Things to Do in Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona

Discover Parc de la Ciutadella & El Born: History, Culture & Hidden Gems

Parc de la Ciutadella is a 19th-century, 18-hectare park and one of Barcelona's oldest open-air green spaces. It features picnic fields, a boating lake, monumental fountains, a zoo, a castle, and greenhouses. Shaded by pine and palm trees, the park is a popular oasis in the heart of the city.

Alongside Parc Güell, Ciutadella Park is one of the most iconic parks and gardens in Barcelona.

The park was created on the footprint of the demolished Barcelona Citadel Fortress, which once dominated the Ribera neighborhood. This page explores the park and surrounding streets built atop the former fortress site.

History and Origins of Parc de la Ciutadella

After the War of Spanish Succession (1701–1714), Barcelona was occupied by French troops. In 1715, King Felipe V built a massive military citadel to suppress the city. Over 1,200 homes in La Ribera were demolished, and residents were forcibly relocated to the newly built Barceloneta village outside the medieval walls.

The Born Cultural Centre, once a 20th-century market, now showcases archaeological remains of La Ribera. These ruins were leveled to half a meter to provide cannon sightlines. Another example is the Sant Agustí Convent, partially demolished and now a civic centre.

In 1889, the citadel was handed over to the city by General Joan Prim, who ordered its bombardment from Montjuïc Castle. Three buildings survived: the Citadel Arsenal (now the Catalan Parliament), the Citadel Chapel, and the Governor's Palace (now Verdaguer Secondary School).

The park’s layout was designed by Josep Fontserè in 1872 and modified for the 1888 Universal Exhibition. In 1892, the Barcelona Zoo was added, featuring animals donated by banker Lluís Martí Codolar. The Passeig de Lluís Companys boulevard was built as a grand entrance, anchored by the Arc de Triomf.

Notable monuments include the Three Dragons Castle by Domènech i Montaner, built for the Exhibition and later used as a natural history museum. The modernist greenhouses by Josep Amargós are currently closed for refurbishment but remain architecturally impressive.

The Cascada Monumental in the northeast corner features sculptures by 19th-century Catalan artists, including the gilded Quadriga de l'Aurora by Rossend Nobas. It’s rumored that a young Antoni Gaudí assisted Fontserè with some elements of the park.

Nearby is the Glorieta de la Transsexual Sònia, named in memory of Sònia Rescalvo Zafra, a trans woman murdered there in 1991. Further along is a life-sized woolly mammoth sculpture, a favorite photo spot for children. At the zoo entrance stands an equestrian statue of General Prim.

Outside the park, within the former citadel footprint, you’ll find the Chocolate Museum and the Sant Agustí Civic Centre, both housed in historic buildings tied to the fortress’s past

For more information about each attraction within Parc Cuitadella and Ribera neighbourhood, click on the images below.

Happy Exploring!

Map of Parc Cuitadella & La Ribera

How much does El Parc Cuitadella & La Ribera?

Parc Cuitadella is Free entry. The Zoo, chocolate museum and Born Cultural Centre guided tour charge a fee.