Parc de Joan Miró, Barcelona, Spain
Parc de Joan Miró
This large park with lots of open space is also known as the Parc l’Escorxador (so named because it stands on the site of the old municipal slaughterhouse: escorxador in Catalan) and is used by visitors and locals from Barcelona’s Eixample Esquerra to relax. This great urban “lung”, full of possibilities, is located at the south-west end of the neighbourhood and is the perfect appetiser before you begin exploring the monumental Plaça Espanya. In 1979, Barcelona began dismantling its old municipal slaughterhouse. The result was the first large urban park of the post-Franco Barcelona: a city which sought to renew itself and instinctively knew that it was necessary to undertake planning projects that would address new social needs and bring about the renovation of obsolete sites for new uses. In this case, a group of young architects, headed by Beth Galí, designed a park that occupies four blocks of the Eixample, which Ildefons Cerdà – the architect behind the Eixample district – had originally envisaged for this part of Barcelona. The park, which is known locally as the Parc de l’Escorxador, is a jigsaw puzzle of different elements set out around a cement plaza designed to host all kinds of events and activities. Around the plaza, there are platforms on different levels, pathways, pergolas and landscaped areas with pines and evergreen oaks, which are the ideal place to take a stroll and enjoy your free time. An artificial water channel runs parallel to Carrer Tarragona, lending coolness to this side of the Parc de Joan Miró. This is the site of Joan Miró’s 22-metre-high monumental sculpture Dona i Ocell (Woman and Bird). Like the park, it was dedicated in 1983, shortly before the artist’s death. There is a public library on the other side of the park, which is named after Joan Miró. by barcelonaturisme.com

Parc de Collserola, Barcelona, Spain
Parc de Collserola
Behind Tibidabo’s iconic outline, there lies a wealth of woodland and fields: a protected park where a wide variety of Mediterranean flora and fauna brings us into contact with nature just 15 minutes away from the bustling city. This is Barcelona’s great green “lung” As a city facing the Mediterranean, Barcelona needs the Parc de Collserola, which stretches out behind it like a great green “lung” providing the metropolis with oxygen. Here you can enjoy nature in 8,000 hectares of protected parkland. The Mediterranean climate and varied relief of the land makes the park a thriving site for mixed woodland, with many examples of white pines and evergreen oaks, as well as riverside copses which alternate with farmland and brush. The park is home to some 190 species of vertebrates, including squirrels, foxes and the occasional wild boar, as well as a wide variety of bird life. The Carretera de les Aigües and the purpose-built viewing points boast superb views of both sides of the ridge: Barcelona and the Vallès. Visitors curious about the park’s history will discover that it is a small natural museum. There are traces of early settlements, including the Iberian village of Serra del Moro, the Gothic castles of Castellciuró and El Papiol, the church of Santa Maria and old farmhouses, such as the famous Vil·la Joana. The abundant natural springs, including La Budellera, are among the many visitor options in the park. by barcelonaturisme.com

Parc de Cervantes, Barcelona, Spain
Parc de Cervantes
Red, yellow and blue roses, climbing rose bushes and miniature ones, the Parc de Cervantes in Pedralbes neighbourhood features 245 varieties of the flower. You can enjoy the colourful spectacle nearly all the year round, as well as the open areas of the park which welcome you when you enter Barcelona from the Avinguda Diagonal. In Pedralbes, the Parc de Cervantes greets us as we enter Barcelona from the Avinguda Diagonal. An image of lush greenery and colour in a landscaped area covering some 9 hectares, which conceals a small open-air museum. The park contains a beautiful collection of roses set out along an unusual botanical trail featuring varieties in all shapes and colours from every continent of the world. The area where roses bloom from April to November, due Barcelona’s mild climate, is known as the pergola. Since the year 2001, the park has hosted an international rose show featuring new species which are added to its multicoloured collection, which now includes 245 different varieties and 10,000 rose bushes. In addition to the rose garden, which covers an area of 4 hectares, the Parc de Cervantes offers extensive grassy areas which are ideal for jogging, cycling, gymnastics or just people-watching in the heart of Pedralbes neighbourhood. by barcelonaturisme.com

