The city of Barcelona offers many hidden gems beyond the main tourist attractions. For some reason, these locations aren’t extremely popular due to difficulty of access and publicity. Nevertheless, one can have a great time in the city without entertaining any of the most visited places.
Barcelona is neatly situated between the Mediterranean and a unique range of mountains. Any high point in the city gives unparalleled views of the city and sea or the mountain range. When looking at the sea, it is apparent that there are many nightclubs, bars, beaches, and places to hangout. On the other hand, the mountains don’t offer the same intrigue to the naked eye. However, it can be difficult to miss the highest peak within Barcelona, Mount Tibidabo.
Mount Tibidabo is easily recognizable depending on which side of the mountain it is looked at from. It is also impossible to miss the white cell tower located adjacent to Tibidabo which can be seen from basically anywhere in Barcelona.
Hiking up the mountain
The peak of the mountain is easily accessible by bus; however, many things are lost along the way. A hike up the mountain offers a variety of different views for those who enjoy the challenge. There is a trail up the mountain as well as a windy road. The trailhead can be difficult to find for first time visitors, but the road offers the same great views.
In addition, the trail can be taken down the mountain for those wishing to not miss out on that 6-kilometer trek. The road can be quite steep at times but is a much shorter journey than progressing through the entire trail. The result of the hike up the mountain is quite rewarding.
A hiker on the mountain said “the trails around here aren’t too busy, especially the small ones.”
Once the top of the mountain is reached, one will be quite surprised with the number of attractions that are at the peak.
Cathedral del Sagrat Cor
The church of the sacred heart is located directly on top of Mount Tibidabo at almost 1700 feet (512 meters).
The church on top of Mount Tibidabo was constructed between 1902 and 1960 with a mix of modrn and neogothic styles. The church contains beautifully stained windows and stonework. The church is crowned by a statue of the sacred heart made by Josep Miret in 1950. It is like the Christ the redeemer statue in Brazil.
The church has free entry, and its interior architecture is newer than most other churches in Barcelona. For five euros, visitors can take an elevator to the top to reach the highest point in all of Barcelona. The viewing platform has a 360-degree view of the entire city.
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Tibidabo Amusement Park
That’s right, there is a fully functioning amusement park on top of the mountain. It is over 100 years old and one of the oldest in the world. Throughout the 20th century, the park became a popular spot to visit for people in the city. Over the course of 100 years, the park saw constant renovation and blossoming even through both world wars.
By 1990 the park had improved its restaurant facilities tremendously and increased the number of attractions. Despite this, the of the 90s saw a financial crisis which put the future of the park in jeopardy. They even had to close the park at certain times of the year to limit the financial burden on operation costs.
Despite numerous attempts to save the park, the company went bankrupt in 1999, which ironically was 100 years after the opening of the park. After the sale of the park, it reopened in 2000 under new ownership. The Park would then blossom for years to come with new children’s rides.
For the past decade, the park has undergone a series of renovations due to a prominent spike in visitors. The Park is a historical symbol of happiness located in one of the most unique spots in all of Barcelona. Its charm and nostalgia will allow it to prosper at the peak of Barcelona for many years to come.
Daniel, a worker at the park for 5 years, said that “the park is here to stay for a long time”
Trail
The trail at the mountain partly known as parc de collserola has one of the most scenic routes in all of Barcelona. The 3.8-mile loop is for hiking, running, and biking. The collserola park covers 8,000 hectares of forest and is considered the “green lung” of Barcelona.
The hike to the top of the mountain takes hikers through the canopy of the forest. It’s perfect for the hottest days in Spain due to the shade.
The trail consists of many smaller trails that ultimately connect back to the main trail in a different place. There is an abundance of flora that can be discovered along the way as well. Additionally, the park is home to 190 different species of animals.
The way down can be taken down both sides of the mountain. Taking the stairs of the font del mont will open into the Carretera de les aigues. This is one of the prettiest parts of the entire hike. The carrtera de les aigues is its own trail that is nearly 10 kilometers and friendly to bikers as well.
Daniel also said, “I have hiked the trail before and the views are amazing.”
Overall, the hike up to Mount Tibidabo can be extremely rewarding for anybody who wants to take it on.
By Jake Bower
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