The cactus park

Among the strange and curious spots found in Barcelona, the Costa i Llobera Gardens, situated at the foot of Montjuïc facing the sea, are one of the most special. The gardens stretch over six hectares and offer a journey to faraway lands through some of the most exotic cactus species on the planet. Semi-desert, tropical and desert species, and others from high mountain regions. The area where the park is located has its own microclimate with an average temperature that is two to three degrees warmer than the rest of the city, making it the perfect place for these types of plants.

One of the best gardens in the world

The Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens were created in 1970 and are named after the Mallorcan poet Miquel Costa i Llobera, author of the poem El Pi de Formentor. It was a joint venture undertaken by the architect Joan Maria Casamor and a teacher from the gardening school who specialises in succulent plants, Joan Pañella. Since their inauguration, the gardens have undergone an extensive remodelling process, with the replanting of a large number of plants that fell victim to the icy weather of 1985 and 1987. Despite this, the New York Times published an article declaring them to the be among the best gardens in the world. As well as the 800 species of cactus and succulent plants, the gardens offer stunning panoramic views over the city’s coastline and port. They are just ten minutes from the Columbus statue and the Rambla Santa Mònica and, although they have been there a while, they are relatively unknown, even among local residents. A tour of this enormous park is a live, open-air lesson on the most impressive succulent plants, which are very different from the type of vegetation you tend to find in a Mediterranean climate like Barcelona’s.