Torre de Collserola is a great feat of engineering. Built to improve the telecommunications system with a view the Olympic Games in Barcelona, it was opened in June 1992. It was designed by the prestigious architect sir Norman Foster and included collaboration from the Ove Arup & Partners studio for the technical details.

Building a tower in the air 

The tower was built in just two years. The hardest task was to raise the different levels, through the central concrete axis, to the initial height of 77 metres. The final height of the tower is 288 metres. It has 13 floors and on the tenth floor is the lookout point, open weekends, which is accessed via a panoramic lift.

The lookout point, which stands 560 meters above sea level, offers visitors a 360º view and up to 70 kilometres of visibility. From this point you can make out the massif of Montserrat and, on really clear days, the Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park in the foothills of the Pyrenees.

But what is really impressive is the view over  Barcelona, a tapestry of buildings in which the Eixample grid is easy to identify. To the south, the mountain of Montjuïc stands as a natural border. Behind is the region of Baix Llobregat. To the north, the Besós river and the prelitoral mountain range herald the Maresme coast. Ahead, the city spills out towards the sea, where you can make out the tiny silhouettes of the Mapfre Tower and the Hotel Arts, which herald the Olympic Village. Today they are also accompanied by the sail-shaped silhouette of the Hotel W Barcelona, in the port.

Collserola, a park to be discovered 

Right next to Torre de Collserola is the Tibidabo amusement park, one of the best loved places of many local residents. In addition to fun for all the family (the Automaton Museum is not to be missed), it also offers impressive views over Barcelona. All this whilst riding on attractions such as La Atalaya (the watch tower) or El Avión (the aeroplane), which have been in operation since the 1920s.

The tower and the amusement park are situated in the Collserola Park, a protected area that covers nine municipalities and stretches almost as far as Sabadell and Tarrasa. The area is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, archaeological remains, and castles and lookout points, such as those in Arrabassada, Montbau or Sarrià, at the foot of the cable car which leads to the Tibidabo amusement park.

From the cable car station, you can take the famous Tranvía Blau (blue tram), which returns tourists to the hustle and bustle of Barcelona. At the final stop, number 1 Avenida del Tibidabo, you will find one of the best restaurants in Barcelona, Àbac Restaurant (Awarded 2 Soles by Repsol). Its creator, chef Xavi Pellicer, trained with Santi Santamaría, achieves an exceptional quality, with delicacies such as the red mullet and bloody mary bonbon or steamed coconut cake. Not far from here is the Tram-Tram restaurant (Awarded 1 Sol by Repsol), so named in honour of another tram which is no longer running. The establishment is located in a big old house in the Sarrià district and serves dishes which include cazuelita de cocochas (cod cheek casserole).