Parc del Poblenou, Barcelona, Spain
Parc del Centre del Poblenou
Jean Nouvel’s imprint can be seen once again in the new Barcelona that has developed around the Diagonal Mar neighbourhood. This new Parc Central del Poblenou is an architectural gem combining different zones and a variety of planting. A much- needed green “lung” in the former industrial area of Poblenou. The park was designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel and opened in spring 2008. It covers a surface area of 55.000 m2 between the Carrer Bilbao, Carrer Marroc, Bac de Roda and Diagonal and provides an oasis of calm which clearly defines the inclusive, social spirit of the new Poblenou. The perimeter wall outside the park is covered with Mediterranean plants and a Gaudiesque gate leads inside. The main meeting place, the Plaça de la Sardana, is located in the centre of the park, surrounded by huts where kids can play. An area resembling a lunar landscape has a pneumatic refuse-collection plant, a further example of Jean Nouvel’s concerns to preserve the environment, as is the fact that most of the park – with its dense vegetation comprising willows, shady trees, lianas and flowers – is irrigated by groundwater. Nouvel wanted his signature park to be used by the entire community, combining different habitats where they can relax in the metal chairs in the shade of lush, colourful plants and trees. by barcelonaturisme.com

Parc de Nou Barris, Barcelona, Spain
Parc Central of Nou Barris
The park covers a surface area of 17 hectares and gives Nou Barris a pleasant, modern appearance in keeping with the residential area where it is located. It blends in perfectly with the site and its undulating landform has a lot of surprises in store. In one spot there is a street lamp in the shape of the traditional Spanish ornamental comb, the peineta, in another a giant water fountain. The Parc Central of Nou Barris in Barcelona appears to want to compete with its New York namesake, but on a smaller scale. Or at least it aims to become one of the main landmarks of this part of Barcelona. The park is the city’s second largest and opened in 1999. It was expanded in 2003, and uses the greenery in its different spaces to integrate the district’s unique and historic buildings, such as the former Santa Creu Mental Hospital, the current home of the district council; Can Carreras, an old farmhouse; and the business innovation centre, the Forum Nord. Water is the main linking element between this network of buildings and green areas. It can be found in tranquil reflecting pools throughout the Parc Central, as well as emerging in cooling jets from tall fountains. A section of the old Dosrius aqueduct is another architectural element that marks the outline of the green area: an outline defined by street lamps, the tallest of which are shaped like tuning forks and the shortest like palm trees. As well as giving light, these curious wooden structures provide shade and shelter to the Parc Central in Nou Barris. by barcelonaturisme.com

Barcelona Zoo, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Zoo
Over 7,000 animals from 400 different species live in Barcelona Zoo. A visit to the zoo becomes a living spectacle with inhabitants from around the world, as you discover its fauna: primates, felines, tropical birds, dolphins… The attractions at the zoo make for an unforgettable, perfect day out for all the family. Barcelona Zoo occupies over 14 hectares inside the Parc de la Ciutadella. It was founded in 1892 and located in buildings that had been used for the 1888 Universal Exhibition. The first fauna housed in the zoo came from the private collection of Lluís Martí Codolar, who kept them on his estate in the neighbourhood of Horta. Barcelona Zoo has been extended and redesigned over the past hundred years, with priority being given to the upkeep and reintroduction of species under threat of extinction and the improvement of the animals’ living conditions. Barcelona Zoo offers a number of educational programmes for children and adults designed to give them a greater understanding of wildlife. At the zoo you’ll be able to see a dolphin show, observe how mandrills and titis (the world’s smallest monkeys) live, laugh with the seals and discover tropical birds. The kids can enjoy the petting zoo, where they can come into contact with farm animals, ride a pony or play in the large children’s park. As you walk through Barcelona Zoo, you’ll come across modernista treasures, such as the fountain crowned by Joan Roig i Solé’s sculpture, La Dama del Paraigües (The Lady with the Umbrella -1885), one of Barcelona’s most exquisite and best-loved symbols. by barcelonaturisme.com

