It is clear to me in my time in Barcelona, that parks and green space are just as important to the people as is the urban environment. It seems that everywhere I look I see examples of green space throughout the city, not just in the vast and beautiful parks, but glimpses can be seen everywhere. Whether it is tram tracks laid out on beds of grass, or slits in concrete where grass can grow through, the greenery can be seen throughout. However more notably are the vast green spaces provided by Ciutadella Park and the botanical gardens at Montjuic.

            Both parks are very similar in several ways. They are both vast parks built upon ruins, Montjuic on a defensive encampment, and Ciutadella Park on a medieval building. They both attempt to create spaces in which denizens of the city can escape the bustling lifestyle of Barcelona, and find a quiet place to relax.

            The execution of both parks however, varies greatly. Ciutadella Park is closer to the heart of the city, surrounded by streets and buildings. It holds a strong axis leading towards the beach, but the park itself is large enough that there is plenty of space created in spaces surrounding the central axis. There is plenty of vegetation and areas for dogs and people alike to run free. The botanical gardens in Montjuic, however, have a very different feeling. The botanical gardens are situated up away from the heart of the city, and therefore can be much more expansive. It seems almost French in the way that nature is sculpted to fit the needs of the people as pathways wind and zig zag across the space. In my opinion the botanical gardens are the much more beautiful place, in that they offer more serenity and variety of vegetation.