Regulating access to the park makes for quality visits, promotes a more sustainable tourism model and favours a balance between tourism and use by local residents   

Eight out of every ten tickets are now being purchased in advance through the official website, guaranteeing smooth and orderly access Real-time information on ticket availability is also provided so that visitors can avoid unnecessary trips to the park area

Last year, the number of students who visited the park as part of the Park Güell and Schools programme doubled compared to the previous year, reaching nearly 60,000

In 2023, Park Güell welcomed 4.4 million visitors, up 6% from the previous year. The profile of the average visitor is a foreigner between the ages of 25 and 34. A quarter of visitors come to the park because they see it as a Barcelona landmark, while 22% do so out of an interest in discovering Gaudí’s architecture. 

Park Güell, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, is one of Barcelona’s most visited Gaudí creations. Since 2013, Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) has been regulating access to the park on behalf of Barcelona City Council, with the goal of preserving this iconic city space and guaranteeing proper maintenance and compatibility with neighbourhood and school activities. 

Initially, the regulations only applied to the Park Güell Monument Area, but in 2020 the regulated area was expanded to cover the entire park, which went from a maximum capacity of 9 million to 4.5 million visitors. These measures are still in place and aim to preserve this heritage site and promote a more sustainable, responsible and carefully planned tourism model that has less impact on the surrounding area. 

In addition to regulating access, Park Güell has also carried out various initiatives and campaigns to promote advance online ticket sales, facilitating smooth and orderly access to the park. In 2023, 83% of tickets, even 95% at some points during the summer, were sold in advance. 

Park Güell also provides real-time information on the availability of tickets through its channels. This avoids unnecessary trips to the park, improves the visitor experience and protects the surrounding area.  

A park for all: schools and local residents, two priority groups

Managing access to Park Güell, the city’s fourth-largest park in terms of surface area, not only ensures quality visits but also promotes a balance between tourism and use by local residents. Since the regulations went into effect, the residents of the six surrounding neighbourhoods (La Salut, Vallcarca-Penitents, El Coll, Can Baró, El Baix Guinardó and El Carmel), as well as the students at the schools in the park and its surrounding area (Baldiri Reixac, Reina Elisenda Virolai, Jesuïtes de Gràcia, Turó del Cargol and Escola Montseny) use the park on a daily basis as a place for recreation, sport and community life. Local residents have exclusive entrances and also specific time slots (“Good morning, Barcelona” and “Good evening, Barcelona”), as well as a card that gives them access to the park during public opening hours. 

In addition to the 4.4 million visitors, over 500,000 Barcelona residents visited the park using the local resident card in 2023, up 37% from the previous year. And 164,000 city residents, twice as many as in 2022, visited the park as part of the Gaudir Més programme. 

In addition to these visits, 60,000 students from over 2,600 school groups participated in the Park Güell and Schools educational programme, which seeks to bring Gaudí’s work to students at all stages of education and is open to schools anywhere in the European Union. Most of these visits, 85%, were open ended and free of charge, while 15% were guided tours. Overall, school visits nearly doubled compared to the previous year.     

For the first time, 2023 also saw Park Güell host one of the STEAM events organised by BSM and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – BarcelonaTech (UPC) with the goal of encouraging careers in science. Over 600 fifth- and sixth-year primary school students from ten different schools, including three from the neighbourhoods surrounding Park Güell, participated in the programme. During the event, they worked on their skills in maths, science, art and technology while discovering the secrets of Gaudí’s work and modernista architecture.

Meanwhile, 180 children aged 7 to 12 attended the educational Lego workshops that took place during weekends in November. 

Complementing these educational programmes, the park hosted numerous cultural activities based on the heritage and historical value of Gaudí’s oeuvre, organised in collaboration with the Barcelona History Museum (MUHBA). These activities included guided tours, concerts and open-air cinema, as well as the “Sant Jordi and the Park Güell Dragon” bookmark contest for local schools, the programme with Gràcia schools and the La Salut Associations Fair. Over 9,000 people participated in these activities. 

It will be managed by a temporary consortium of companies specialising in innovation applied to music, sport and major events, with experience in designing and promoting innovation centres and managing start-up acceleration programmes

Scheduled to be up and running by the end of the first quarter of 2024, the site is launching a call to attract the first start-ups that will coexist with the large and medium-sized companies that will also move there 

The Anella Olímpica is putting the finishing touches to The Venue Barcelona ahead of its opening. Promoted by Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM), it will be an innovative business centre for music, sport and major events at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The project, which has been developed in collaboration with Barcelona Activa and the Barcelona Sports Institute (IBE), will begin operating with a temporary consortium of companies in the sector, which will be responsible for promoting the venue and attracting companies and initiatives to set up there.