Parc del Tibidabo, Barcelona, Spain
Parc d'Atraccions del Tibidabo
The Tibidabo Amusement Park has stood for more than a century on Barcelona’s highest point. It exists in the memories of generations of the people of Barcelona, and continues to be a place for fun, surprises and entertainments, with rides and attractions for young and old, for the wary and most daring. We can find the Parc del Tibidabo in the Sarrià Sant Gervasi district. This landmark attraction enjoys a prime location which boasts views of the whole of Barcelona from the mountains to the sea. Spectacular vistas which form the backdrop to a modern amusement park which retains its much-loved character. It combines vintage rides from the early days and other high-tech attractions which have been added to cater to the most recent trends. Some of the oldest rides in the park include the Talaia, which dates from 1921 and rises up slowly and gently 50 metres above the plaza below, the Avió, or plane, which is the world’s first flight simulator, and the haunted castle, the Castell Misteriós. The most intrepid visitors looking for adrenalin-fuelled thrills and spills can test their nerve on the head-spinning Hurakan, with its sudden plunges and 360º turns. The church of the Sagrat Cor stands in the Plaça del Tibidabo. It was designed by the architect Enric Sagnier and is crowned by a gilded statue of Christ, his arms outstretched towards the city spreading beneath. Is the ideal place to spend an unforgettable day out with the family or friends, in a setting with panoramic views of Barcelona where fun is guaranteed. by barcelonaturisme.com

Torre de Collserola, Barcelona, Spain
Mirador - Collserola Tower
Like a needle pointing towards the sky, the Collserola tower has been an iconic part of the Barcelona skyline since the year of the Olympics, 1992. It has become a major landmark which combines modernity with the most spectacular views of Barcelona and its surrounding area, from its observation deck, which is the highest in the city. No other Olympic infrastructure better defines the new Barcelona skyline than the Collserola communications Tower designed by the British architect Norman Foster. The complex comprises a service and maintenance building and the 445-metre-high tower, which has stood since 1992 on the hill known as Turó de la Vilana located in the Sarrià Sant Gervasi district. A steel-framed structure, comprising 13 platforms, was hoisted up a concrete shaft and a 38-metre-long tubular steel mast. The public observation deck, 560 metres above sea level, is located on the tenth platform which is reached from inside the tower by means of a lift taking the public to the deck in under two and a half minutes. An impressive observation deck boasting superb views of Barcelona and its metropolitan area, where you can sometimes see as far as 70 kilometres. You’ll need to use private transport or the Tibidabo Funicular to get there, but the journey has its final reward. A ride to the skies above Barcelona. by barcelonaturisme.com

Zona de baños del Fòrum, Barcelona, Spain
Fòrum bathing area
With the Forum’s photovoltaic pergola as its backdrop, this seawater swimming pool is part of an enclosed bathing area which gives you the chance to experience the Barcelona sea in a different way. There are fewer people, it’s more peaceful and it looks stunning in photos!. Services: Red Cross, beach information point, adapted showers, adapted public toilets, seawater swimming pools, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports, sailing, bicycle parking areas, restaurants and Wi-fi.

Playa Nova Icària, Barcelona, Spain
Nova Icària Beach
The Nova Icària Beach is rightly considered to be a very peaceful beach, and is a popular choice for families and groups of friends. Lying very close to the Port Olímpic, it is surrounded by a great variety of restaurants and bars, as well as the most comprehensive range of facilities for sports and other activities on the entire coastline. Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, cloakroom, adapted showers, adapted public toilets, children games area, sun loungers, changing rooms, beach umbrellas, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports, restaurants and Wi-fi. Bathing assistance for people with reduced mobility: Accessible beaches with assistance for bathers have a changing room, amphibian wheelchairs, a winch, life vests, parasols and a volunteer service to assist people with reduced mobility to enter and leave the water and enjoy bathing. Times: Mornings, 11am-2pm, 4pm-7pm. June: weekends and public holidays. July, August and the first fortnight in September: daily. Second fortnight in September: weekends and public holidays Sports, sailing and other activities: Centre Municipal de Vela - CMV Dinghy sailing, canoe and windsurfing courses by the hour with a monitor. Reservations in advance. Other activities Beach volleyball and table tennis. How to get there: Metro: L4, Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica or Bogatell. Bus: 14, 36, 41, 92 and 99. Tram (T4), Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica. by barcelonaturisme.com

Playa Llevant, Barcelona, Spain
Llevant Beach
Until quite recently, the factories and other facilities almost encroached on the coastline, and stood just 200 metres from where the beaches are today. This is the city’s newest beach and it opened in 2006. Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, adapted showers, adapted public toilets, sun loungers, beach umbrellas, drinks and ice cream kiosks, bicycle parking areas and Wi-fi..

