Joan Maragall Gardens
Gardens fit for a king
These gardens, which are some of the city’s largest and most elegant, surround the residence of the Spanish royal family when they are in Barcelona, Palauet Albéniz. The gardens are located on Montjuïc mountain and cover a total surface area of 3.63 hectares.
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Why visit Joan Maragall Gardens?
The origin of these gardens dates back to the 1929 Universal Exposition, which was held at Montjuïc mountain. The architect and landscaper Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, who was also responsible for Maria Luisa Park in Seville and many of the parks in Paris, and his disciple Nicolau Maria Rubió i Tudurí combined the French Classicist and Mediterranean styles in their design and included pergolas and terraces in the gardens.
The gardens are organised into three areas:
- The space in front of the palace, with two ponds at either end, a central flower bed and the sculpture "Susanna al bany" (Susanna bathing), by Théophile-Eugène-Victor Barrau, situated at the opposite end to the palace.
- On the sides of the palace, the area of the old gardens from 1929, there are two fountains with Tritons and a sculpture called "Dona ajaguda" (reclining woman), by Enric Monjo.
- The north zone, which features a courtyard with Ionic columns and the sculpture "Serena" (serene), by Pilar Francesch, and the Chapel of Santa Madrona.
How do you get to the Joan Maragall Gardens?
From the MNAC stop on the Red Route of Barcelona Bus Turístic you can see the gardens just behind the Palau Nacional (the home of the MNAC).
For the most curious of you
- Did you know? The gardens are named after one of Catalan literature’s most renowned poets, Joan Maragall, the grandfather of Barcelona’s mayor during the Olympic Games, Pasqual Maragall.
- Local’s tip: Plan your visit and consult the timetables of the gardens in advance, because they only open at the weekend.
- A must: To escape the crowds and listen to the birds sing.