This morning saw the signing of the agreement that will allow this innovation centre to begin its journey. The Venue Barcelona will officially open its doors late in the first quarter of this year. At that time, it will begin to welcome its first companies and start-ups and present to the public the support and acceleration programmes it will offer, as well as activities aimed at strengthening the local and international positioning of the Anella Olímpica, now also as a driver of innovation and emerging projects in three sectors whose activities clearly overlap: music, sport and events. However, the aim is to go further and develop projects involving other closely related sectors such as mobility, food and drink, energy and security. 

Ahead of the launch of The Venue Barcelona, the managers have launched the first call for start-ups to encourage the arrival of the first entrepreneurs to work in the Estadi Olímpic. The aim is to identify projects interested in moving into the space to collaborate with the large and medium-sized companies that will be joining The Venue Barcelona.

In the words of BSM President and First Deputy Mayor of Barcelona City Council, Laia Bonet, ‘this project is a clear example of the work the Olympic Ring is doing to boost Barcelona’s leadership in the fields of culture, sport and major events. We are working to make Barcelona the leading entertainment capital of Europe. The launch of this venue demonstrates how we want to take public-private collaboration one step further and join forces to bring together the best talent to further innovate in the events, sports and cultural sectors. We want venues like the Estadi Olímpic and Palau Sant Jordi to be levers for disruptive new projects in these sectors. This is another example of how the Olympic facilities are playing an important role in the Barcelona of the 21st century’.  

As part of the Barcelona Sports Hub, an initiative of Barcelona City Council, The Venue Barcelona is joining the effort to make the city an international benchmark in the exchange of knowledge, talent, resources and business initiatives in the world of technology and sport. According to the Councillor for Sport, David Escudé, ‘this project is a step further towards promoting the Barcelona Sports Hub, a pioneering initiative that will place the city on the world map as a centre for technological innovation applied to sport’. 

‘At The Venue Barcelona, we are redefining what it means to be a space for innovation and collaboration. We are offering a place to work, but also a vibrant ecosystem where corporations and start-ups can come together to create value. I’m excited to see this project finally come to fruition and I invite innovative companies and the most passionate entrepreneurs to join us on this extraordinary journey,’ said Emilio Risques, Chairman and Co-founder of The MotherTrees Innovation Ecosystem and U-Skale Growth Propeller.

An inspiring, fully renovated space in the heart of the Olympic Ring

The new innovation centre in the Anella Olímpica occupies a 1,100 m² office building located on the south side of the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. It has 14 interconnected work modules, a large co-working area and other spaces to facilitate collaboration between the companies that move there. Plus, 400 m² of outdoor space have been provided to host outdoor workshops. 

The project aims to integrate the companies residing at The Venue Barcelona into the Anella Olímpica and the entire ecosystem of institutions in Parc de Montjuïc, including the National Institute for Physical Education of Catalonia (INEFC), the Olympic Museum and the Picornell Pools. 

In this sense, the Anella Olímpica offers a strategic environment linked to events and the practice of sport at a local, national and international level. The companies housed in the innovation space will be able to learn and work alongside the events that take place at this privileged location. 

The project to create The Venue Barcelona had a budget of €2.8 million provided by BSM. 

The Anella Olímpica, a platform for innovation and economic promotion

Last year, the Anella Olímpica hosted 167 music, sport and entertainment events, which were enjoyed by 2,000,000 people. These two figures reflect the capacity and versatility of Palau Sant Jordi and the Estadi Olímpic as venues, as well as their position in the local and global artistic and sporting circuits, thanks to quality programming that reaches a wide audience.  

The aim is for The Venue Barcelona to use the experience of the management companies and the Anella’s local and international outreach to promote the city as a platform for innovation in the music, sport and events sectors, which have tremendous capacity to energise the local community and attract international talent. Once the new innovation space is open, Palau Sant Jordi and the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys will be the testing ground for disruptive projects and the best place to hold sector-specific events, workshops and gatherings. 

A strategic consortium for the project’s expansion and outreach

The temporary consortium that will manage The Venue Barcelona is made up of four companies that have successfully managed projects in recent years in areas such as the design and promotion of innovation centres, the management of start-up acceleration programmes and the development of results-oriented marketing solutions to position companies and businesses in their growth phase. 

The companies in charge of managing The Venue Barcelona will support the start-ups and resident companies in developing their projects, from conception to launch and even business expansion. 

