Barcelona's Parc de la Ciutadella , Citadel Park, is a green oasis just to the east of the old town Barri Gotic, gothic quarter.

It was built on the site of a former Verdun Star shaped military fortress which had became a hated symbol of oppression for the locals, as under the Napoleonic regime it was used as a prison. In 1878 Spanish General Prim destroyed the Citadel, and a statue was erected to him.

In 1888 the park was used for the Spanish Universal Exhibition. Many beautiful buildings gardens and fountains were constructed for that show. The Cascada is one of Barcelona's most remarkable sites. The baroque style monumental Cascade Fountain and artificial lake, located in the grounds of the Parc de la Ciutadella, were designed by Fontsere in 1875.

Gaudi worked on this project as a young architectural student. He was an apprentice at this point in his career so it does not bear many of his hallmarks. The fountain is loosely based on the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Along one of the paths near the Cascada is a life-size statue of a big Woolly Mammoth. If you're travelling with children, they will love it. The park also contains a Zoo. You can also rent boats on the lake.

The Citadel Park Museum of Natural Science is housed in a red brick building locally known as the Three Dragons Castle. It was designed as a cafe and restaurant for the Universal Exhibition in a Catalan Gothic and Mudejar architectural style.

As a contrast the Geology Museum is housed in a neoclassical building. It was the first building in Barcelona constructed specifically as a museum. The museums are closed on Monday. The ticket boot offers a combined ticket at a cheaper rate. Ideal if you were going to visit both buildings.

Useful Spanish Phrases

• I would like that - Quiero Eso - pronounced Kero Esso
• How much is this? - Cuanto es? - pronounced Qwanto es
• Yes - Si - pronounced sea
• No - no - pronounced noh
• Please - Por favour - pronounced poor fa vor
• Hello - Hola - pronounced ola
• Goodbye - adios - pronounced add e os
• Sorry - Perdon - pronounced par dohn
• Good Morning - Buenos dias - pronounced Bwenos dee ahs
• Good Afternoon - Buenos tardes - pronounced Bwenos tar dess
• Good Evening/Night - Buenos noches - pronounced Bwenos notchess
• The bill please - La cuenta por favour - pronounced la Qwenta poor fa vor
• Where are the toilets please? - Donde estan los servicios por favour? - pronounced donde estan los serbeetheeos poor fa vor?
• Well cooked (well done) - La carne bien cocida - pronounced La karrne beeyen kotheeda
• Call the Police - llame a la policia - pronounced lliame a la poletheea
• Call an Ambulance - llame a una ambulancia - pronounced lliame a oona anboolanthea

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