Parc de la Ciutadella

At the center of Barcelona is the Parc de la Ciutadella, a 30-hectare public park with a long and storied history in Barcelona. Its name is derived from the star-shaped citadel that used to reside on the same land, but was torn down due to its symbolism of the overthrown government. In the late 1800’s it was reborn as the park that exists today, and only three buildings from the old Ciutadella complex remain: the Governor’s palace, the arsenal, and the chapel. The arsenal has since been converted into the current site of the Catalan Parliament. The park itself is the location of the Barcelona Zoo, boasting over 7000 animals in its extensive collection of wildlife. There is a man-made lake perfect for taking a leisurely row in one of the boats available for rental on its shores. Throughout the park you can find statuary commemorating such historic figures as General Prim, as well as the Cascada, a Baroque-style fountain fashioned to resemble the Trevi Fountain in Rome, and reportedly co-designed by the great Antoni Gaudi when he was still a student under Josep Fontsère.

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