• The MotherTrees: The MotherTrees will lead the application of the concept of collaborative open innovation within The Venue Barcelona ecosystem. Its ‘Innovation Solution Puzzle’ methodology helps to solve complex challenges quickly and sustainably. This will help to create a collaborative environment between companies, leading to innovations that have a positive impact on the sectors involved and the planet.  
• B-Bruce: B-Bruce is a company that specialises in turning innovative ideas into market-ready products. As part of The Venue Barcelona, it will promote the brand development of the proposals that emerge, with the aim of influencing the audience experience at events and innovating the way they interact with companies and products. 
• Ongoing: Ongoing is a touchstone in the use of data to expand the impact of innovations and scale up projects. From the heart of the Olympic Ring, it will introduce results-based marketing to optimise the concepts and experiences that emerge from the resident companies and start-ups.
• U-Skale: U-Skale is a company that will bring its acceleration expertise to the start-ups and companies at The Venue Barcelona. It will provide the methodology, tools, resources and mentorships needed to create innovative, sustainable business models which make an impact in their sectors. 

The Tibidabo Funicular received this international award in the category of Sustainability, Green Architectural Design and Sustainable Infrastructures

With more than 806,000 users and 19.5% growth in 2023, the Firefly has become the main means of collective transport to reach the Tibidabo Scenic Area, the highest point in the Park, which will reopen to the public on 3 February 

Barcelona’s Cuca de Llum, known as the Firefly in English, was a winner at the prestigious International Design Awards in the category of Sustainability, Green Architectural Design and Sustainable Infrastructures. The award recognises ‘visionary projects’ and highlights both the unique design of the Tibidabo Funicular and its proposal for environmentally responsible collective transport. 

Since its launch in 2021, the Cuca de Llum has become an international benchmark for sustainable design and mobility, winning prestigious international awards such as this International Design Award, the Architizer A+ Award, the DAN Paris Design Award and the LOOP Design Award.  

The Cuca de Llum took on the challenge of replacing Tibidabo Amusement Park’s historic funicular railway, which had been in operation since 1901, with the aim of lowering emissions and encouraging the use of collective transport to reach the mountain peak. 

The project commissioned the Barcelona-based firm MIAS Arquitectes to design a new funicular that would combine unique design with the use of technological solutions to create a benchmark for sustainable mobility. Its creator, the architect Josep Miàs, defines the Cuca de Llum as ‘an example of mobile architecture with design elements in every part’, such as the glass ceilings and transparent benches that afford scenic views throughout the ride. 

Main means of reaching Tibidabo

In addition to its international awards, the Cuca de Llum has grown to become the main collective means of reaching the peak of Tibidabo. In 2023, more than 806,000 users rode the funicular, 19.5% more than in 2022. 

The railway is an essential part of Tibidabo’s sustainability strategy and the main means of transport to reach the Scenic Area, the highest point in the Park, which will reopen to the public on 3 February and can be visited every weekend. The entire Tibidabo Amusement Park will also reopen for the new season on 3 March. 

BSM has completed the selection process for the three food shops that will complete the Balcony’s offer of food and beverage establishments

It has also selected the last of the 11 restaurants that will be located on the Culinary Balcony, completing the creation of a varied, high-quality restaurant offering for different types of clientele, all with a Barcelona flavour

The construction work on the Moll de Gregal quay is entering a decisive phase, making it possible to divine the transformation of the area and the dialogue that it will create between the port’s interior, Nova Icària Beach and the city

Target achieved. Right on schedule, BSM has completed the process of selecting the three shops and the final restaurant to be located on Port Olímpic’s Culinary Balcony, completing the offer in the new 24,000 m2 food and beverage area focused on quality, variety, design and sustainability, which is due to open at the end of this summer.

The three food shops were selected for their ability to offer a range of products that would complement what is on offer in the restaurants. Their interior design and sustainability were also key considerations. They are the Faborit health food shop, the Esferic ice cream shop and the Les Muns pies shop. This means that the Culinary Balcony will also provide services outside the main meal times. It can therefore cater to various customer profiles, especially the area immediately surrounding the port and the sailing community. 

The food shops will be located in three 85 m2 units located on the Culinary Balcony’s lower level, in the squares being built as spacing features between the various restaurants. Placing the shops in these areas will help to transform them into key places of relaxation and leisure, complete with vegetation to improve harmony with the surroundings. The stairs and lifts connecting the city to the port interior will also be located here, improving accessibility. 

In keeping with the architectural approach of the Culinary Balcony as a whole, the shops will all have a distinctive glass façade. This will ensure maximum visibility and transparency of the interior, promoting interaction with port activities.  

Port Olímpic: a varied, high-quality culinary offer with a Barcelona flavour

The last restaurant planned for the Culinary Balcony was also selected this month. The winning restaurant is Vraba, a concept of Catalan cuisine with Asian twists, designed by Grup Aventura, which combines culinary excellence with sustainable practices to create a positive impact through its activities. 

