Parc de Carles I

Parc de Carles I sits in Barcelona's Sant Martí district, right where the Diagonal Mar and Poblenou neighbourhoods meet the coastline. Laid out in 1992 by designers Pep Zazurca and Juli Laviña, it forms one end of a long, linear stretch of green space built to reconnect the city with the sea ahead of the Olympic Games. Positioned at the edge of this chain of parks, it works almost like a gateway toward the former Olympic Village, with its main axis aligned in that direction.

What does the park actually look like?

The layout is dominated by tall rows of cypress and plane trees, giving the walkways a clean, disciplined geometry typical of early-1990s Barcelona urban design. Running along the central axis is a long water channel that ties the different sections together and pulls the eye toward the seafront. It's this straight, structured line that gives a walk through the park its clear sense of direction, rather than the winding paths found in older municipal gardens.

Also worth a look is the bronze sculpture "El Cul" (literally "The Bottom" or "The Backside") by Eduardo Úrculo, standing six and a half metres tall. It was dedicated to Santiago Roldán, who chaired the Olympic holding company between 1989 and 1993. The piece is one of several public artworks left behind after the 1992 Games that now quietly double as neighbourhood landmarks.

Where exactly is it, and what's nearby?

Parc de Carles I lies in the Diagonal Mar / Poblenou area, in the eastern part of Barcelona, at coordinates 41.388445, 2.193564. It's one of the so-called "coastal parks" alongside Port Olímpic, Nova Icària, Parc de Poblenou and Parc de les Cascades — five green spaces built on former industrial land in Poblenou at the start of the 1990s as part of the redevelopment of Barcelona's seafront for the Olympics.

How do you get there, and when's a good time to visit?

Diagonal Mar is well connected by metro and tram to the rest of the city, and the area is walkable from the Poblenou beaches as well as from the Diagonal Mar shopping centre. The park works best as a stop along a longer walk through the whole line of coastal parks, rather than a standalone destination — pair it with time on the beach or a visit to Port Olímpic. Thanks to the mature cypresses and plane trees, it offers reliable shade even on hot days, making it a good place to pause during a longer route.

Who is this park for?

It appeals most to visitors with an interest in landscape architecture and urban planning, since the 1992 design is a clear example of how Barcelona repurposed former industrial coastal land for the Olympics. It's also a good pick for anyone looking for a quieter corner near the water, away from the busier beaches and the crowds of the city centre. Given its modest size, it isn't a destination in itself, but it earns its place as a well-placed break during a longer day exploring eastern Barcelona.

Frequently asked questions

When was Parc de Carles I built? It was designed in 1992 by Pep Zazurca and Juli Laviña, as part of Barcelona's preparations for the Olympic Games.

What is the sculpture in the park? It's "El Cul" by Eduardo Úrculo, a 6.5-metre bronze piece dedicated to Santiago Roldán.

Is it part of a larger green network? Yes — together with Port Olímpic, Nova Icària, Parc de Poblenou and Parc de les Cascades, it forms the group known as Barcelona's coastal parks, built on former industrial land in Poblenou.

How do you get to the park? It's in the Sant Martí district, in the Diagonal Mar area, well served by metro and tram lines from central Barcelona.

What defines the park's appearance? Rows of cypress and plane trees and a long water channel running along the main axis of the design.