Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens, Succulent botanical garden on Montjuïc hill, Spain
Mossèn Costa i Llobera is a succulent garden on Montjuïc featuring over 800 species of cacti and fleshy-leaved plants arranged in terraced rows. The plantings span six hectares with open views toward the Mediterranean coast and the city below.
The site opened in 1970 through a partnership between an architect and a succulent plant specialist. Both founders aimed to display desert flora in an urban setting and received support from local horticultural experts.
The garden bears the name of a Majorcan poet and priest who helped shape Barcelona's literary world in the late 19th century. Visitors move through spaces designed to celebrate desert and tropical plants as objects of study and beauty.
The grounds occupy a hillside with some steep paths, so sturdy shoes and plenty of water are recommended. The best time to visit is outside the hottest summer months, when shade under the plants feels more comfortable.
Certain cacti species display unusual geometric patterns on their surface and bloom with colorful flowers throughout the year. These botanical peculiarities are rare in temperate climates and offer visitors a chance to see exotic plants up close.
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