This final selection completes Port Olímpic’s offer of eleven quality restaurants for all types of clientele, making this new, unique restaurant area a reality. The complete list of restaurants forming part of the Culinary Balcony is as follows: 

• Sagardi (World cuisine - innovation)
• El Tribut (World cuisine)
• Pantea by Hermanos Torres (World cuisine)
• Cangrejo Loco (Blue cuisine)
• Super Local (Flexitarian cuisine) 
• La Fonda del Port Olímpic (Catalan cuisine)
• La Barca del Salamanca (Mediterranean cuisine)
• Vraba (Catalan cuisine - fusion)
• Taberna Gallega de Marcos (Seafood)
• Platets (Tapas)
• Casa Carmen (Cafeteria)

Construction work progressing well 

The Culinary Balcony will be a vital part of opening up Port Olímpic to the city and its beaches, and as work on the Moll de Gregal progresses, it’s now possible to imagine the final result. You can now see the upper structure, which will house four of the restaurants and the photovoltaic pergolas, one of the area’s iconic features, which will produce enough energy to cover the consumption of the port and nearby BSM facilities, including Barcelona Zoo. 

You can also see the entrance from Nova Icària Beach, which will allow access to Port Olímpic and the features that enable a dialogue with the beach and the city, including the viewpoints and the connecting stairs and lifts.

Construction work on the Culinary Balcony, with a budget of €20 million, is scheduled for completion in late summer 2024, coinciding with the start of the 37th America’s Cup youth and women’s regattas. 
 

The Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys and the Palau Sant Jordi proved to be essential venues for major national and international tours last year, including those by the likes of Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Harry Styles, Madonna, The Weeknd, Beyoncé and many other artists

Without counting the matches by FC Barcelona, spectator numbers topped 1.5 million, doubling the figure for 2022

The complex consolidated a varied programme catering for all types of audiences: music, sport, social and family events 

Some 30% of concertgoers came from outside Catalonia, confirming the pulling power of the venue and the impact of its activity in Barcelona

Depeche Mode, Bruce Springsteen, Rammstein, Estopa, Maná, Simple Plan, Laura Pausini and Bad Gyal are just some of the artists confirmed for 2024, a year when the complex will continue to host FC Barcelona matches and other sports events such as the Barcelona Universae Indoor Trial and the Women’s Indoor Trial Trophy

The Anella Olímpica (Olympic Ring) closed out 2023 with record figures. The Palau Sant Jordi, the Sant Jordi Club and the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys welcomed over 2.1 million visitors over the last 12 months, tripling the figure for 2022. Activity at the complex has also increased, with 167 events organised there, up by 23% compared to the previous year. These figures reflect the pulling power of the Palau Sant Jordi and the Estadi Olímpic, their positioning on international circuits, the diversity and high quality of their programmes and their accumulated expertise in organising events.  

Concerts were the most common events, accounting for 65% of the programme. Work has also continued to maintain a broad programme of sports, social, family and corporate events.

The Palau Sant Jordi and the Sant Jordi Club were the venues with the most extensive programmes, with 135 events and over a million visitors. For its part, the Estadi Olímpic welcomed 1,091,300 visitors by hosting 9 concerts and 15 football matches. 

The growth in visitors in 2023 set a new record, even disregarding the activity of FC Barcelona. Without counting match attendances, spectator and audience numbers topped 1.5 million, doubling the figure for 2022. 

A varied music programme for all audiences and open to all styles

The complex broke records for attendances and the number of concerts held there in 2023. A total of 1.3 million people enjoyed the 110 music shows held there. Madonna, Elton John, The Who, Iron Maiden and Blink 182 were just some of the international artists to perform there.

The nine concerts held at the Estadi Olímpic last year will also go down in history, drawing 490,000 spectators. The two concerts by Bruce Springsteen, the four by Coldplay (a figure never achieved before) plus those by Beyoncé, Harry Styles and The Weeknd highlight the potential of the Estadi Olímpic as an ideal venue for big world tours.  

Besides major international events, the programme reflected the diversity of audiences that the Anella Olímpica is able to bring together. National artists with long careers behind them performed in the complex, including Joaquín Sabina, Alejandro Sanz, Miguel Ríos and Hombres G, as did new figures with young fan bases, such as Aitana and Quevedo. 

Last year was also a year when urban sounds arrived in force at the Anella, with as many as 17 artists from this genre represented by the likes of Duki, Jay Wheeler, Bad Gyal and Rauw Alejandro.

The complex also provided a stage for Catalan music, with classic artists such as Electrica Dharma, established groups like La Pegatina and emerging urban stars such as 31FAM. 

