Montjuic is actually a haven for lazy afternoons. Around the area of the Olympic stadiums and pools, you can find various parks, many of which date back to the International Exposition of Barcelona in 1929 and each with a distinctive style.
The Laribal gardens (Jardins de Laribal) is one of the gems. They are not well known due to a slightly hidden location draped as they are down away on the side of a steep slope near the Olympic Stadium and the Miro Foundation. See the park map below for access points.
This is a perfect spot for a break after seeing the main sights of Montjuic like the Joan Miro Foundation. Or just spend a tranquil afternoon here sprawled on one of the benches in the wisteria covered pergoda or near the Fountain Font del Gat.
At the begining of the 2oth century a visit to the fountain Font del Gat was a popular day outing for residents of Barcelona. Part of the gardens belonged to the estate of the well known lawyer, Josep Laribal, who gave the gardens their name.
In 1908 after Laribal's death, the Barcelona city council acquired the gardens and founded the Escola de Bosc of Montjuïc, a childrens school, which is still in operation.
The Laribal gardens were redesigned by a French designer, J.C.N. Forestier, who modernised the layout and added characteristic elements of Arabian gardens like ceramic tiles, ornamental water fountains and pools, plants and trees, and flowers in pots by the railings and on the walls. And olive trees which can be seen by the steps.
To link the Laribel Gardens with the gardens around the Teatre Grec, Forestier designed a stairway with water by the handrails, small pools with fountains in the breaks of the stairway, and benches where you can rest and enjoy the open air and the soothing sound of the water flowing.
When we visited the gardens, the fountains were not working, but perhaps this is a seasonal thing and the gardens were still a lovely and peaceful place.
After a suitable period of lounging about you might head to the cafe El Font del Gatin the gardens themselves for a spot of lunch in the old house of Josep Laribal.
