Jardins de Jaume Vicens i Vives

Jardins de Jaume Vicens i Vives is a small, quiet park tucked inside a city block along Avinguda Diagonal, in the Les Corts district of Barcelona. Few visitors know about it, which makes it a welcome pause from the traffic of one of the city's main avenues.

Where does the name come from?

The garden honors Jaume Vicens i Vives, a Catalan historian whose work on the history of Catalonia and Spain shaped post-war historiography in the region. The park sits within a residential and office complex known as Barcelona-2, completed in 1966. The grounds themselves were designed the following year, in 1967, by Nicolau Maria Rubió i Tudurí, one of the most influential Catalan landscape architects of the 20th century. The garden was originally private, reserved for residents of the surrounding buildings, and only opened to the general public in 1990.

What will you find inside?

The garden's main draw is its collection of sculptures by Frederic Marès, one of Catalonia's best-known sculptors and art collectors. More than thirty pieces in stone, marble, and bronze are scattered through the grounds, depicting animals and motifs tied to hunting — deer, chamois, wild boar, roe deer, goats, and stylized bones and antlers. It is an unusually large open-air display of a single artist's work for a public space in Barcelona, and walking between the pieces feels closer to touring a compact outdoor gallery than strolling through an ordinary city park.

The layout itself reflects Rubió i Tudurí's signature style — geometric paths, carefully chosen planting, and clearly defined zones that give the space an orderly, almost architectural feel. Because the garden sits inside a block enclosed by buildings on three sides, it stays remarkably quiet despite being just steps from busy Diagonal traffic.

In July 2010 the garden underwent renovation work aimed at improving accessibility: the old stepped path was replaced with a ramp, making the space easier to navigate for wheelchair users and visitors with strollers.

How do you get there?

The garden is located in Les Corts, just off Avinguda Diagonal, in an easily reachable part of western Barcelona. The metro is the most convenient option, with nearby stations serving this stretch of the city within a short walk. Bus lines running along Diagonal also stop close by. Because the entrance sits inside a residential block rather than facing a main street directly, it can be less obvious to spot than parks fronting major avenues — it helps to navigate by exact address or a map.

When should you visit?

The garden is open year-round, and given its small size and the shade cast by the surrounding buildings, it tends to stay comfortable even during the warmer months. It makes a good short stop while exploring Les Corts or the nearby stretch of Diagonal, particularly for travelers looking for a quieter corner of the city, away from the busiest tourist routes.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No, the garden is a free, publicly accessible city space open to all visitors.

What is the main attraction here? The collection of sculptures by Frederic Marès — more than thirty stone, marble, and bronze pieces depicting hunting-related motifs.

Is the garden accessible for visitors with limited mobility? Yes. Following renovation work in 2010, the old stairway was replaced with a ramp, making it easier for wheelchair users and visitors with strollers to get around.

How long does a visit take? Given its compact size, a relaxed walk through the garden and its sculptures usually takes between thirty minutes and an hour.