Friday, September 25, 2026

Ciutadella Park & the Arc de Triomf

Barcelona, Spain

We visited Barcelona in February of 2024 when we were on a Mediterranean cruise. We only had one day in

Barcelona, so we really tried to make the most of it. One of the sites we visited was Ciutadella Park, which is

right by the Arc de Triomf of Barcelona. You can watch a video of our visit to the park & arch here:

The google maps of Ciutadella Park is here: Ciutadella Park and the google maps location of Arc de Triomf is here: Triumphal Arch

The Triumphal Arch was built for the Universal Exhibition of 1888 and is the gateway to the Parc de la Ciutadella.

We walked through the park, including to the end where the equestrian statue of General Prim stands.

We walked through the Umbracle, a building that houses shade-loving plants, and saw the Castle of the Three

Dragons, etc.

Arc de Triomf

The other side of the Arc de Triomf

Monumento a Rius i Taulet
Monument dedicated to the politician and lawyer Francisco de Paula Rius y Taulet, who was the main promoter of the 1888 Universal Exhibition, for which Ciutadella Park was created.

Entrance gates to Ciutadella Park

Castle of the Three Dragons
Built as a restaurant for the 1888 Universal Exposition

The Hivernacle, or green house inside Parc de la Ciutadella

The Umbracle, or shade house in Parc de la Ciutadella

Monument to General Prim

L'Agricultura de Venanci Vallmitjana statue

Inside the Cultural Centre is an archaeological site discovered in 2002

You can read about the rest of our trip to Barcelona, Spain here: Barcelona, Spain

Other sites not to miss nearby:

* Sagrada Familia

* Park Guell

* Park de la Ciutadella & the Arc de Triomf

* Mercat de la Boqueria

* Las Ramblas

* Cathedral of Barcelona

Memorabilia or Information about Barcelona:

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Sagrada Familia Building Sets

Sagrada Familia puzzle

The Sagrada Familia: Gaudi's Heaven on Earth

Sagrada Familia 3D Metal Puzzle

Gaudi: The Complete Works

The Sagrada Familia of Gaudi

Barcelona Travel Guide

Rick Steves Barcelona

Top 10 Barcelona

Thursday, September 24, 2026

Park Guell

Barcelona, Spain

We went on a Mediterranean cruise that stopped for a day in Barcelona, Spain. We purchased tickets for the Hop on Hop Off bus, but didn't use it until we needed to travel between Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. We were dropped off on a corner and had to ask a local shop owner for directions to Park Guell. We walked through the park, enjoying the view from the top of Barcelona, sitting on the serpentine bench, the monumental staircase, the three viaducts, etc. I think there may have been an easier entrance to access than the one we ended up using, but this way we got to see more of the park than we might have. You can see a video of our visit here: Park Guell

The google maps location of Park Guell is here: Park Guell Notice how far Sagrada Familia is from the park. It is in the bottom right of this screenshot, with the park in the middle.

Construction on Park Guell began in 1900. It is one of Antoni Gaudi’s most famous architectural creations, and it opened to the public the year that he died. General admission is 10 euro, and a guided tour is 22 euro. It opens at 9:30 in the morning and closes at 7:30 p.m. You can read more at their official website:

Park Guell

street sign guiding us up the hill to Park Guell from where the Hop On Hop Off Bus dropped us

The Laundry Room Portico, Portico de La Lavandera, or the Washerwoman's Portico

Tree-like columns

La Casa Trias

Beautiful view of Barcelona from Park Guell

The Serpentine Bench

The Columns Room, or Hypostyle Room

bench behind the dragon staircase

looking down on the entrance gates at the south side of Park Guell, which are between the two "gingerbread houses," which are actually the Porter's Lodge pavilions.