Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens
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Type	botanical garden
Location	Montjuic in Barcelona, Spain,  Catalonia Barcelona.
Area	6.15 hectares
Created	1970
Owned by	The city of Barcelona
Operated by	Barcelona's City Council
Status	Open all year

Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens is a special botanical garden in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It's located at the bottom of Montjuïc mountain, right by the sea. The garden is named after a famous poet from Mallorca, Miquel Costa i Llobera.

Even though these gardens cover about 6 hectares (that's like 15 football fields!), they are not very well known. They are home to many amazing plants and trees. You can find species from deserts, tropical places, and even highlands. There's also a huge collection of cacti here, with about 800 different types from all over the world!

Besides the cool plants, the gardens offer amazing views. You can see the city's coastline and the busy port from here.

History of the Gardens

Unlike many other gardens around Montjuïc, which were built for a big exhibition in 1929, the Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens are newer. They were designed and opened much later, in 1970.

The gardens were created with the help of architect Joan Maria Casamor. Joan Pañella Bonastre, a professor from Barcelona's Municipal Gardening School, also guided the project. At first, the gardens were used as an outdoor classroom for students learning about plants.

In 1987, the New York Times newspaper said the park was one of the "10 most beautiful gardens on the planet." However, that year was tough for the plants. A very cold frost hit the gardens, harming many plants. This was after another bad frost in 1985. The second frost in 1987 caused the garden to lose almost 40% of its plant types.

Between 2006 and 2011, the gardens were updated and made beautiful again.

Where to Find the Gardens

The Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens are in the Sants-Montjuïc area of Barcelona. The main entrance is between Carretera de Miramar and Paseo de Josep Carner.

This area has a special microclimate. This means the temperature here is usually two to three degrees Celsius warmer than the rest of the city. This happens because the gardens are protected from cold winds by their location.

From the gardens, you can see great views of Barcelona's coastline and its busy commercial harbor. Even though the gardens are just a ten-minute walk from the Columbus Monument (at the end of La Rambla), they are hidden from the city.

Amazing Plants and Botany

These gardens are home to about 800 different types of cacti and succulent plants. Most of these plants come from desert areas in Africa, America, and Australia.

You'll also find many trees typical of the Mediterranean climate here. There are also subtropical trees. The gardens have up to 12 different kinds of palm trees, along with olive and fig trees. Some of the subtropical trees are hundreds of years old!

Here are some special plants you might see:

• Drago: This is a unique subtropical tree.
• Pitas: A common plant from Mexico.
• Xanthorrhoea: This plant is originally from Australia.
• Cereus jamacaru: A type of cactus from Brazil.
• Aloe brevifolia: A cactus that comes from South Africa.

Artistic Touches

The Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens also have many beautiful decorations and art. You can find a pergola (a shaded walkway) and several interesting sculptures throughout the park.

The Garden's Special Climate

Thanks to its great spot at the base of Montjuïc Mountain and near the sea, the gardens have a unique climate. The temperature inside the gardens is usually two or three degrees Celsius warmer than in other parts of Barcelona. This special microclimate helps protect the many plant species that live there. It also keeps the plants safe from strong winds that often blow in the area.

Visiting the Park

Mossèn Costa i Llobera is one of Barcelona's less-known parks. It's free to enter, so you don't need a ticket! The park has several entrances. The main one is located between Carretera de Miramar and Paseo de Josep Carner. The gardens open at 10 a.m. and stay open until sunset.

See also

In Spanish: Jardines Mossèn Costa i Llobera para niños

• Miquel Costa i Llobera
• Desert City
• Jardín de Cactus