Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PARKS & BEACHES
1. PARC DE LA CIUTADELLA
Barcelona'slargestlandscapedparkoffersasereneantidotetocitylife.Oncetheloc-
ationofthe18th-centurymilitarycitadel,thislovely19th-centuryparkisnowhome
tothezoo,theCatalanparliament,amuseumandaboatinglake.Thereisanattract-
iveoutdoorcafénexttotheCastelldelsTresDracs(inthesouth-westerncorner).See
Google Map
View photo
2. PARC GÜELL
Originally conceived as a suburban estate to the north of the city,
Parc Güell
is like
a surreal, Asian terraced farm. Twisting pathways and avenues of columned arches
blendinwiththehillside,playfullyfusingnatureandfantasy.Theesplanade,withits
stunning,curved,mosaicbench,isthepark'scentrepiece.Fromheretherearespec-
tacularviewsoftheentirecityandofthefairy-talegatehousesbelow.Gaudí'sformer
home is now the Casa-Museu Gaudí.
Google Map
3. JARDINS DEL LABERINT D'HORTA
TheseenchantingNeo-Classicalgardensdatebackto1791,makingthiselegantpark
one of the oldest in the city. Situated up above the city, where the air is cooler and
cleaner, the park includes themed gardens, waterfalls and a small canal. The high-
light is the enormous maze, which has a statue of Eros at its centre. See
Parc del
Google Map
4. PARC DE CERVANTES
Builtin1964tocelebrate25yearsofFrancorule,thisbeautifulparkontheoutskirts
of town would have been more appropriately named Park of the Roses. There are
over 11,000 rose bushes of 245 varieties; when in bloom, their aroma pervades the
park.Peoplepourinatweekends,buttheparkisblissfullydesertedduringtheweek.
Av Diagonal 708 • Off map
Google Map