Playa Somorrostro, Barcelona, Spain
Somorrostro Beach
Until the mid-20th century, there was a shanty settlement on the beach which was home to many gypsy families. Carmen Amaya, the most famous flamenco dancer of all time, was born here. The city council has renamed the beach in memory of this humble settlement. Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, adapted showers, adapted public toilets, children games area, sun loungers, changing rooms, beach umbrellas, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports facilites, bicycle parking areas, restaurants and Wi-fi. Sports, sailing and other activities: Centre de la Platja One of the most important amenities is the Centre de la Platja, which provides information about the beaches, assistance to visitors and organises educational activities about sport, culture and sustainability on the seafront. It also hosts thematic exhibitions about the Barcelona’s coastline Complex Esportiu Municipal Marítim Sports centre and the first thalassotherapy centre in Catalonia, where visitors can enjoy seawater swimming pools with recreational and therapeutic aquatic effects. Direct access to the beach area. Other services: cubicles, showers, changing rooms, lockers, cloakroom, sun loungers, towel hire, etc. by barcelonaturisme.com

Playas: Mar Bella & Nova Mar Bella, Barcelona, Spain
Mar Bella & Nova Mar Bella Beaches
This beach is particularly popular with young people. It has an area for naturists and attracts a cosmopolitan crowd from all walks of life, including sports lovers and students from the nearby faculties. Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, cloakroom, adapted showers, adapted public toilets, children games area, sun loungers, nudist beach, beach umbrellas, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports, bicycle parking areas, restaurants and Wi-fi. Sports and sailing: Base Nàutica Municipal de la Mar Bella Sailing trips along the city's seafront, kayak excursions along the coastline and other activities. Catamaran excursions and beach volleyball for groups. Reservations in advance. Complex Esportiu Municipal Mar Bella. Vanasdive Diving centre. by barcelonaturisme.com

Playa de Barceloneta, Barcelona, Spain
Barceloneta Beach
The beach forms an integral part of the neighbourhood of the same name, la Barceloneta, Barcelona's classic neighbourhood by the sea, where the people of Barcelona love to come and eat fish, seafood and "tapas". Located in the traditional fishing district, this is one of Barcelona’s best-loved beaches. The beach is thought to have inspired Miguel de Cervantes as the setting for the fight between Don Quixote and the Knight of the White Moon. It was here that the knight errant was finally defeated and abandoned his quest. Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, adapted showers, adapted public toilets, children games area, sun loungers, changing rooms, beach umbrellas, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports facilites, bicycle parking areas, restaurants and Wi-fi. Bathing assistance for people with reduced mobility: Accessible beaches with assistance for bathers have a changing room, amphibian wheelchairs, a winch, life vests, parasols and a volunteer service to assist people with reduced mobility to enter and leave the water and enjoy bathing. Times: Mornings, 11am-2pm. Espai de Mar (arcades beneath the Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, no. 5). June: weekends and public holidays. July, August and the first fortnight in September: daily. Second fortnight in September: weekends and public holidays. Sports, sailing and other activities: Gymnastics area, beach volleyball, beach tennis, table tennis. How to get there: Metro: L4 Barceloneta.| Bus: 17, 36, 39, 45, 59, 64 and D20.| Tram: T4, stop Ciutadella-Vila Olímpica. by barcelonaturisme.com

Bogatell Beach, Barcelona, Spain
Bogatell beach
Like its adjacent beaches, Bogatell beach is the result of the urban planning scheme which, with the boost given by Olympic Barcelona in 1992, made a firm commitment to making the seafront accessible and incorporating the beaches into green spaces, gardens and neighbouring districts. Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, adapted showers, adapted public toilets, children games area, sun loungers, beach umbrellas, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports, bicycle parking areas, restaurants and Wi-fi. Other activities: Beach volleyball and table tennis. by barcelonaturisme.com

St. Sebastià & St. Miquel Beaches, Barcelona, Spain
St. Sebastià & St. Miquel Beaches
Together with Barceloneta beach, these are the city’s oldest and most traditional beaches. They were the first to have amenities for bathing, an activity that was the exclusive domain of the city’s well-to-do classes at the time. The recent building of a hotel has created a small, peaceful cove where you’ll find a number of restaurants. Services: Red Cross, Local Police, beach information point, adapted showers, adapted public toilets, sun loungers, beach umbrellas, drinks and ice cream kiosks, sports facilites, bicycle parking areas, restaurants and Wi-fi. by barcelonaturisme.com

