Parc de la Infanta

Parc de la Infanta is a city park in Cornellà de Llobregat, in the Fontsanta-Fatjó neighborhood, laid out along the former route of the Canal de la Infanta — a 19th-century irrigation channel that watered farmland in the lower Llobregat valley for nearly two centuries.

Where does the park's name come from?

The canal that the park follows was built between 1817 and 1819 and ran for about 17 kilometers, carrying water from Molins de Rei to Sants and passing through what is now Cornellà along the way. In its working years it irrigated roughly 3,000 hectares of farmland in the river valley. When a city park was created along its course in the 1990s, it took the name Parc de la Infanta, honoring the princess associated with the canal's founding. In 2017, the city renamed it Parc del Canal de la Infanta to better reflect the site's historical link to the old waterway.

How did the park come to be?

The idea of developing this land dates back to the 1980s, as part of the Pla Parcial Fatjó, an urban plan meant to reorganize this part of the city. Actual work didn't begin until later in the decade — from 1987 the municipal company Emducsa started buying up plots in the area. Progress picked up when a nearby plot was sold for the construction of the Llobregat Centre shopping complex, and the proceeds helped fund completion of the park. The park opened to the public in 1995.

What can you see there?

The park's main historical landmark is Casa Camprubí, a building designed by Josep Maria Jujol, one of the leading architects of Catalan modernism and a close collaborator of Gaudí. It's listed as a local cultural heritage asset (BCIL), making it the most valuable architectural feature within the park grounds.

Also on site is the sculpture Espai per a la Pau, by Cornellà-based artist Ricard Vaccaro — a piece dedicated to peace and one of the park's more photographed spots.

Beyond these landmarks, the park itself is essentially a long green corridor: walking paths tracing the old canal bed, lawns, and shaded tree groves where locals come to walk, jog, or spend time with children. It ranks among the more significant urban parks in this part of the Barcelona metropolitan area and sees steady use both morning and evening.

How do you get there?

The park sits in the Fontsanta-Fatjó neighborhood of Cornellà de Llobregat, a city bordering Barcelona to the southwest. From central Barcelona, public transport connections — metro or regional rail lines linking the two cities — typically get you there within a reasonable ride. Because it sits in a densely built residential part of town, the park is also easy to reach on foot from the surrounding neighborhoods.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, when temperatures around Barcelona are mild and the greenery is at its fullest. In summer, the shaded paths are best enjoyed in the morning or evening, avoiding the midday heat. This is a distinctly local spot rather than a tourist hotspot, which makes it a pleasant, quiet stop for anyone spending extended time in the Barcelona area — particularly visitors interested in modernist architecture or the region's water-engineering history.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee? No, Parc de la Infanta (Parc del Canal de la Infanta) is a public city park, free to enter at any time.

What is Casa Camprubí? A building designed by architect Josep Maria Jujol, listed as a local cultural heritage asset — the park's most important historic structure.

Why was the park renamed? In 2017 the official name changed from Parc de la Infanta to Parc del Canal de la Infanta, to better reflect its historical origin as the route of a 19th-century irrigation canal.

How old is the canal the park follows? The Canal de la Infanta was built between 1817 and 1819, making it over two centuries old — the park itself was only created along its route in the 1990s.