Citadel Park is located on the northwest periphery of the old town. The park was constructed on remains of a military fortress from the 18th century that was built by Philip V. In order to build this military fortress, the citizens of Ribero had to move closer to the harbour. In 1888, this area was turned into a public park. Nowadays, Citadel expands on over 30 hectares, and it represents a large relaxing zone. In the park, there is a small lake, the Parliament of Catalonia, the Arc of Triomf, etc. Nearby the park, there is an amazing zoo with hundreds of animal species.
In 1714, after a successful war during Philip V’s rule, a citadel was built there. The king occupied a significant part of the Ribero quarter in order to build the fortress. By doing so, the Bourbon king wanted to establish control over the population. Later on, the citadel was turned into a prison – mainly for political enemies. At the northwest entrance to the park, there is a cavalry statue of general Prim, who ordered the citadel to be demolished back in 1869.
The park was designed under the watch of Josep Fontsere. A young and then unknown architect Antonio Gaudi assisted with designed the “Cascada” waterfall. Gaudi left his mark on the fountain that is positioned next to the lake. The pool in front of the fountained is under the guard of winged dragons, a figured that is omnipresent in his works.
The Parliament of Catalonia can be visited each first Friday of a month in a guided tour. Similarly, the building is open for visitors on 11 and 12 September (Catalan national holiday). The Museum of Contemporary Art is located in the Parliament building as well.
Four highly significant buildings are located on the side of Passeig de Picasso, the northwest side of the park.
The Castle of the Three Dragons / Castell dels Tres Dragons
The Zoological Museum is located in the northernmost building, the Castle of the Three Dragons. A brick house is an example of early modernism. The building was constructed by the architect Lluís Domenech i Montaner. Since 1920, it has been a home to the Zoological Museum. The Castle of the Three Dragons is a fine example of how modernism consisted of combining different styles and techniques. The construction with bricks and load-bearing elements was inspired by the then very famous Amsterdam Stock Exchange. The towers and walls resemble the Moorish style. The art of façade decoration with ceramics flourished and became an important feature of modernism.
Hivernacle
The winter garden “L’Hivernacle” is positioned right next to the castle. It is a pavilion made of cast iron and glass. Josep Amargos is the architect who designed it. At times, jazz concerts are held there. The architect’s plan for the building from 1884 emerged when the construction resembled the appearance of the Eiffel Tower. The building follows the modernist style of architecture. It was officially opened during the 1888 World's Fair.
The Geological Museum /The Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona
Hivernacle is located next to the Geological Museum building that Antoni Rovira i Trias constructed in 1882 following the Neo Classical style. The Museum was created in 1882 following the bequest of Francesc Martorell Peña. It is the first museum in Barcelona that used to have, and still possesses, a large mineral collection.
Umbracle – a tropical greenhouse for plants that prefer to live in shade
Umbracle is a construction made of wooden bricks. Large tropical plants grow there, which prefer the shade of large virgin forests. The building’s interior offers an impressive atmosphere. The architect who designed it was Amargos, who was also a part of the Universal Exposition of 1888.
Thar park is opened throughout the year, entrance is free.
Author of the article::
Ana Lazarević - our correspondent for the city of Barcelona
Contact: [email protected]
