Jardins de Joan Maragall

Barcelona isn't a land of palaces. Spain’s regal and merchant elite preferred to built their opulent abodes further afield. Despite this, there are a handful of not-so-humble homes within the city proper.

During the 1929 International Exposition, Barcelona constructed a new royal residence on Montjüic (apparently Pedralbes wasn’t good enough). The result was Palauet Albéniz, which is surrounded by some lovely gardens that bear the name of the poet Joan Maragall. The gardens were originally designed by Forestier, and you can see his typical French style in the central fountain, the ‘broderie’ flower beds, the voluptuous sculptures, and a few other surprises, among them the small bamboo forest on the northern slope, and the view of the city from the east.