http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/sandamichaela-1939825-walk-barcelona28/

In 1714, after a thirteen month long siege, Barcelona fell to the army of king Philips V during the war of the Spanish Succession. In order to keep firm control over Barcelona, the Bourbon king built the largest fortress in Europe, a star-shaped citadel or 'Ciutadella'. A large part of the Ribera district was demolished to make way for this fortress. The neighborhood was rebuilt thirty years later at another location as 'Barceloneta'. The symbol of central government was demolished between 1869 and 1878 after the Catalan general Prim handed over the citadel over to the city. Only three buildings survived: the chapel, the Governor's palace and the arsenal, now home to the Catalan Parliament.

At the northern corner of the park is the Cascada, a triumphal arch with waterfall and fountain built for the 1888 Universal exhibition. The Baroque construction was designed by Josep Fontsère - who was responsible for the conversion of the citadel site into a park - and took six years to complete.

The oldest building in the park is the Catalan Parliament Building, once part of the original Citadel.

Gaudí was twenty-four years old when he presented the project of the fence, on May 30, 1876

Each gates column is nine meters high. The three main gates are illuminated by candelabra with groups of six gas flames of white glass spherical balloons (now electrified). They wear Barcelona's coats of arms, surmounted by the war helmet of James I of Aragon the Conqueror

The iron helmet of James I of Aragon, surnamed “the. Conqueror” and the characteristic winged dragon, a symbol that Gaudí used many times

In the nineteenth century the gates of Ciutadella Park were a great tourist attraction. The collections of photographs and Barcelona guides reproduced it in different languages and recommended the visit.

The Catalan Parliament, is housed in a building with imposing architecture with a turbulent history dating back to the 18th century, when it was built as a military arsenal for the repressive citadel. It has been the seat of parliament since the reinstatement of democracy and civil liberties.Built between 1716 and 1748, this robust and imposing structure has two storeys and an attic space set out on a cross-shaped ground plan with a central dome and four inner courtyards. The building is made from stone quarried on Montjuïc and terracotta tiles, and is decorated with the busts of eminent figures associated with Catalan art.

Entrance portal of Catalan Parliament building

Extension works was

carried out at the beginning

of the 20th century when the building

was converted into the

municipal art museum, the

Museu Municipal

d’Art, following a failed

attempt to move the royal palace here.

Decorative stucco work of Catalan Parliament building

Catalan Parliament Hemicicle

Hivernacle 1884 a winter palm glasshouse built using techniques of Eiffel Tower

Desolation is a 1907

sculpture by Josep

Llimona in the

collection of the National Art Museum of Catalonia

in Barcelona.

A replica, much bigger in size than the original,

is the centerpiece of the pond situated in

front of Parliament

of Catalonia at the

Ciutadella park

The Catalan parliament has replaced the coat of arms of Felipe V on the main facade of the building with the four bars of the Catalan flag in 2012

The Cascada fountain was built in 1888 Universal Exhibition of Barcelona, at the same time as the Arc de Triomf which is nearby. La Cascada is a Baroque fountain with a triumphal arch on top of which is a horse drawn chariot. There are staircases and entries to the structure with various sculptures. La Cascada was designed by designed by Josep Fontsère, assisted by Antoni Gaudí, who was still a student at the time. It is loosely based on the Trevi Fountain in Rome

The lizard medallions, near the Aquarium entrance, are attributed to Antoni Gaudí.

The four water-sprouting griffins were sculpted by Rafael Atché (1854 - 1923) the same artist that created the famous statue of Columbus at Las Ramblas

A large population of birds lives in this park, with a census which registers over 100 different species

Psittacula kramereii, The Rose-ringed Parakeet

There is a large colony of storks, which is the largest in Catalonia. These elegant and majestic birds can be seen flying around the park.

La Ciutadella is, therefore, a favourite place for birdwatchers.

Psittacula kramereii, The Rose-ringed Parakeet

Leda by Manel Fuxà(1850 –1927)

Leda by Manel Fuxà(1850 –1927)

Group in marble La Cigonya i la Guineu (Fountain of the stork and the fox). In the contemporary fountain sculpture by the Catalan Eduard Batiste Alentorn (1855 - 1920) in Barcelona's Parc de la Ciutadella, the frustrated fox kicks over the tall vessel, from which the fountain's water pours.

Right next to the Castell dels Tres Dragons the winter garden "L'Hivernacle" is located. The winter garden is a pavilion made of cast iron and glass. The architect was Josep Amargós. In the summer is a particularly nice café. There are also several jazz concerts. The plan had the building Amargós in 1884, at a time when the architecture had the steel and glass constructions by Eiffel as a model.

The Hivernacle is still attributed

to the Modernisme. The building

was inaugurated in

1888 to the World

Exposition.

Fèlix de Azara by Eduard B. Alentorn

The Museum of GeologyThis Neoclassical building was designed by the architect Antoni Rovira i Trias and was built in the Ciutadella Park thanks to the legacy that Francesc Martorell in Peña (1882-1878) left the city of Barcelona in 1878. It was the first building erected in Barcelona with the intention of becoming a public museum. Since 1924, it has housed exclusively the collections of geology and paleontology.

Jaume Salvador By Eduard B. Alentorn

The chapel (now the Military Parish Church of Barcelona), the Governor's palace (now Verdaguer Secondary School), and the arsenal (which is now home to the Catalan Parliament) remain from the fortress

While still technically a military chapel in addition to being a parish, the church has become very popular for weddings as a result of its new Eden-like garden setting, and unusually ample parking in downtown Barcelona.

In 1988 to celebrate the centenary of the 1888 World Exhibition, Barcelona born sculptor and painter Antoni Clavé constructed this massive modern sculpture in the Parc de la Ciutadella.

Clavé formed a close friendship with fellow Catalan artist Pablo Picasso.

"Antoni Clavé (1913 – 2005) was a Catalan master painter, printmaker, sculptor, stage designer and costume designer. He was nominated for two Academy Awards (Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design) for his work on the 1952 film Hans Christian Andersen.Clavé was one of Spain's best known and most celebrated artists. His work evolved from a baroque, ornamental style to a pure, minimal aesthetic. In his later years, his work is completely abstract, employing expressive lines and exploring the boundaries of shading, texture and color. He was trained at the School of Fine Arts, Barcelona, with his works being influenced by artists such as Bonnard, Vuillard and Roualt. He is best known for his lyrical abstractions, works which combine paint with collage.

Text and pictures: InternetCopyrights of the photos belong to each photographer

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Montserrat Caballè & José Carreras - El Cant Dels Ocells