The Mount Tibidabo
Culture 28/08/2024
The Tibidabo mountain is located in the city of Barcelona, a member of the Serra de Collserola and its highest peak with an altitude of 512 meters. Collserola constitutes a splendid natural environment that houses an extensive forest mass of approximately ten million trees and is the habitat of a diversity of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, among others.
I n 1888 a section of road to the Amusement Park was opened for the Universal Exhibition. The urbanization of Tibidabo was promoted starting in 1899 by Salvador Andreu i Grau, who wanted to bring the mountain closer to the people of Barcelona with a tram, a funicular and an amusement park.
1900 marks the beginning of the construction of the access to the top of Tibidabo, which includes a tram known as the Blue Tram and a funicular. The Tramvia Blau is the survivor of the old Barcelona tram line. Take a 1,276-meter ascent to the foot of the Tibidabo funicular. It goes up surrounded by modernist and noucentista buildings that give way to nature and magnificent views of the city.
Simultaneously, at the top, work is progressing with the leveling of the land and the construction of terraces and buildings. On October 29, 1901, the official inauguration of the new facilities is commemorated, with the funicular being the first major attraction of the Amusement Park, standing out for its innovative nature at that time.
That same year, the first entertainment points were introduced, such as automatic scales and postcard vending machines. Although the first visitors belonged mainly to the upper class, over time the amusement park became popular, thus giving rise to the first attractions, acts and shows, along with cafes and restaurants.
It stands out as the oldest park in Spain and one of the first in Europe. Numerous emblematic attractions remain in operation, such as the Airplane, a pioneering flight simulator powered by its own propeller, the Automata Museum with a collection of more than 40 pieces dating from the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Talaia, a century-old structure. which raises visitors to a height of 50 meters.
The plane
The Talaia
But, apart from the amusement park, we must not forget other elements that make this mountain a very special place.
The Temple of the Sacred Heart It is a monumental structure in the neo-Gothic style, topped by a bronze statue of the Sacred Heart with open arms towards the city spread out at its feet. With the possibility of ascending to the top of the temple through an elevator, you can see privileged views of the city. Next to the majestic temple, on the right, the original hermitage built in 1886 is still preserved, at a time when the environment lacked buildings around it.
The Collserola Tower , built for the 1992 Olympic Games, represents an impressive feat of engineering. Its public viewpoint on the tenth floor, located at a height of 560 m above sea level, allows you to enjoy excellent views over the city of Barcelona, its Metropolitan Area and up to more than 70 km. Its access is via a panoramic elevator. with glass walls.
The Fabra Astronomical Observatory , erected in 1901, has been an epicenter of scientific research for more than a century, focusing on disciplines such as meteorology, seismology and astronomy.
Plaça del Tibidabo, 3-4, 08035 Barcelona
How to get there: FGC L7-Avinguda Tibidabo + Tibibus T2C + Tibidabo Funicular.
Do you know how its name came about? In the 16th century the monks residing in the monastery of San Jerónimo called it as we know it today: Tibidabo, a word taken from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, formed by the words "tibi" and "dabo", which mean "I will give you".
Tibidabo, a perfect spot to live epic adventures with the family or the gang, with postcard-perfect views of Barcelona and guaranteed fun!
