When I visited Barcelona, I created my travel itinerary for all the places I would visit. On my list were 15 places to visit including Ciutadella Park.
What is Ciutadella Park?
It is sometimes also called Parc de la Ciutadella.
It is a beautiful park in Barcelona.
Prior to my trip, I spent a few hours doing some research about the park. I made notes about all the attractions in the park. I also made a mental note of the places I would like to capture by video and photo.
A Little History
According to my tour guide, this park used to be a military fortress. It became a public park around the late 19th century.
At the park, there were so many sites to visit. I started by visiting the Catalan Parliament. Then I moved on to the Mammoth Statue and then finally to the Cascada Monumental fountain.
I was unable to visit the Barcelona Zoo on this trip, but I still have it on my bucket list of places I would visit at some point.
Fun Facts
- From Fortress to Park: BI learned that the park was built on the site of the Citadel fortress. I also learned that it symbolizes Barcelona’s evolution from a military outpost to a public space.
Notable Attractions within Ciutadella Park
Barcelona Zoo
As I mentioned earlier, I did not get a chance to visit this zoo due to my already tight schedule. I, however, learned of its history. If you visit the zoo, let me know about your experience.
Catalan Parliament
As soon as I got to the park, one of the first places I visited was the Parliament of Catalonia. It is also known as Parlament de Catalunya. I didn’t go inside (not sure if visitors are allowed to) but I took in the beauty of the building from the outside. It is an ancient beautiful building. I especially liked the trees that surrounded it.
Desconsol (Disconsolate)
Right in front of the Catalan Parliament I observed a statue to a woman in a seated pose. I learned that this statue was designed by Catalan sculptor Josep Llimona. I remembered the name from another statue I saw in from of Plaza de Catalunya. The statue at Ciutadella park is named Desconsol.
El Mamut (The Mammoth Statue)
The statue is a life-sized stone replica of prehistoric mammoth. I saw images of this statue before I visited the park, and it lived up to my expectations. Although I had to wait a few minutes for other tourists to take turns for photos around this statue, I was able to take some photos as well.
I kept thinking how amazing it is that this statue has been here since 1907, and my mind wondered about how many millions of people have stood in the same spot as I did to smile and document that moment.
Cascada Monumental
I think the main reason I visited this pack was to see the Cascada Monumental.
It is amazing work of art! I had seen many images of this place online before visiting so I knew I would be spending a lot of time here.
I took my time to admire this fountain. What crossed my mind at the time was how someone could create something that looked so modern but in 1875!
I later learned that it was co-designed by Antoni Gaudí, who designed the Sagrada Familia. I had visited the Sagrada Familia a day before, so it was amazing to see another of his wonderful works.
Admission Details
Is it free to visit? Yes! Entry to Ciutadella Park is free, and visitors can explore its gardens, greenhouses, and public spaces at no cost.
Attractions like the Barcelona Zoo have separate admission fees.
What’s It Like to Visit Ciutadella Park?
The first thing that crossed my mind when arrived at this park was how great it would be to live close by. I could visualize myself relaxing, having a picnic with my friends or reading a book. It’s also a good spot for getting your daily steps in.
There is a small lake where you can hire a row boat for about half an hour.
Since I was there for a vacation, I decided to make the most of it!
If you enjoy biking, you can ride your bike through this park. I was able to ride a bike on a different day when I took a bike tour. The group made a stop at this park and so I got additional time to enjoy this space.
Tips for Your Visit
- Explore the Zoo: Don’t end up like me regretting that I did not visit this spot. Plan your trip in a way that allows you explore this zoo.
- Bring a Picnic: The park offers plenty of open spaces ideal for picnicking, especially under the shade of the trees.
- Hire a Row Boat: This reminded me of some movies I had seen. It’s definitely something you should add to your travel itinerary if you visit this park. Plus, it cost only about €6 so it is worth it!
- Capture the Cascada Monumental: My favorite images of the park were taken here so I would say stop by here and take pictures. Don’t forget to take pictures of the fountain itself and then some images with you in them. When I got back home that was something I realized I should have done more of. I either had too many images of myself in front of some of the attractions or too little of the attractions without me in front of them.
Nearby Attractions
I had just a few days in Barcelona, and so I mapped out my movement for each site visit. After visiting Ciutadella Park, I walked over to Arc de Triomf. It took me about 5 minutes to get there.
Ciutadella Park is also about a 5-minute walk from the El Born Neighborhood.
It is also 6 minutes away from the Picasso Museum.
Best Time to Visit
Just like most places I visited in Barcelona; I found that the morning was the best time to visit. It is usually less crowdy plus the light is great for photography.
During summer, visiting in the early morning or late afternoon is best to avoid the midday heat.
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