Whenever you get a chance to visit Barcelona and you’re putting together your things to do list be sure to visit Park Ciutadella in central Barcelona near the historic district. Parc de la Ciutadella is a huge park of 70 acres in Barcelona’s La Ribera neighborhood, my favorite place to stay in Barcelona.

Enjoy the magnificent Arc de Triomf on your way to Park Ciutadella. The Arc de Triomf was the entrance passage to the 1888 World’s Fair Exhibition held in Barcelona.

If you ride the park take the L1 to the Arc de Triomf station. The metro is a great way to get around in Barcelona.

Here’s a link to a map of Barcelona Metro 

 

 

Read more about traveling to Barcelona

• 9 Days of Solo Travel Barcelona Things to Do Alone
• Getting Around in Barcelona – Transportation Options
• Planning and Preparing for my Solo Trip to Barcelona
• Gaudi’s Amazing Architecture – Casa Battlo in Barcelona
• Trencadis Serpentine Mosaic Tile Bench at Gaudi’s Park Guell

Park Ciutadella Barcelona

Map of Park Ciutadella

With so many things to see at the park it’s handy to have a idea of where everything is located before you visit. You’ll find a legend below the map.

 

 

Legend to the map of Park Ciutadella

1. Castle of Three Dragons – Zoological Museum
2. Greenhouse
3. Geological Museum
4. Shaded area for plants
5. Barcelona Zoo
6. Parliament
7. IES Verdaguer (school)
8. Military Chapel
9. Pier
10. Playground
11. Cascada Monumental
12. Lake
13. Gazebo bandstand
14. Placa de les Armes – garden

Parakeets in Barcelona

You will likely hear the squawks of the parakeets while walking along Passeig Lluis Companys towards Park Ciutadella. The parakeets are plentiful in Barcelona and they enjoy nesting in the palm trees.

 

Former Site of the Citadel

Ciutadella Park is the former site of the Citadel built by Philip of Spain after the 1714 War of the Spanish Succession. Much of La Ribera district was destroyed to create the citadel. The photo below was taken at the El Born Centre Cultural, just across Passeig Picasso from the Park Ciutadella. It’s worth a visit particularly for anyone with an interest in Catalan history.

 

 

Fountain Cascada Monumental

This time I had only one last day to spend in Barcelona before flying back to Austin. It was a beautiful spring day so I decided to spend my time walking around my neighborhood, La Ribera. I was already familiar with the area due to my previous trip to Barcelona.

I visited Park Ciutadella before, but with rainy and windy weather I missed a lot. For example the fabulous Cascada Monumental.

 

 

 

 

There are so many things to do and see in Barcelona. I enjoyed 11 days in Barcelona on previous visits, yet I had not seen the incredible fountain Cascada Monumental in Park Ciutadella.

 

 

 

Besides the regular sounds one hears in a park setting on a sunny Sunday afternoon I also heard voices singing as I walked up the stairs of Cascada Monumental. Standing in a circle around a couple with beaming smiles on their faces, a dozen people singing an a capella version of Cold Play’s Viva La Vida.

Not my favorite song, but now it is lodged in my brain forever. The couple looked so happy and happiness is contagious. Makes me smile just thinking about that moment.

 

 

Watch for woolly mammoth roaming the grounds of Park Ciutadella.

 

 

Drum Circle at Ciutadella Park

More music in Ciutadella Park beckoned me. I followed the sound of drumming and found a small group enjoying the music. A few people were dancing to the beat of the drums and after a while one of the dancers invited several others to learn some African dance moves.

I joined in the dance circle along with a few other adults a several little kids. It was fun! I was not particularly good at following the dancer’s steps but I gave it a good try. The kids were adorable little dancers!

 

 

Strolling through the park there are plenty of spots to enjoy a space all to yourself if you want to practice your cloud gazing and day dreaming skills.