Barcelona’s iconic Tibidabo Amusement Park has commenced its landmark 125th anniversary season. The celebration is marked by the unveiling of a grand new panoramic sign spelling out the city’s name. Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni inaugurated the installation on Saturday in an institutional act, offering visitors an unparalleled photo opportunity against the backdrop of the Catalan capital.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Perched high on the Collserola ridge, the park has been a fixture of the city’s skyline and a cherished destination for generations of families since it first opened in 1905. Now owned and managed by the Barcelona City Council, it enters its quasquicentennial year with a programme of new attractions and events designed to celebrate its rich history whilst looking to the future.
A New Landmark for the City
The centrepiece of the season’s launch is the new ‘Barcelona’ sign, located in the park’s free-to-access Panoramic Area. The acclaimed studio MIAS Arquitectes, led by Josep Miàs, conceived the installation, which consists of nine large-scale steel letters. A statement from Europa Press detailed that the letters feature integrated lighting and cleverly double as benches, encouraging visitors to interact with the structure whilst taking in sweeping city views below.
First Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet also attended the inauguration ceremony, underscoring the park’s significance as a public asset and a key element of Barcelona’s cultural and leisure landscape.
Anniversary Attractions and Culinary Delights
Beyond the new sign, Tibidabo has introduced several other novelties for its anniversary year. Visitors can now enjoy ‘colours,’ a new 12-minute 4D film shown in the park’s cinema. The short feature follows the adventures of the park’s four mascots-Ti, Bi, Da, and Bo-on a mission to restore the colours of Barcelona.
The mascots themselves are set to play a more prominent role throughout the season, with an increased presence in the park and brand-new shows planned for the coming months.
In a significant culinary upgrade, the historic La Masia building will become home to a new gastronomic proposal from renowned chef Rafa Zafra. Scheduled to open its doors in June, the restaurant will accommodate up to 300 diners across three distinct spaces: elegant interior rooms, an expansive terrace, and a viewpoint dining room promising some of the most impressive vistas in Barcelona. This development follows a trend of enhancing hospitality offerings on the mountain, including the recent opening of the Mett Hotel on Tibidabo.
A City-Wide Celebration
The main commemoration for the 125th anniversary is scheduled for 4th October. The event will begin with a popular community walk starting from the Jardinets de Gràcia, a significant public space in a neighbourhood recently affected by the closure of other local institutions. Participants will then proceed to Plaça del Doctor Andreu, where they will board the modern Cuca de Llum funicular for the final ascent to the park.
Local outlet betevé reported that the day will culminate in a festive celebration at the summit, featuring a range of special activities and proposals for all attendees. The anniversary programme aims to reinforce the deep connection between the park and the people of Barcelona, celebrating a shared history spanning over a century.
