Parc de la Ciutadella

In a city full of Modernist concrete, steel, crystal and cement shapes, finding a green lung is a privilege, like an oasis in the desert. Ciudadela Park in Barcelona is an example of this, where you can breathe fresh air while reading a good book or have a conversation with the rhythm of African or Arab music in the background.

Around 1715, King Felipe V ordered a citadel to be built to assure his domination against the resistance cells of Barcelona. After a great part of it was demolished, the mayor of the time decided to rebuild it for the Universal Exposition of 1888. You could already feel the city was turning to what it is now: a cosmopolitan and multicultural center.

Yes, Ciudadela Park is a place to relax right in the hustle and bustle of people, cars and a lot of noise.

The Parliament of Catalunya is located in the park, as well as the Natural Sciences Park. You can also walk along the glass Hivernáculo (greenhouse), housing a spectacular range of plants, and let your imagination wander sitting on the benches.

Just next to the park there is a zoo where you can lean about the different types of animals living on our planet. What I like most is the stairs in the waterfall, a very very lovely monument, somehow reminding me of the Fontana di Trevi in Rome, covering distances, especially the size.

The central area of the Ciudadela park has a large lake, surrounded by the most green and exuberant vegetation of the whole park, especially the swamp Cypress, a plant that only grows in water. There are also some species of ducks. On the opposite side of the Mammoth sculpture, there is a small wharf, where you can rent a small boat to row on the lake for half an hour or an hour. It is one of the most visited and romantic places of the Ciudadela, which reminded me of the Retiro Park in Madrid.

It's not easy travelling with kids but here you'll find lots of entertainment and a zoo at the end of the park as well.