This broad range of music is also reflected in the audiences it draws. The average age of visitors is 37.5. The most common age ranges were from 25 to 34 and from 45 to 54, accounting for 26% of the total. The third most common age range was 35 to 44 (20%), followed by young people between the ages of 16 and 24 (19%).

In terms of origin, 71% of visitors are from Catalonia (34% of these residing in Barcelona and the metropolitan area), while 21% come from elsewhere in the Spanish state and 7% come from other countries, confirming the pulling power of the Anella and the impact of its activity on the city. By venue, the shows at the Estadi Olímpic attracted the largest numbers of international concertgoers, accounting for 12% of the total.  

Beyond the sphere of music, the complex also hosted family shows such as Disney on Ice, as well as several successful sports events, such as the Indoor Trial, the World Padel Tour and the Kingdom Cup, which between them drew over 67,000 spectators to the Palau Sant Jordi. 

Work has also continued to make this a welcoming space, with a solidarity side to it and a commitment to education. More than 500 people in vulnerable situations enjoyed the activities at the site thanks to the collaboration of Apropa Cultura. 

Notable events in the realm of education included the STEAM Anella days, offering a morning of science activities organised by BSM and the UPC, with over 2,200 young people from 28 secondary schools taking part, plus the 30th anniversary of the big contemporary dance event for schools, Dansa Ara, involving 16,000 primary school pupils, family members and teaching staff. 

In addition to the usual activities at the Anella, FC Barcelona played 15 matches at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, with an accumulated attendance of more than 600,000 spectators. 

First confirmations for 2024

As of today, the Anella Olímpica has 115 events confirmed for 2024, which will be attended by nearly 1.7 million people, including the fans at FC Barcelona games. This volume is set to grow as new dates on this year’s events and activities’ calendar are confirmed. 

Besides hosting FC Barcelona matches, the Estadi Olímpic will maintain its position as a venue for some of the big concerts planned next year in the city. Highlights include two dates announced by Bruce Springsteen, plus the concerts of Estopa and the German band Rammstein. 

In addition, the Palau Sant Jordi and the Sant Jordi Club will be welcoming artists such as Joan Dausà, Simple Plan, Laura Pausini, Bad Gyal, Depeche Mode, Maná, Luis Miguel, Olivia Rodrigo, Viva Suecia, Nil Moliner, Manolo García, Jonas Brothers, Camilo, The Tyets and many others. The Palau will also be hosting sports competitions such as the Barcelona Universae Indoor Trial and the Women’s Indoor Trial Trophy , along with family shows such as Disney on Ice. 

The amusement park has expanded its range of shows and new ride features to attract more visitors

In 2023, Tibidabo held 22 solidarity days and increased its participation in educational programmes like Fisidabo, which attracted 2,600 students in their fourth year of compulsory education (ESO) and baccalaureate

More than 800,000 people rode the Cuca de Llum [Firefly] to the top of Tibidabo, 19.5% more than in 2022. The Tibidabo funicular railway won the Architizer A+ Award for the best sustainable transport project

More than 681,000 people enjoyed Tibidabo’s rides and shows in 2023. This is almost 10% up on 2022. The amusement park also saw an increase in the number of Tibiclub members. Currently, more than 21,600 families have signed up for Tibidabo’s annual passes, 8% more than in 2022. 

Virtual reality also gained a solid foothold in 2023 to augment the experience of rides such as the Roller Coaster, Tibidabo Express and Beyond. The creation of these new experiences reflects the park’s efforts to combine its historical personality with new technologies. 

Tibidabo also continued to offer shows for all audiences. The top hits were Tibidabo classics such as the Krüeger Hotel and the Dididado 4D cinema, which attracted 154,000 and 128,000 spectators respectively. The Marionetarium also welcomed more than 60,000 visitors, while 24,500 children came to meet the park’s mascots, Ti, Bi, Da and Bo. 

A particularly large number of people flocked to the amusement park during the Christmas campaign. More than 92,000 people visited Tibidabo to enjoy its special Christmas programme, with iconic seasonal activities such as the 200 m² sustainable ice rink installed in Plaça dels Somnis, which welcomed more than 12,000 people.

After the Christmas programming, Tibidabo Amusement Park closed the 2023 season and will open its doors again on 2 March.

An educational, socially conscious amusement park

In addition to its leisure activities, Tibidabo’s other strategic areas are education and solidarity. A total of 22 solidarity and education days were held there in 2023. One of the regular activities in its programme is Fisidabo, which allows students to learn about science, technology and the environment. This year it reached record numbers thanks to the participation of more than 2,400 students in their fourth year of compulsory education (ESO) and baccalaureate. 

