Parks

PARC 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.

PARC DE LA CIUDADELLA:
This park is situated in the Barri Gotic, and you can find many huge, important museums of art and culture, and even a great lake where you can rent boats. This was originally a fortress made in the shape of a star, built for King Felipe V in 1715. But after an 18 month seige the fortress fell, and after a while it was a hated symbol of oppression for the locals. Under the Napoleonic regime it was used as a prison. General Prim destroyed the Citadel in 1878, and a statue was erected to him on the spot. Now this is a public garden and exhibition space. You can find palaces of typical Spanish architecture filled with art here. In 1888 the park was used for the Universal Exhibition and many of the beautiful buildings were constructed for that. The gardens and fountains were also designed in that time, partly by a very young Gaudí.

PARC 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.