Park Güell
Güell park, designed by Antonio Gaudí
is the most famous park in Barcelona, declared a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has been subject to all
types of praise and criticism, including comments such
as "outrageous modernism", "surrealistic
island", "nightmare expressionist park".
First conceived as a private estate, it became a public
park in 1922. The main entrance to the park and the
stairway leading to the Hundred Columns Room are structures
where Gaudí clearly let his imagination run free.
How to go: Access: Buses 24, 25, 31, 32 and 74.
Park de la Ciudadella
You may like to go for a stroll afterwards
in one of the big parks. The largest and most beautiful
of all Barcelona's parks is the Retiro. It has 130 hectares
of woodland which form a green, tree-clad (more than
15.000 trees) island in the middle of an asphalt sea.
One may enter it through any of the fine gateways. These
are located in the Plaza de la Independencia, the Calle
de Alcalá, the Calle de O'Donnell, and the Calle
de Alfonso XII. White stone figures of the Kings and
Queen of Spain peep out from the avenues of lofty tees
and thick bushes, and just inside the park there is
a large artificial lake where rowing-boats can be hired.
The park also has its rose garden, as well as the Cecilio
Rodríguez gardens and many delightful secluded
nooks where strollers can enjoy a little privacy. In
the middle of the park there are two buildings known
as the Palacio de Velázquez and Palacio de Cristal,
where art exhibitions are sometimes held.
How to go: Metro: Line 1 (Arc de Triomf) and Line 4.
(Barceloneta or Ciutadella).
Park Laberint
Labyrinth park was built in 1791 on different
levels with stairways, pavilions and richly ornamented
railings. Adorning the gardens are various statues of
mythological figures.
How to go: Metro: Line 3 (Montbau).
Park Guinardó
Guinardó park clearly resembles a forest
and has an intricate topography oriented towards the
four cardinal points.
How to go: Metro: Line 4 (Guinardó)
Jardins del Palau Reial de Pedralbes
The gardens of the Pedralbes Royal Palace form
a geometrically designed classical-style park with lovely
flower beds and large trees from the original royal
estate.
How to go: Metro: Line 3 (Palau Reial)
Park Espanya Industrial
The Spanish Industrial park, located on the
west side of Estació de Sants, offers us two
different aspects: one charming and one industrial.
How to go: Metro: Lines 3 and 5 (Estació Sants)
And others parks such as:
- Jardins i roserar de Cervantes.
- Park Clot.
- Park Estació del Nord.
- Park Joan Miró.
On the hill of Montjuïc, two parks offer a delighful
change of pace: the Jardins Mossèn Costa i Llobera,
with 150 varieties of cacti of American origin and more
than 200 varieties of succulent plants; and the Jardins
Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer, where more than 100,000
plants bloom throughout the year.
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