In the spirit of solidarity, the park held its traditional yearly events, such as Connecta’t al Blau [Connect to Blue], Posa’t la Gorra [Put Your Cap On!], Gran Festa del Cor [Big Heart Festival], Tibidavis and the Cançó de Pau [Song of Peace]. The park also renewed its partnership agreement with UNICEF to defend and promote children’s rights. This agreement, which dates back to 2012, has enabled over 100,000 children in Madagascar and Guinea Bissau to go to school and over a hundred schools to be built.

The Cuca de Llum, an international benchmark in sustainable mobility

In addition to the amusement park’s growth, the Cuca de Llum [Firefly] has strengthened its role as the main way for groups to reach the top of Tibidabo, with more than 806,000 users in 2023, 19.5% more than the year before. These figures are a reflection of the park’s efforts to promote sustainable access to the mountain and its commitment to the environment. 

The Tibidabo funicular railway has also become a global benchmark for green mobility, winning the international Architizer A+ Award for the best sustainable transport project.

The number of visitors rose 10% compared to 2022

The Zoo launched a new educational plan to foster understanding of biodiversity and cemented the success of family activities such as the Nature Passport

It also continued projects to reintroduce various native species, including the Mediterranean pond turtle, the Montseny brook newt and the European polecat, into nature 

The Barcelona Zoo closed out 2023 with a new record number of visitors. A total of 818,288 people visited the park in the past 12 months, the highest figure in the past six years. The records show 10% growth compared to the number of people who came to the Zoo in 2022 and a large increase compared to the 710,000 visits in 2019, prior to the pandemic. This confirms the upward trend in the number of people coming to the Zoo since the launch of the New Zoo Model. 

The response from families has continued to be positive. By the end of 2023, 23,367 households (78,016 individuals) were members of the Zoo Club. These figures stabilise the growth seen since 2021, and the total number of members is 60% above pre-pandemic figures. 

One of the Zoo’s latest features is the Invertebrates area, which opened in the summer of 2022 and attracted more than 200,000 visitors this past year. New activities, such as the dramatised show “The Zoo Elves” have also been hits with audiences. A total of 31,300 people participated in the open, free activities at the Zoo throughout the year. 

The Zoo School also continued to grow in 2023. The attendance figures at the activities for children and schools have risen 3%. A total of 19,000 children participated in experiences such as summer camps at the Zoo, school visits and workshops, and birthdays. This includes the 632 adolescents in the first and second years of compulsory secondary education (ESO) in Barcelona and its metropolitan area who participated in the second edition of STEAM Zoo, a project organised together with BSM and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – BarcelonaTech with the goal of promoting careers in science. 

Finally, the Nature Passport, created in the summer of 2022 to encourage understanding of the planet’s biodiversity among children in the Zoo Club, has also cemented its popularity. A total of 6,761 people had fun with this programme in 2023. 

“2023 was very positive for the Zoo in terms of both projects and visitors,” says Laia Bonet, First Deputy Mayor and president of the Barcelona Zoo Foundation. “The growth it has seen in recent years is thanks to its significant community outreach work to build relationships with visitors and keep them coming back. The widespread popularity of its activities, especially for families, attest to this.” 

A new educational plan for primary and secondary schools 

As part of Barcelona Zoo’s process of becoming a leading centre for conserving biodiversity and promoting respect for nature and the environment, it has launched a new series of educational activities targeted at primary and secondary schools. The programming, which got underway in academic year 2023-2024, includes seven participatory, experiential activities that chiefly seek to reconnect students with nature and influence their habits. 

This new educational package has come with the launch of new educational spaces, specifically a new multipurpose room, a laboratory and two classrooms. Ludo Zoo, a place where families visiting the Zoo can discover the planet’s biodiversity through books, games and other materials, also opened in 2023, and has been highly popular. 

Research and conservation, key themes at the new Zoo 

The Zoo’s commitment to preserving endangered species extends beyond its walls. In 2023, it contributed to around 30 projects for the conservation of endangered specimens and habitats, through its participation in various projects, including the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria’s (EAZA) Endangered Species Programme. Furthermore, the Barcelona Zoo Foundation has awarded eight grants to young researchers to conduct projects focused primarily on studying native Mediterranean fauna and ecosystems. A total of 71,219 euros is earmarked for these projects.  

One highlight of these conservation efforts has been the birth of two blue-throated macaws (Ara glaucogularis) at the Barcelona Zoo for the first time. This species, originally from Bolivia, is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered. Another highlight has been the birth of a Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), a local bird that is also endangered and that the Barcelona Zoo has been working to save for many years.

