Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

Parc de la Ciutadella is the largest green space in the centre of Barcelona, laid out on the site of a former military fortress. It is a city park with a lake, a grand fountain, a zoo and the seat of the Catalan Parliament, and it was the setting for the 1888 Universal Exposition. It is a good place to slow down between the Gothic Quarter, the Born and the seafront.

The story behind it

The park takes its name from the citadel that Philip V had built in the early 18th century, after Barcelona fell in the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714. Many homes in the neighbourhood were demolished to make room for it, and the fortress stayed deeply unpopular with the city for generations.

In the 19th century the citadel was pulled down and the land was turned into a public park, designed by the architect Josep Fontserè. The park then became the stage for the 1888 Universal Exposition, which left behind several buildings that still stand. Fontserè's monumental cascade fountain is among the best known, and the young Antoni Gaudí is recorded as having worked on it as a student.

What to look for

• The Cascada, a grand fountain of rock, statues and water that Fontserè designed as the park's centrepiece.
• The Parliament of Catalonia, housed in a building that was once part of the citadel's military complex.
• The Castell dels Tres Dragons, a brick building from the 1888 Exposition that now belongs to the natural history museum.
• The boating lake, where you can watch rowing boats drift beneath the trees, and the nearby mammoth sculpture that children tend to spot first.

Tips for your visit

• Entry to the park itself is free, but the zoo and museums inside have their own rules, so check current opening hours before you plan a visit.
• Allow an hour or two for a relaxed wander, longer if you want to row on the lake or have a picnic.
• Morning and late afternoon are cooler and quieter, especially in the Barcelona summer.
• The Arc de Triomf, the Born neighbourhood and the Barceloneta seafront are all a short walk away, so the park combines well with a wider day on foot.

See it on a quest

Kid Quest: Solve the case of the lost senses in Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona is a family-friendly way to see the park. You walk to each stop on foot as part of a longer route through the park, the app tells you about each place when you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It suits children who would rather investigate than listen to a guide. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like.