Here are a few pictures of our wondering in and around Parc de la Ciutadella (Citadel Park) in Barcelona.
At the beginning of a long promenade, which leads to the main entrance of Citadel Park, stands the Arc de Triomf de Barcelona (Triumph Arch of Barcelona). Normally, triumphful arches are built to commemorate significant military victories, but the Arc de Triomf de Barcelona is unique in that it was built in 1888 as the main entrance to the Barcelona World Fair. Carved on the front frieze of the arch is the Catalan phrase ‘Barcelona rep les nacions’, which translates to ‘Barcelona welcomes the nations’.
The park itself stands on the former location of the Citadel of Barcelona, which was constructed in 1714 by Philip V of Spain after his 13 month siege of the city during the War of the Spanish Succession. The Citadel was the largest fortress in Europe at that time, and was used to prevent the Catalonians from rebellion, as they did in the previous century. Only a few buildings remain from the original Citadel complex.
Highlighting the park today is a large lake, a zoo, the Museum of Natural Sciences of Barcelona and a really, really cool and unique man-made waterfall & pool, which is known simply as La Cascadia.
