Plaça d’Espanya (Place of Spain) is one of the most emblematic spaces of Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. It was built for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition, according to a project by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Guillem Busquets and finished by Antoni Darder. It is the second largest square in Spain, after the Plaza de España in Madrid.
Placa D’Espanya is open every day of the year, 24 hours a day. However, some of the attractions around the square may have different opening and closing hours, depending on the season and the day of the week. For example, the MNAC is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00, and on Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 15:00. The Centro Comercial Las Arenas is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00. The Parc de Joan Miró is open from 10:00 to 22:00 in summer and from 10:00 to 19:00 in winter.
To get to Plaça d’Espanya, you can use different modes of transport. By metro, you can take lines L1, L3 or L8 and get off at Espanya station. By bus, you can take any of the lines that stop at the square, such as 7, 9, 13, 23, 27, 30, 34, 36, 37, 43, 46, 50, 56, 57 or 91. By train, you can take the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) and get off at Espanya station. By car, you can access the square from Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Avinguda del Paral·lel, Carrer de la Creu Coberta or Carrer de Tarragona.
There are many tours that you can take to explore Plaça d’Espanya and its surroundings. Some of them are guided tours that offer historical and cultural information about the square and its monuments. Others are thematic tours that focus on specific aspects of the square, such as its architecture, its fountains or its night lights. You can also find hop-on hop-off bus tours that stop at Plaça d’Espanya and allow you to visit other attractions in Barcelona at your own pace.
There are many things to see and do at Plaça d’Espanya. Some of the attractions are:
- The fountain at the center of the square, designed by Josep Maria Jujol and decorated with sculptures by Miguel Blay and Miquel and Llucià Oslé. It has a light and music show every night.
- The Venetian towers at the entrance of Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, designed by Ramon Reventós and inspired by the campanile of San Marco in Venice.
- The MNAC at the end of Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, housed in the Palau Nacional (National Palace), a majestic building that dominates the skyline of Montjuïc hill. It has one of the most important collections of Catalan art in the world.
- The Centro Comercial Las Arenas at one side of the square, a former bullring that was converted into a modern shopping mall with a panoramic terrace that offers stunning views of Barcelona.
- The Parc de Joan Miró at another side of the square, a green space that hosts a large sculpture by Joan Miró called Dona i Ocell (Woman and Bird), as well as other artworks by contemporary artists.
Some tips for visiting Plaça d’Espanya are:
- Check the opening hours and prices of the attractions around the square before you go.
- Wear comfortable shoes and clothes according to the weather.
- Bring water and snacks if you plan to spend a long time at the square.
- Be respectful of the environment and other visitors.
- Enjoy your visit!
Some prohibitions for visiting Plaça d’Espanya are:
- Do not litter or damage the square or its monuments.
- Do not feed or disturb the birds or other animals that live in the square.
- Do not swim or play in the fountain or other water features.
- Do not climb or sit on the sculptures or other structures.
- Do not make noise or disturb the peace of the square.