Barcelona, Spain
Beaches of Barcelona
Barcelona has ten accessible beaches, with Wi-Fi and excellent amenities and services inviting you to enjoy the Mediterranean Sea throughout the year. Platges Barcelona is a city open to the sea. The broad beaches of the Catalan capital, which extend almost for 5 km, are blessed with fine golden sand and shallow waters for bathing. They constitute one of the largest areas of leisure available to locals and visitors in Barcelona alike. They are never more than just a few minutes away from any point in the city, since they are easily reached by public transport or by bicycle. Equipped with all the necessary facilities and services, every year they are visited by around seven million people. Platges The beaches provide a perfect complement to the cultural attractions of Barcelona, and all year round they offer a never-ending variety of activities: taking a stroll, passing away the hours on a terrace or in a restaurant, simply enjoying the view and the sun of the Mediterranean Sea, having a bathe, playing some sport, riding a bicycle... by barcelonaturisme.com

Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Barcelona, Spain
Beatiful church Sagrat Cor!
The Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica located on the summit of Mount Tibidabo in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The building is the work of the Spanish Catalan architect Enric Sagnier and was completed by his son Josep Maria Sagnier i Vidal. The construction of the church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, lasted from 1902 to 1961. The idea of building a Catholic church on the summit of the Mount Tibidabo emerged in the late 19th century amidst rumors about the construction of a Protestant church and a hotel-casino at that location. This motivated a "Board of Catholic Knights" to acquire the ownership of the field and give it to Saint John Bosco in 1886, when he was visiting Barcelona at the invitation of Dorotea de Chopitea, a great patron and promoter of the project. From this arose the idea of a building dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a dedication very popular at that time thanks to the impetus given by Pope Leo XIII, and following in line with the church built in Rome by Bosco himself (Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio) and the famous Sacré-Cœur in Paris. In 1886 a neo-Gothic hermitage was built, and two years later, for the Universal Exposition, the Vallvidrera road was urbanized and a pavilion of Mudejar inspiration was built beside the hermitage to serve as a viewing point (for the city below). However, the project to build the church suffered a significant delay mainly because of the development of a new project to build an astronomical observatory on the summit of Tibidabo, which was eventually constructed on a nearby hill (Fabra Observatory). Finally, on 28 December 1902, the first stone was placed in a ceremony presided by the Bishop of Barcelona, Salvador Casañas i Pagès. The crypt was built between 1903 and 1911, and the main church was built between 1915 and 1951. The church was consecrated by Bishop Gregorio Modrego Casaus during the 35th Eucharistic Congress held in Barcelona in 1952. The towers were completed afterward, with work officially ending in 1961. On 29 October 1961 the church received the title of minor basilica from Pope John XXIII. Exterior Facade of the crypt The external appearance of the church is of a Romanesque fortress of stone from Montjuïc (the crypt), topped by a monumental neo-Gothic church accessed by two grand outdoor stairways. The upper church has a central floor with an octagonal dome on eight columns. The dome is crowned with an image of the Sacred Heart; the original work was by Frederic Marès (destroyed in 1936) and replaced in 1950 with another by Josep Miret. The upper church is square with three apses, a large central tower, and four lower towers marking the four corners of the square, and statues of the Twelve Apostles sculpted by Josep Miret. The main facade has three sections, the central wider, chaired by the figure of the Archangel Michael in the arch of the main entrance, and John Bosco in the pediment above. Over the left door is the statue of Teresa of Ávila and over the right, Marguerite Marie Alacoque. Above the door is an open gallery of arches with tracery. The façade of the crypt has a richly decorated tympanum with sculptures by Alfons Juyol i Bach following the design of Eusebi Arnau. The sculptures represent the Virgin of Mercy, Saint George, and Saint James, the patron saints of Barcelona, Catalonia, and Spain, respectively. The crypt facade consists of three semicircular arches on columns, inserted under a larger semicircular arch, originally decorated with a mosaic of the Holy Trinity by Daniel Zuloaga (destroyed in 1936). In 1955 it was redecorated by the Bru Workshop of Barcelona; the work depicts an allegory of the devotion of Spain, represented by its patron saints. Interior Inside the temple The interior is divided into a nave and two aisles with semicircular apses, with stained glasses and four rose windows on the facades. In the main altar stands the great crucifix, a work by Joan Puigdollers. The windows of the presbytery are dedicated to Pius X, John the Evangelist, Marguerite Marie Alacoque, Paul the Apostle and John Bosco. The left altar has five stained glasses dedicated to various Marian devotions: the Virgin of Antipolo (Philippines), Our Lady of Luján (Argentina), the Assumption of Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico) and Our Lady of Charity (Cuba). The right altar is presided by the Risen Jesus, a work by Joan Puigdollers, and its stained glasses are dedicated to Spanish Marian devotions: the Virgin of Almudena (Madrid), the Virgin of Núria (Catalonia), Our Lady of Hope, Our Lady of the Forsaken (Valencia) and Our Lady of Begoña (Basque Country). The windows of the four towers contain the Latin phrase tibi dabo ("I'll give you"), the name of the mountain. At the level of the choir include founding saints: Marcellin Champagnat and Jean-Baptiste de La Salle on both sides of the presbytery, and Anthony Mary Claret, Joseph Calasanctius, John Bosco and Maria Domenica Mazzarello next to the main facade. The windows of the four facades are dedicated to Francis de Sales, Pius XI, Ignatius of Loyola, Francisco Javier, Pius IX, Rose of Lima, Leo XIII and Pius XII. The eight stained glasses of the dome depict scenes from the life of Jesus. Statue of Jesus Statue of Jesus on the top of Sagrat Cor. The church is crowned by the enormous bronze statue of the Sacred Heart made by Josep Miret in 1950, replacing the original made by Frederic Marès in 1935, and destroyed the following year. The ascent from the crypt, passing through the church and ending at the sculpture, reflects the rise and the purification of the human condition by means of sacrifice and atonement. by wikipedia.com

Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Barcelona, Spain
Gran Templo en situación especial
El Templo Expiatorio del Sagrado Corazón (en catalán Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor) es una iglesia situada en la montaña del Tibidabo, en Barcelona, obra del arquitecto Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia y finalizada por su hijo Josep Maria Sagnier i Vidal. Su construcción se prolongó de 1902 a 1961. La idea de construir un templo en lo alto de la montaña del Tibidabo surge a finales del siglo XIX ante los rumores sobre la construcción de un templo protestante y un hotel-casino, ante lo que una “Junta de Caballeros Católicos” adquiere la propiedad del terreno, cediéndolo en 1886 a San Juan Bosco, de visita entonces en Barcelona invitado por Dorotea de Chopitea, gran mecenas y promotora del proyecto. Surge entonces la idea de hacer un templo dedicado al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, advocación de moda en aquel entonces gracias al impulso del papa León XIII, y siguiendo la línea del templo construido en Roma por el propio Bosco (Sacro Cuore di Gesù), así como del famoso Sacré-Cœur de París. En 1886 se construye una ermita neogótica, y dos años más tarde, con motivo de la Exposición Universal, se urbaniza la carretera de Vallvidrera y se construye al lado de la ermita un pabellón de inspiración mudéjar, que servía de mirador -posteriormente derribado-. Sin embargo, el proyecto sufrirá un importante retraso debido sobre todo a la aparición de un nuevo proyecto para construir un observatorio astronómico en la cima del Tibidabo, que finalmente se hizo en una colina próxima (Observatorio Fabra). Finalmente, el 28 de diciembre de 1902 se coloca la primera piedra en un acto presidido por el obispo de Barcelona, Salvador Casañas i Pagès. El 29 de octubre de 1961 recibió el título de basílica menor, otorgado por el papa Juan XXIII. de wikipedia.com

Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Barcelona, Spain
Wonderful Views, An Amusement Park, An Impressive Church
This place is for everybody: For artists, architects, parents and children! The Church and the Park are managed by different groups. It´s a wonderful pice of art, obviously designed by a "mad genious". It is so different and absurd that is absolutely wonderful. And it is still in the process of completion. Don´t visit Barcelona without visiting. Since the long ques, make ticket reservations at least one day ahead. That will save a lot of time.