Parc de la Ciutadella was constructed on the grounds of the city’s medieval fortress (its name, Ciutadella, means citadel in Catalan), modeled after Paris’s Luxembourg Gardens.

Located in the district of Ciutat Vella (Old City), right next to the Estació de França train station and the Arc de Triomf, the park features 10 entrances and covers an area of 17.42 hectares.

It occupies the land that formerly held the old Ciutadella (Citadel), which was built by Felipe the 5th to maintain control and Spanish domination over Barcelona after the War of Spanish Succession in the 18th century.

Looking for a signature project as host of the Universal Exposition of 1888, the mayor of Barcelona, Francesc Rius i Taulet, commissioned the construction of the park on the grounds of the old fortress- symbol of repression for the citizens of Barcelona for centuries. The man commissioned with its construction was Josep Fontserè, who successfully carried out his task and opened the park as a symbol of Barcelona opening to the World with the year’s exposition.

Fontserè was also assisted by a young Antoni Gaudi, who collaborated in the design of the emblematic Cascada Monumental (Monumental Waterfall), one of the most impressive installations in the park.

Today, Ciutadella is one of the largest and most popular parks in Barcelona. It is distinguished by its extensive garden area, which features ample space to stroll and treed areas to relax in the shade.

Perhaps the most visited part of the park is the small lake that is found in the middle of the gardens. The lake features an elegant combination of exotic plants and aquatic animals. Visitors can enjoy the lake by renting one of the small row boats that also inhabit the lake.

Other unique sculptures found in Ciutadella include the Monument to Walt Disney, the Umbrella Girl, and the Mammoth, amongst others.

Adjacent to the Cascada Monumental, you will find the Jardin Romantico (Romantic Garden) which is home an extensive variety of plant and vegetable species. Another significant site in the park is the old Plaza de Armas. There you will find a small, oval pond in the center of which is the celebrated work of sculptor Josep Llimona, “Desconsuelo”.

Stay in an apartment in Barcelona near the Parc de la Ciutadella and enjoy the vibrant life of the historic and cultural center of the city.