Better Than Average

	Parc Espanya Industrial This is a surprisingly good park considering its location next to one of the more inhospitable parts of Barcelona…Estacio de Sants, Place Paisos Catalans, and Pavello de l'Espanya Industrial. This park and lagoon is quite striking with a generous water lagoon, a large plaza for events, a café, play areas, grass and a wonderful sculpture where we found a woman and her dog gently nestled. The day we were there it was full of people walking, playing, eating comfortably in the park, and the large plaza was full of people doing the Sardona dance to alternating bands from four communities. It was a thrill to be there and was thriving despite its surroundings. It is close to being a Great Public Spaces. It is an important community space and with a little understanding of how it works on other days it could be a Great Public Space. [click here for a slideshow]
	Parc del Laberint d'Horta This botanical garden is a lightly used gem that is fun, educational, and full of surprises. Gardens of all kinds are laid out in an adventurous path that leads you up one side of a ravine with a series of rooms, stairs, and vistas, amid different varieties of plants. As you come down through the ravine, there's a whole different experience with large trees and spectacular undergrowth. Not just unusual, but wholly original, this park that leaves you with many memories.
	Avinguda Josep Tarradellas This Ramblas is quite new and it is further proof that Barcelona keeps trying to improve it streets and neighborhoods by creating new public spaces using existing streets. Though it is new, one has a sense that the design is too formulaic and could actually belong in the "Worse than Average" category. [click here for a slideshow]
	Ramblas de Catalunya This is almost a truly great street, except for the setbacks at each corner that are full of vehicles and other obstacles that impede the circulation of pedestrians along the sidewalks. The center Ramblas is quite pleasant, if also rather stark, with little of the comfortable feeling of the Avinguida de Gaudi. It would be so easy to improve this street by extending the sidewalks at each intersection to accommodate cafes, kiosks, public art, seating and other amenities. These types of extended sidewalks already exist all along the Passeig de Gracia, one block away -- a perfectly good model.
	Jardins Vil-la Amelia This small neighborhood park is one of two that face each other across a street. Jardins Amelia offers terrific variety, with a bar, children's games, and fountains, while its neighbor, Jardins Vil-la Sicilia, is just the opposite, with high bushes, cul-de-sacs, and few activities.

About City Commentaries

City Commentary: Barcelona is the first of our efforts to evaluate major global cities in terms of their markets, streets, squares, parks, and other public spaces. After all, aren't these places at the heart of any traveler's desire to experience a city?

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Parc Guell

Las Ramblas

Avinguda de Gaudi

Parc de la Ciutadella

Mercat de la Boqueria

Gaudi Benches

Boulevards

Passeig de Gracia

Sagrada Famila

Palau de la Musica

Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau

Architecture of the Eixample

Ramblas de Catalunya

Parc Espanya Industrial

Parc del Laberint d'Horta

Avinguda Josep Tarradellas

Jardins Vil-la Amelia

Seating

Motorcycles & Scooters

Emphasis on high-speed traffic in the central city

Setbacks at most street intersections

Treatment of elderly people on major streets

Passeig de Garcia Faria & Passeig Colom

Seating in Placa Reial

Parc Diagonal del Mar

Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona

Hotel Arts Barcelona

Placa Paisos Catalans

Newsletter Listserves Membership/Donate

Better Than Average

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