young architect. Ciutadella park is home to several museums and the Catalunya Parliament which is in the former arsenal of the old citadel fortress. Ciutadella Park was used as the site of the Barcelona 1888 World Exhibition prior to becoming a public park. It is often used for concerts and festivals.Ciutadella Park is also home to Barcelona Zoo which has a separate area and entrances. 

Address Ciutadella Park

Map Parc de la Ciutadella Barcelona

Parc de la Ciutadella Barcelona

Parc de la Ciutadella Barcelona 

Ciutadella park is a popular place for all kinds of activities 

Parc de la Ciutadella - Barcelona

boating lake in Parc de la Ciutadella


The boating lake in Parc de la Ciutadella La Cascada of Parc Ciutadella - 

Rowing boats lake in Parc de la Ciutadella

Photo Parc de la Ciutadella - Barcelona

La Cascada fountain - waterfall fountain. This is a magnificent triumphal arch with a waterfall and fountains. It was built for the Barcelona 1888 Universal exhibition and took 6 years to finish. The fountain was inspired by the Trevi Fountain in Rome.  The fountain was designed by Josep Fontsère, who was the chief architect of the Ciutadella park's conversion from a military citadel site into a public park.  His assistent was a young Antoni Gaudí, who was a student in 1888 and later would go on to become Barcelona's most famous architect.

La Cascada of Parc Ciutadella 

La Cascada of Parc Ciutadella

 La Cascada of Parc Ciutadella

La Cascada fountains of Parc Ciutadella

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La Cascada fountains of Parc Ciutadella

La Cascada fountains of Parc Ciutadella

La Cascada fountains of Parc Ciutadella

The 'Umbraculum' - the Umbracle. This is a large conservatory structure  with tropical plants. Lilke many other structures in the park, the Umbracle was built in 1988 for the Barcelona Universal Exhibition of 1888. It is in a rather sad state at the moment now and due for renovation. Sometimes it is open for special events.

Parc de la Ciutadella Umbraculum Umbracle

General Joan Prim statue Barcelona

General Joan Prim equestrian statue called 'Barcelona a Prim'. It is by sculptor Frederic Marès in 1948. Prim is commemorated for demolishing the Ciutadella garrison.  The current Prim statue is the second version. The original statue by Lluís Puiggener was from 1887 but was melted down during the Spanish Civil war from 1936 to 1939. After the war ended a new statue was erected. 

General Joan Prim statue Barcelona
Park Ciutadella has many of Barcelona's cute, but noisy green parrot like birds called monk parakeets
green monk parakeets Barcelona

 The Stone Mammoth near the fountain.  Norbert Font i Sagué was a Catalan geologist, speleologist and writer, who had the idea to exhibit great extinct animals with full size sculptures.  This mammoth sculpture itself was made by sculptor Miquel Dalmau.

Mammoth Parc de la Ciutadella Barcelona 
The Catalan Parliament in the former military arsenal building of the former citadel fortress 

Parc de la Ciutadella - Catalan Parliament  

Much admired modernist sculpture called 'El Desconsol' Grief, in a small oval pond in front of the Catalan Parliament on the'Pati d'Armes' parade ground in front of the former military arsenal. The sculpture is from 1903 by Catalan artist Josep Llimona.

Parc de la Ciutadella - El Desconsol statue Josep Llimona

Main entrance to Barcelona Zoo adjacent to the Catalan Parliament

Parc de la Ciutadella - Barcelona

Next to the umbracle there is a large structure called the 'hivernacle.' Hivernacle means greenhouse in Catalan.  It was built by Josep Amargós in 1884 for the 1888 Universal Exhibition. Today it has a coffee shop and is used for concerts and exhibitions. Usually not open to the public but used for special events like La Merce festival.

parks_cuitadella_hivernacle


hivernacle greenhouse Parc de la Ciutadella

'El Castell dels Tres Dragons' is a modernist building called 'The Three Dragons Castle.' designed by Catalan modernist architect Domènech i Montaner in 1887 for the Barcelona Universal Exhibition. The name is derived from the title of a comedy play by Serafí Pitarra. Since 1920 El Castell dels Tres Dragons has housed the Barcelona Zoology Museum which is part of several science museums including the Blue Museum at Parc del Forum, which all together form the Barcelona Natural Science Museum

El Castell dels Tres Dragons

The Parc de la Ciutadella plays a large role in many Barcelona festivals like the Merce Festival in September. In the photo below Ciutadella park hosts the 'play me' pianos as part of the annual Maria Canals music competition




At the opposite end of the lime tree avenue Passeig Lluis Companys is the majestic Arc de Triomf. This was the gateway to the Barcelona 1888 Universal Exhibition. Barcelona was also offered the Eiffel tower as the gateway to the 1888 Universal Exhibition, but said no thanks and Paris later built the tower for their Universal Exhibition.  The Arc de Triomf arch in Barcelona features sculptures by artists Josep Llimona, Josep Reynés, Torquat Tasso and Antoni Vilanova. The Passeig Lluis Companys is often used for events like festivals and concerts.

Passeig Lluis Companys and Arc de Triomf
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 February 2024 11:40
 

Thursday, 21 November 2024


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