BCN03 - Arc de Triomf, Citadella Park, Zoo, La Ribera

RENFE/Metro Arc de Triomf

Arc de Triomf

As a gateway to the 1888 Universal Exposition, located in the Parc de la Ciutadella, the Arc de Triomf was built at the bottom of passeig de Sant Joan forming a walk that led to the fairgrounds of Parc de la Cuitadella. Architect Josep Vilaseca designed a gateway to embody the modernity of Barcelona of the late nineteenth century. The lateral reliefs symbolise Agriculture and Industry, aside, and Trade and Art to the other. And above the arch, the shields of the 49 Spanish provinces are chaired by the coat of arms of Barcelona.

Lamp posts – Passeig de Lluís Companys

This set of street lights were designed by architect Pedro Falqués at the request of the city of Barcelona in 1905. As of 1841 Barcelona adopted the use of Gas for street lighting which allowed the city to experiment with many different forms of lighting and lamp post. The lamp posts combine the styles of classicism and gothicism eliminating the need for heavy sturdy pieces. They are similar to the Gaudí lampposts in passeig de Gracia (Wrought iron and pieces of ceramic) except that these ones have two branches that stem from the central column and the Base is cut stone and not Pieces of ceramic.

Palau de la Justicia

The courthouse was inaugurated in 1908 and designed by architects Josep Domènech i Estapà and Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia. The four facades were decorated with sculptures and reliefs, friezes and shields, and other sculptural ornaments with four weathervanes on top of the corner towers. The reliefs were chosen by a committee which comprised politicians of the liberal party. The building is made from Stone from Montjuic.

Francesc Rius i Taulet statue

Francesc de P. Rius i Taulet (Barcelona 1833-Olèrdola 1889) was mayor of Barcelona under Amadeu de Saboya, shortly before the First Republic in 1873, and again in 1874, after the coup of General Pavia. Deputy to Corts for Barcelona under the Bourbon Restoration as a member of the dynastic liberal party of Sagasta, was mayor of Barcelona between 1881 and 1884 and between 1886 and 1889. He promoted the great works of the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, the square of Tetuan , the square of Letamendi, the demolition of the rest of the Muralla de Mar (Old city wall on seafront) to open the Paseo de Colom, the monument to Columbus, the Universal Exhibition of 1888 and the cemetery of the southwest of Montjuïc. Founded the Municipal Laboratory and the Municipal Institute of Hygiene to prevent and combat epidemics and endemic diseases.

Modern Fountain sculpture

Waterfall monument

The waterfall (cascade in Spanish) was first inaugurated in 1881 without sculptures and was criticised by the press. The monument was amended by the addition of a fountain and some minor sculptures and was on display for the universal exposition of 1888. It was erected by Josep Fontsére with small contributions by Antonio Gaudí who was an architectural student at the time. Fontsére loosely made it to bear resemblance to the Trevi fountain of Rome. The stairs to either side are like enormous crab pincers which serve to access a small podium in the centre with a sculpture of Venus standing on an open clam. (designed by Venanci Vallmitana)

Bandstand

The park's bandstand, Glorieta de la Transsexual Sónia, is dedicated to a transsexual, Sonia Rescalvo Zafra, who was murdered there on 6 October 1991 by right-wing extremists.

Mamut Sculpture

Catalan Parliament

The Building that is now the Catalan Parliament was the Arsenal of the Citadel fortress. It is one of the few surviving buildings of the citadel. This building is not open to the public as a tourist attraction However visits can be organised here: https://www.parlament.cat/acces/visites/info/en/index.html

Parroquia Castrense de la Ciutadella

This chapel was once the Military parish church of the citadel fortress

Verdaguer Institute

This building was once the Governors palace of the citadel fortress

Boating pond

it is possible to hire a boat and go for a paddle on this pond but there is no website.

