Mild temperatures, stunning blue skies, and brilliant sunshine meant it would be a perfect day to visit the Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona, Spain. Although it was a school holiday period, no place we visited was as congested with people as it would have been during the summer tourism season.
Entry to Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona, Spain
We laughed as we walked along Carrer de Wellington and spotted the very long line of parents and children queued up down the block to gain access to the Barcelona Zoo. Whew! None of that keeping-the-children-occupied for us!
Parents and children lined up to enter the Barcelona Zoo
We passed this stunning building as we walked the length of Carrer de Wellington and it was clear that it had been repurposed. We could see the racks of library books through the windows. But what had it been before that?
When I got home I researched the origins of this massive brick building and discover that what became the Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya in 1939 was previously the Antic Hospital de la Santa Crue de Barcelona and the foundation stone was laid in 1401.
Biblioteca De Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain
The first thing we spotted as we entered the park was a group of men playing and watching ping pong at dedicated concrete tables that were installed in the park. Who knew that ping pong was that popular?
Ping pong players in the Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona, Spain
Glimpsing something shining through the trees, I walked briskly around the corner from the ping-pong players and found this lovely object lurking above the treeline.
Golden sculpture atop the Cascada Fountain
Then as we continued around to the front, we discovered this stunning fountain. This is the Cascada — the fountain constructed in the 1880s for the Universal Exhibition in Barcelona.
Cascada Fountain in the public park called Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona, Spain. Built for the 1888 Universal Exhibition, one of the contributing architects on the project was a young Antoni Gaudi.
Finally, we exited the park on our way to our next adventure — but not before passing by this interesting building, the Castell dels Tres Dragons sitting at the edge of the park.
Castel dels Tres Dragons in the public park called Parc de la Ciutadella in Barcelona, Spain houses a very popular zoology and geology museum.
Make sure to come back for more examples of things to do in the wonderful city of Barcelona!
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