In parallel, projects to reintroduce different native species into nature have continued. These species include the Mediterranean pond turtle (Mauremys leprosa), the Hermann’s turtle (Testudo hermanni), the Montseny brook newt (Calotriton arnoldi), the Spanish toothcarp (Aphanius Iberus), the Majorcan midwife toad (Alytes muletensis), the European polecat (Mustela putorius) and the hermit ibis (Geronticus eremita). 

In 2023, the Barcelona Zoo Foundation and Borneo Nature Foundation strengthened their partnership to conserve the natural habitat of orangutans in Borneo, Indonesia. The Zoo also served as a veterinary advisor at the international conference, held in Indonesia, on caring for and maintaining Komodo dragons. 

As for animal welfare, the Zoo continues to constantly improve its facilities and care for the animals it houses, work it carries out in collaboration with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

The agreement is a double pilot test that will allow Silence and SEAT MÓ to install battery swapping stations for electric motorcycles in three BSM car parks, thus promoting more sustainable, planned urban mobility  

The pilot tests are part of EIT Urban Mobility’s ECOSWAP project, which depends on the European Union, while the Silence test is also part of the eCharge4Drivers project, which has received European funding

The project is yet another step forward in BSM’s mission to transform its car parks into service hubs with a concentration of urban mobility solutions that meet citizens’ new needs

The Aparcaments BSM network is the most extensive in Barcelona, with 44 car parks distributed throughout the city’s districts and neighbourhoods. Now it is taking a further step in its commitment to transforming its car parks into mobility service hubs that go far beyond vehicle parking. Barcelona de Serveis Municipals (BSM) has launched a double pilot test with Silence and SEAT MÓ to assess the possibility of developing a network of battery swapping stations for electric motorcycles. 

The project, which is another way of promoting sustainable and planned urban mobility, is being carried out in the BSM Cotxeres de Sarrià, BSM Pl. Navas and BSM Gràcia Motos car parks, where battery swapping stations have been installed for these two brands’ electric motorcycles, which use the same removable batteries. 

At these battery swapping points, users of these vehicles who are registered in the shared battery system (Silence) or who have rented a motorcycle (SEAT MÓ) can take a charged battery and leave the depleted one, thus avoiding the waiting time for recharging.

Battery swapping stations are exclusively for these two manufacturers’ motorcycle models. When a user detects a low charge, they can locate the nearest swapping station and reserve a battery on the Battery Station mobile app, which is compatible with both brands. Once there, they deposit their depleted battery at the swapping station and grab a fully charged one. 

These two pilot tests, promoted by BSM, will last one year. Both are part of EIT Urban Mobility’s ECOSWAP project, an initiative of the EU’s European Institute of Innovation and Technology, and the Silence test is also part of the eCharge4Drivers programme, a project co-funded by the European Union as part of the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, in which Barcelona is participating through BSM. 

Aparcaments BSM, a promoter of new urban mobility 

The aim of BSM is to improve the quality of life for people by creating positive experiences to build a healthy and innovative Barcelona. One of its goals is to contribute to the drive for more sustainable, planned, connected and shared mobility. 

The company is currently in the process of gradually transforming the car parks in its network into spaces that go beyond vehicle parking to include new urban mobility services and solutions, always with the user in mind. 

These changes respond to new social habits and needs related to the transition to e-mobility and the expansion of new forms of personal mobility, and their common denominator is digitalisation and the use of new technologies. 

EIT Urban Mobility 

EIT Urban Mobility is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a European Union body. It aims to provide innovative solutions and accelerate the transition to a truly multimodal, integrated and user-centred transport system. It is also Europe’s leading urban mobility innovation community, working to foster collaboration between cities, businesses, education, research and innovation to solve cities’ most pressing needs. 

One of the projects it is spearheading is ECOSWAP, in conjunction with SEAT MÓ. This is a consortium comprised of manufacturers, local organisations, institutions and cities that are seeking to improve electric motorcycle mobility in cities and make it more efficient. Specifically, they are working to develop a sustainable system of fast-charging, swappable batteries that would allow people to purchase an electric motorcycle without a battery. Further information here.  

eCharge4Drivers

The eCharge4Drivers project is co-funded by the European Union as part of the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme to promote new technological solutions for charging electric batteries in cities. It has around 30 partners across Europe, including Barcelona, which participates through BSM.  

Silence

Silence is ACCIONA’s brand of electric vehicles. The company uses its own proprietary technology to develop zero-emission motorcycles and cars with swappable batteries. In 2022, Silence was the European leader in electric motorcycle sales for the fourth consecutive year. The brand closed the financial year with a 22.7% market share. Silence is about to launch the S04, a small two-seater urban car that also uses swappable batteries.

