La Ciutadella is a park situated in Ciutat Vella, Barcelona. It was created in the mid 19th century, and it has always been the city’s only green space. The 70 acres (280,000 m2) grounds include the city zoo (once home to the albino gorilla Floquet de neu (Snowflake), who died in 2004), the Parliament of Catalonia, a small lake, museums, and a large fountain.
The main attraction is the zoo. This is due to out of the 7,000 animals present.
One half of the park's paths are sinuous and more natural-looking, and the other half ordered and parallel. Along both, huge a variety of vegetation is displayed.
Let’s have a look on the park and its parts:
CITADEL
The citadel was built in order to maintain control over the city and to prevent Catalans from rebelling. This was during the kingdom of Phillip V of Spain.
CASCADA (WATERFALL)
It is located at the northern corner of the park opposite to the lake. It was inaugurated in 1881.
LAKE
It is a scenery enjoyable most of all for romantics. Here you can find turtles on rocks, and fishes dashing through the water.
BANDSTAND
The park’s bandstand is named Glorieta de la Transsexual Sònia. It is dedicated to a transsexual named Sonia, who was murdered there on 6th October 1991.
ZOO
You can find out more information about the Zoo in THIS ARTICLE.
MUSEUMS
You can go in the zoology museum of Barcelona and the geology museum.
How to get there?
You can go by metro. The stop is Villa Olímpica (L4) or Arc de Triomf (L1)
We recommend this park as it is a different part of the city where you can relax and enjoy everything that it offers.
