Montjuïc, Barcelona

Montjuïc is famous above all for the Parc d'Atraccions (amusement park) on its north-eastern slope. There are large car parks available near the entrances. The park is basically a large permanent fairground with 40 rides, including a big wheel, roller-coasters and other similar rides (ghost train, bumper cars); plus an open-air theatre, amusement arcades and a restaurant.

Shortly before the road from Poble Espanyol reaches the Exhibition Grounds it passes the Pavellò Mies.Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, born in 1886 and the last director of the famous Bauhaus in Dessau (Germany), designed the German Pavilion for the World Exhibition in Barcelona in 1929, and on the centenary of his birth this replica of the original pavilion was dedicated to his memory. The building's severe lines and the aesthetic effect of the materials used (glass, steel, polished natural stone) are very effective; in the air-well stands a statue of Georg Kolbe. The chairs in the pavilion were designed as the "Barcelona" model for the World Exhibition and still retain their timeless elegance.There is also a documentation center which works in close co-operation with the Mies van der Rohe Archives in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The steep slope of Montjuïc which faces the sea is occupied by the extensive Jardins de Mossèn Costa i Llobera (named after the poet Miquel Costa i Llobera who was a contemporary of Verdaguer). They are reached from the Plaça Dante by crossing the Avinguda de Miramar.Right by the square is the upper entrance to the Jardins de Mossèn Costa i Llobera. This park is very well set out and is famous for its large stocks of succulents, cacti and euphorbias. On a platform there is the bronze statue of a lacemaker by the sculptor Josep Viladomat.

Behind the Palau Nacional and forming part of the park of Montjuïc extends the Botanical Garden (Catalan: Jardí Botànic) with its beautiful flora. It was laid out immediately after the World Exhibition of 1929 on a site which included an abandoned quarry and by virtue of this location it possesses a range of microclimatic zones which can even offer good conditions of growth to exotic plants. Otherwise the stocks of plants are mainly arranged according to a geographical standpoint. The garden is one of the most important examples of its type in Spain.Close by is the sports area, which has been greatly extended for the Olympics. A concrete bridge has been built across the Botanical Garden on which stands the bronze statue of a man bearing the Olympic torch.

The Museu Etnològic is situated on a bend in the Passeig de Santa Madrona, which leads up from the Exhibition Center to Montjuïc. Built in 1973 and specially designed for exhibitions, the building consists of ajacent hexagons, with generous areas of glass providing ideal space for displays.The emphasis of the collections (which currently comprise over 20,000 items) is on the cultures of Asia, Africa, America and Oceania, covering biological, ethnographic, cultural and social aspects.The huge stock of exhibits which the museum possesses means that only temporary specialized displays on individual themes can be on display at any one time, so before arranging a visit it is advisable to obtain details of the current subjects covered.There is also a branch of the museum (Museu d'Arts, Indústries i Tradicions Populars) in Poble Espanyol.

The circular Plaça d'Espanya, with a continuous flow of vehicles passing round it, is the main traffic junction in the west of the city. This is where the Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes (usually known as "Gran Via" for short), which cuts straight across the whole of the city, and the Avinguda de la Paral.lel, which skirts the foot of Montjuïc, intersect. In the center of the open space stands the lavish memorial fountain "España Ofrecida a Dios" ("Spain dedicated to God").On the southern side the entrance to the Exhibition Grounds is formed by two towers modeled on the bell-towers of St Mark's in Venice, and on the north stands the large round Plaça de Toros.

Close to the southeastern edge of the exhibition grounds and at the foot of Montjuïc is the Museu Arqueològic de Barcelona. This pseudo-Classical circular brick building was originally built as the "Palau d'Arts Gràfiques" for the World Exhibition of 1929 and in 1932 it was enlarged and converted to its present use. The museum's exhibits have their origin in a collection dating back to 1888, which after 1932 was able to be consider- ably increased through the acquisition of numerous additional item. Today the museum belongs to the Institut de Prehistòria i Arqueologia de la Diputació de Barcelona.

The arenas on Montjuïc and on the Exhibition Grounds form the core of the Olympic events: they comprise Anella Olimpíca (Olympic Ring) encompassing the Olympic Stadium, Palau Sant Jordi and Bernat Picornell Swimming Pools, as well as complementary installations such as the sports university - INEFC (institut Nacional d'Educadió Fisica de Catalunya), the Fuixarda and Serrahima Stadiums, Palau Municipal d'Esports, Montjuïc Municipal Swimming Pool, Montjuïc Shooting Range and Parc de Migidia.

The exhibition grounds extend across all the land between the Plaça d'Espanya and the steps leading up to the Palau Nacional. The area is bisected by the Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina which is bordered by fountains illuminated after dark. Barcelona is the most important trade fair center of the country, even outranking Madrid, and comparable with those in other countries. At present there are about 40 large international events held annually.

Opposite the main entrance to the Palau Nacional lie the impeccably maintained gardens known as the Jardins Maragall (named after the Catalan poet Joan Maragall i Gorina, 1860-1911), in which stands the Palau Albeniz, built in 1929 and with murals by Salvador Dalià. As the palazzo is now used to provide accommodation for state visitors it is not often open to the public.

To the west of the amusement park, stretching downhill to the Plaça Dante and the lower station of the chairlift are the Jardins de Mossèn Jacint Verdaguer, named after the famous Catalan poet (1845-1902). The largest part of the gardens is made up of water terraces on either side of the steps which are covered with water-lilies. An inscription stone bears the words of a poem by Verdaguer.

From the Avinguda del Paral.lel, which connects the port with the Plaça d'Espanya, next to the Parallel metro station, there is a beach cable railroad, running initially underground, up to the Avinguda de Miramar, which runs halfway up the side of Montjuïc. Near the upper station is the large municipal open-air swimming-pool.

Near the upper station of the port cable railroad lies the Plaça de l'Armada, from where there is a good view of the harbor and the old part of the city. In the small adjoining Jardins de Miramar is a statue of a woman by Josep Clarà.

This mansion with its large gardens sits to the west of the Joan Miro Museum on Montjuïc.

Opposite the Archeological Museum, stands the building of the former Mercat de les Flors, now a Theater.

The Laribal Gardens were the first gardens built on the hill of Montjuïc.

The Miramar esplanade features a lookout platform over the port and sea.