Barcelona - Montjuïc

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

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 Archeological Museum, stands the building of the former Mercat dels Flors, now a Theater.

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.

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.

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.

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.