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Just south of the Estació Sants, a large railway station, is the strangely modernist Parc de l'Espanya Industrial. The park has an unusual mixture of modern watchtowers and replicas of ancient statues.The 4.6 hectare (11 acres) large park was created in 1985 on the site of Vapor Nou, a former textile factory. Locals called the factory L'Espanya Industrial, hence the name of the park.

The development of the park was part of a plan by Barcelona's city council to create more open spaces. The modern design by the Bask architect Luis Pena Ganchegui fits well in the environment, defined by the large railway station, wide roads and high-rise buildings.

This is the main railway station of Barcelona and also the terminal of the high-speed train and the bus terminal. Beside the station is the Parc de l'Espanya Industrial (Park of Industrial Spain), which refers us to the industrial past of the Sants neighbourhood.

The park consists of parkland with

trees, a large plaza, an artificial lake, fountains,

play areas, modern

sculptures and sports

infrastructure.

The park overcomes a difference in elevation between the elevated railway station on one side and the lower parkland on the other by a series of steep steps. The steps border the lake and acts like some sort of amphitheater seating from where people overlook the lake and parkland. At the top of the stairs are a series of futuristic-looking watchtowers.

Neptuno by

Manel Fuxà i Leal

(1850 –1927)

There are several sculptures in the park, partly modernist and partly replicas of ancient statues - like the one of Neptune in the middle of the lake. The most prominent sculpture is 'The Dragon Without Saint George' by Andrés Nagel. The large structure in cast iron depicts a dragon coming out of the lake. The sculpture also functions as a slide for children. Another sculpture, 'Bulls of Abundance', was created in 1926 by Antoni Alsina i Amils.

Neptune in the middle of the

lake, a replica of a sculpture byManel Fuxà i

Leal (1850 –1927)

“The Dragon Without Saint George” by Andrés Nagel

Even though the park may be dominated a bit too much by concrete, it is certainly worth a visit, especially on weekends when it is crowded with locals.

Venus José Pérez Peresejo

(1887 - 1978)

Venus José Pérez Peresejo

(1887 - 1978)

Els Bous de l'abundància by Antoni Alsina(1864 - 1948)

Tors de dona Enric

Casanovas(1882 - 1948) Tors de dona Enric Casanovas - Ayuntamiento

Text & pictures: Internet

Copyrights of the photos belong to each photographer

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu

www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Victoria de los Angeles - El bon cacador - Catalan song