Jardins de Bacardí

Jardins de Bacardí is a compact neighborhood park in Barcelona's Les Corts district, tucked right across the street from Camp Nou. It's the kind of green space locals actually use rather than a postcard attraction — a shady, unhurried corner of the city with a genuinely unusual backstory tied to one of Spain's best-known family names.

Where exactly is the park?

The gardens cover roughly 7,000 m², sandwiched between Travessera de les Corts and the streets of Benavent, Felipe de Paz, and Comandant Benítez, in the La Maternitat i Sant Ramon sub-district. Because it sits directly on Travessera de les Corts, it works well as a quick stop for anyone walking to or from a match at the FC Barcelona stadium — just cross the road.

Why is it called Bacardí, and what's the history behind it?

The land was originally a working farm known as Can Ermengol. In the late 19th century it was bought by the Bacardí family, and Baltasar de Bacardí i Janer turned the old farmhouse into a manor house with extensive grounds meant for family leisure. After Anna Bacardí i Ribas died in 1958, her heirs gradually began selling off the property. The house itself didn't survive — it was demolished to make way for the widening of Travessera de les Corts — but the gardens were spared when Barcelona City Council expropriated them in 1963, turning a private estate into public parkland for the whole neighborhood.

What stands out inside the gardens?

The park's centerpiece is a centenarian holm oak (Quercus ilex), planted around 1904. It now stands over 14 meters tall with a crown roughly 8 meters across — a tree old enough to remember when this stretch of Les Corts was still countryside rather than dense city blocks next to one of the world's most famous stadiums.

Beyond the oak, the planting mix is surprisingly varied for such a small plot: palms, plane trees, bottle trees, Australian pines, jacarandas, magnolias, olive trees, and several pine varieties. One practical detail worth knowing: irrigation relies on rainwater collected in a nearby underground tank, the Dipòsit d'aigües pluvials dels Jardins dels Doctors Dolsa, making it one of the more resourceful green spaces in this part of the city.

Who is the park designed for?

Jardins de Bacardí functions first and foremost as a neighborhood park built around everyday needs. There's a children's playground, plus a 700 m² off-leash dog area — the largest of its kind in the whole Les Corts district. That combination brings in a steady mix of local families and dog owners looking for space to let their pets run freely.

For visitors heading to Camp Nou, the gardens double as a convenient rest stop: shade from mature trees and a handful of benches make it an easy place to pause before or after a stadium visit, away from the busier tourist routes nearby.

Frequently asked questions

How big are the Jardins de Bacardí? The gardens cover approximately 7,000 m².

Is the park close to Camp Nou? Yes — it sits directly across Travessera de les Corts from the FC Barcelona stadium.

Where does the name come from? From the Bacardí family, who converted the former Can Ermengol farm into a manor house and gardens in the late 19th century.

Is there space for dogs? Yes, there's a 700 m² off-leash dog area, the largest in the Les Corts district.

Is there a playground? Yes, the park has a dedicated children's play area.

What is the oldest feature in the park? A holm oak (Quercus ilex) planted around 1904, now over 14 meters tall.