SEAT MÓ

In 2020, SEAT MÓ was unveiled as SEAT’s new business unit responsible for selling micromobility products and mobility services. It has launched onto the market two electric kickscooters (SEAT MÓ 25 and 65) and three electric motorcycles (SEAT MÓ 125, SEAT MÓ 125 performance and SEAT MÓ 50). It also offers electric scooter and motorcycle subscription services, as well as a motosharing service in Barcelona, with the Barcelona City Council responsible for the licences. Continuous innovation in products, services and new business models is one of the company’s missions in its bid to accelerate the change to personal, sustainable electric mobility.

The event attracted more than 2,800 people to the park, with Third Deputy Mayor Albert Batlle; the head of communications at UNICEF Catalonia, Laia Ruich; Sister Lucia Caram; the businessman Enrique Tomàs; and the children’s story writer Anna Lauradó participating as peace ambassadors

Tibidabo attracted more than 2,800 people for the 26^th edition of the Cançó de Pau (Song of Peace), the well-known fundraising sing-along organised together with UNICEF, which was held at the park this Wednesday. With the slogan “We all want peace; we want no more wars”, the event calls for peace around the world and aims to foster values such as tolerance, caring and respect among children. 

The event was held at Plaça dels Somnis with Third Deputy Mayor Albert Batlle; the head of communications at UNICEF Catalonia, Laia Ruich; Sister Lucia Caram; the businessman Enrique Tomàs; and the children’s story writer Anna Lauradó participating as peace ambassadors.

Children were able to write their messages and wishes in the Tibidabo Book of Peace, which the ambassadors shared with the audience. 

Agreement with UNICEF 

The Cançó de Pau is part of the fundraising events hosted by Tibidabo Amusement Park throughout the year. It is part of the agreement between the park and UNICEF, in place since 2012, which aims to promote awareness of children’s rights and contribute to UNICEF’s education, survival and protection programmes around the world.

Christmas at Tibidabo 

The Cançó de Pau is one of the iconic events on Tibidabo’s Christmastime calendar of activities. Until 5 January, visitors to the park can enjoy new features. such as the 200 m² sustainable ice rink installed in the Plaça dels Somnis, which 6,500 people have enjoyed so far. 

In addition to the ice rink, Tibidabo’s Christmas programming also includes other activities for all audiences, including new 4D films, the new puppet show Marionetarium de Nadal and surprises for visitors to the Krüeger Hotel. 

14 students are participating in the internships that will conclude the first edition of a free course co-organised by BSM, Barcelona Activa and the Institut Barcelona Nàutica

The project aims to address the sector’s need for qualified professionals, and dovetails with the Port Olímpic’s efforts to become a space that promotes nautical activity and the blue sectors

Barcelona has more than 1,100 companies working within the blue economy which employ more than 15,800 people

These days, the Port Olímpic is hosting internships for the first graduating class of the free course on seamanship at marinas led by BSM, Barcelona Activa and the Institut Barcelona Nàutica. A total of 14 people participated in this training, which kicked off last September. After 305 hours of theoretical sessions, the students are now completing their practical training, supervised by 10 sailors from the Port Olímpic, who are equipping them with the notions needed to work in a marina. 

During the internships, for the first time the students will actually perform some of the marina seamanship work covered in the theoretical training, such as vessel maintenance tasks, mooring, tending to the crews and manoeuvring vessels within the port facilities. 

The launch of the first certification programme for marina seamanship attracted a great deal of interest. More than 150 people submitted applications in the first round, which was targeted at unemployed individuals interested in career transitions towards the nautical sector. 

A growing sector

The course helps students access what is a growing sector, especially with Barcelona hosting the upcoming America’s Cup. The city currently has more than 1,100 companies working within the blue economy which employ more than 15,800 people. Employment and training are the two core areas in the strategy to project the blue economy in Barcelona.  

In fact, the first edition hasn’t even concluded yet, and the course has already attracted the interest of other ports, which have expressed their willingness to host future participants. The project is in line with the Port Olímpic’s goal of becoming the epicentre of sea-related economic, sport and social activities in Barcelona and addressing the sector’s needs for qualified professionals. 

An urban port committed to developing sea-related activities

With this ambition, the Port Olímpic continues working to create the first hub of blue-economy companies in the city around the Moll de Mestral quay and the Dic de Recer sea wall, where work is underway to transform approximately 50 venues to host businesses.

At the same time, the Municipal Sailing Centre is being renovated according to efficiency, sustainability and accessibility criteria with the goal of increasing its services and activities to make them available to the general public.

Similarly, the Port Olímpic is working to strengthen the nautical community in its facilities and to promote or support new regattas, nautical gatherings and marine outreach activities.

The Port Olímpic will also play an important role during the America’s Cup in 2024, hosting the youth and women’s regattas, which will take place for the first time in the Cup’s history.