AT A GLANCE
Why go?
The Mirador de l'Alcalde — the Mayor's Viewing Point — is a terraced garden on the eastern slope of Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, perched just below the castle and offering sweeping views across the city's port and Mediterranean coastline. Built in the 1960s as part of the landscaping that followed the transfer of Montjuïc Castle to the city, it is best known for its cascade of ornamental fountains designed by Carles Buïgas (the same engineer behind the famous Magic Fountain of Montjuïc), its unusual mosaic pavement made from reclaimed urban materials, and its sculpture by Josep Maria Subirachs.↗↗↗
A Garden Carved into the Hillside
The Mirador de l'Alcalde is not a flat park but a series of descending landings that exploit the steep slope of Montjuïc's eastern face. Levels are connected by flights of stairs and gently sloping flower beds, creating a natural amphitheatre that opens toward the sea. At the centre of the uppermost pool, an ornamental fountain pours water down small platforms in a tiered cascade that empties into a lower pool with its own fountain — the sound of falling water accompanies you as you move between levels. The hydraulic design was the work of Carles Buïgas, who also created Barcelona's celebrated Magic Fountain for the 1929 International Exposition.