General Juan Prim statue

Barcelona Zoo

https://www.zoobarcelona.cat/en/plan-your-visit Located in the parc Ciutadella. Due to the availability of a few buildings which were left empty after the universal exposition of 1888 a zoo was inaugurated in 1892, during the day of the Mercé, (24th September) the patron saint of the city. The first animals were donated by Lluís Martí i Codolar to the municipality of Barcelona. Nowadays, with one of the most substantial collections of animals in Europe, the zoo affirms that their aim is to conserve, investigate, and educate. From 1966 to 2003 the zoo was home to the famous albino gorilla snowflake, who attracted many international tourists and locals.

Botanical Garden Fountain

Umbracle del Parc de la Ciutadella

Built as an open greenhouse for the 1888 universal exposition along with the glass greenhouse behind it. This structure is currently abandoned and not open to the public as it is being refurbished.

Three Dragons Castle

Domènech i Montaner was commissioned to design a hotel and restaurant for the 1888 universal exhibition. The hotel was destroyed at the end of the universal exhibition but the building for the café-restaurant, three dragons castle survives. The name three dragons castle was probably adopted from the 1865 play by Serafí Pitarra. After the universal exposition the building was transformed to museum purposes, being a museum of history, archaeology, biology and natural sciences. During the Spanish civil war, it was closed, after suffering some damage by aerial bombing. From 1942 to 1945 it was chair of Social Aid to be definitely aimed at Museum of Zoology. In the 1980s it was restored by architects Cristian Cirici, Pep Bonet and Carles Bassó. It was the former home of the zoology museum of Barcelona which in 2010 transferred to the new forum building.

Aire Spa Barcelona

Luxury spa and massages More info here: https://beaire.com/en

Born Cultural Centre

http://elbornculturaimemoria.barcelona.cat/el-centre/informacio-practica/ The building was designed in 1873 by the municipal architect Antoni Rovira i Trias (who also designed the Mercat de Sant Antoni) and built between 1874 and 1878. This building is a former food market designed for the wholesale of fruit and vegetables. At the time of construction, it was the largest wrought iron framed building in Barcelona. The site of the building sits on land previously occupied by the citadel fortress in what was then referred to as the Ribiera Neighbourhood. In 1971 the building ceased to be used as a wholesale fruit and vegetable market when Mercabarna opened in Zona Franca. The building fell into a state of disrepair and was restored from 1977 to 1981. In 2002 work was transform the market building into a provincial library. However, during excavations, extensive ruins of the medieval city were discovered. It was then decided to preserve the ruins and move the library project to another location. Currently, the market covers these archaeological ruins which were part of the la Ribera district that was demolished in the early eighteenth century. This portion of la Ribera was forcibly demolished to make way for the construction of the Ciutadella military structure. The plan that finally came to fruition in 2013 was to expose the subterranean ruins for visitors while preserving space around the exterior of them for mixed use, cultural centre, in addition to having a museum about the War of Succession onsite. The official inauguration of the restored market was September 11, 2013. The Cultural Centre is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am till 8pm and is free to access. With a small fee being charged for guided tours and access to any exhibitions.

Chocolate Museum

http://www.museuxocolata.cat Housed in a former army barracks building of the now demolished citadel fortress. The museum explains the origins of chocolate in South America and the history of its discovery, cultivation and arrival in Europe. The Museum also explains the mythical properties, medicinal properties, nutritional values and traditions of chocolate consumption. Open 10:00 to 19:00. Sundays and public holidays 10:00 to 15:00.

Former Sant Agustí Monastery

Construction began in 1349. After the siege of 1713 to 1714 the citadel was constructed and the Augustinians were moved to the Raval neighbourhood, Hospital street where between 1728 and 1750 they built a new church and convent. Most of the old convent in La Ribera zone was demolished to construct the barracks however not all of the monastery was destroyed by the citadel. What survived is the west wing of the cloisters and one side of the church and has been restored to make a a civic centre with a Chic cafe Bar.

La Pasta Nostra

https://www.facebook.com/lapastanostrabcn/ la Pasta Nostra is a great place to stop off for a quick snack. This place makes delicious pasties filled with meat, vegetables, tuna etc using home-made pastry. They also make great pizzas which is sold by the slice or a whole pizza. You can eat inside, outside or take your food away to eat in the Park.