Green route: the parks of Barcelona

Nestling amid its big streets and buildings, Barcelona has a lot of parks. One of the most famous parks is the Ciutadella. It was once a military fortress and in 1888 was where the Universal Exhibition was staged. It houses the Museum of Zoology, Geology and the city Zoo.

The Güell park is another reference in the city. Built between 1900 and 1914 by Gaudí for Eusebi Güell, an aristocrat and a patron of the arts, it was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1984. The Güell park is an architectural link in Gaudí's naturalist period, and is also imbued with the religious feeling that permeates the work of the Catalan architect.

Other indispensable gardens and parks are those of Montjuïc, the Turó Park (just off Diagonal avenue), the park of Guinardó, the gardens of Can Sentmenat, the park of Les Heures or the stunning and romantic park of the Laberint d'Horta.