Bornliving 

Parc Ciutadella, one of the few ‘lungs’ of the city, its a much loved part of life for residents and a wonderful memory of Barcelona for visitors.

It hosts picnics, school visits, tourists, jugglers, dog owners, romantics, smokers, literally everyone, young and old enjoys this great public space.

Its history gives a little insight to its place in the city’s heart. When Barcelona surrendered to the Bourbouns in 1714, commemorated at the nearby Fossar de les Morreres, many buildings in the Ribera area were demolished making way for a large military citadel. Finally knocked down by the residents of the area in 1869, the park emerged as one of the city’s first open public spaces.

Following the modernista style of the times, the park includes gardens, fountains, a botanical museum and a museum of modern art. In 1888 the park was chosen to host the Universal Exhibition and many new buildings, roads and pavillions were added around the area to present Barcelona well to the millions of visitors. In many ways the Olympic games just over a hundred years later would have much the same impact on the regeneration of the city.

Go explore and if its too hot, just pick your spot to take some time to escape from the city outside, it’s a gem of a park with a great atmosphere, invite friends to join you for picnic lunch and on weekends try some swing dancing in the afternoon in the old bandstand.