Visiting Ciudadela Park in Barcelona
Even though most tourists visit Spain to enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean, others prefer to visit the famous monuments that feature so prominently in history, such as the Alhambra. Others prefer to visit the many churches that are so famous in a land that is deeply Christian. Still others prefer to enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside by visiting the many parks that this beautiful country offers.
Ciudadela Park
One of the best parks to visit is the Ciudadela Park or Parc de la Ciutadella in Catalan. It covers a huge area of over 17 hectares and houses the Barcelona Zoo, a small lake as well as a waterfall. King Philip V ordered a fort built on what was once a poor neighborhood whose inhabitants were summarily expelled with no compensation between the years 1716 and 1718. Its primary purpose was to maintain control over the city of Barcelona. In 1868 it was demolished by the local government; only the chapel, the governor’s palace and the arsenal were spared.
Designed by Gaudí
The actual park was built in 1888 and included among other things a lake, an artificial waterfall and the Barcelona Zoo. The waterfall was designed by Antoni Gaudí, then in his first youthful adventures in design, who later went on to become world famous with his many monuments, churches and also his unfinished Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona.
Things to Do
A visit to the Park is an adventure that you would not want to miss. You can enjoy rowing on the lake with its many little islands, its profusion of water plants from many lands as well as the many examples of aquatic mammals from Spain and around the world. You can also walk around the park in the specially prepared trails for walking. The lush vegetation, the many birds that make the park their permanent home and the clean, invigorating air of the park will raise your spirits like nothing else will.
La Cascada Monumental
The artificial waterfall is something you should also see. It was designed by Gaudi and his genius is visible everywhere. The many monuments and sculptures personally supervised by him all indicate the personal touch of a master designer. The iron sculptures by master craftsmen such as the Birth of Venus by Venanci Vallmitjana or the Neptune and Leda by Manuel Fuxá and other works of art can all be seen in the Waterfall.