Four Things You Can Do in Montjuïc
Montjuïc is a hill rising at the southern edge of Barcelona, next to the sea, and one of the city’s most iconic spots. The 1992 Olympic Games brought about a transformation of this area, turning it into the green space we know today. In this blog post, we’ll tell you four things you can do in Montjuïc.
Feel the Vibe at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium
Discover the stadium that hosted the opening ceremony of the 1992 Olympic Games. At the moment, while the Camp Nou is undergoing renovations, Barça is playing its home matches in this stadium (you can buy your tickets on this website). Another chance to enter the venue is by attending a concert. For example, next summer, Imagine Dragons will be performing here.
Visit Montjuïc Castle
At the highest point of the hill stands Montjuïc Castle. The watchtower inside dates back to the 17th century, and the rest of the fortification was built later. One of the darkest episodes in its history took place during Franco’s dictatorship, when over 4,000 Republican and Catalan nationalist prisoners, including the President of the Generalitat, Lluís Companys (from whom the Olympic Stadium takes its name), were executed in this castle.
Get Inspired at the MNAC
If art is your thing, you can’t miss a visit to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC). What’s more, the walk from Plaça d’Espanya to the palace where the museum is located is well worth it. The MNAC is renowned for its collection of Romanesque art, one of the most complete in the world. It also boasts a large modern art collection, including modernist works by Antoni Gaudí, among others.
Lose Yourself in Its Paths and Parks
Montjuïc stands out as one of the city’s vast green spaces. On this hill, 739 species of plants and 288 types of trees have been identified. More than 60 different bird species nest here, and you can even find 27 types of butterflies. The Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer Gardens, for example, are an excellent place to encounter all this biodiversity, but there are many more. You just need to wander around without a set route, and you’ll discover them.
