As well as having a thoroughly entertaining job, Anna and I work in a pretty amazing place; if you’ve never visited Barcelona’s Parc del Forum, you should. The Forum is a 30-hectare urban park on the coast of Barcelona, built by the Catalan government for the 141-day Universal Forum of Cultures in 2004. In addition to the large public spaces that make up the park, it is home to a multitude of events, activities and facilities, including a circus school, diving lessons, Port Forum, international conferences, sporting events, music festivals and of course, SphereMania® Barcelona.
As parks go, the Forum is definitely on the strange side, but is all the better for it. Those in search of trees, grass and picnic benches should head elsewhere! With the exception of the “fingers”, artificial grass-covered inclines (one of which serves as our runway) the park is made almost entirely of concrete. Fortunately, this is far more attractive than it sounds, with some beautiful landscaping crowned by an enormous solar panel structure, reputedly the largest in Europe.
Our favourite part of the Forum is the “zona de baños” or bathing area – a large area of the sea which has been ‘reclaimed’ for use as an outdoor swimming pool. Skirted by comfy wooden decking, it’s ideal for those who love the sea but aren’t such big fans of sand. Personally, we’ve found there’s no better lunch break than a quick swim followed by an hour’s siesta while drying in the sun! Those who prefer a traditional beach can simply take the footbridge over the Port del Forum, as a five-minute stroll delivers you to the secluded and peaceful beach of Sant Adria de Besos.
Active types and thrill-seekers are also provided for at the Forum, with attractions including SphereMania® Barcelona, el Bosc Urba (the Urban Forest, a Go-Ape-like centre where the obstacles are strung not between trees, but concrete pillars) and Barcelona Jet Ski. The park’s open areas, with their swathes of smooth concrete and rolling hills, are a magnet to riders of every kind of wheeled board, skate and cycle imaginable.
So… if you fancy trying Sphereing®, or even if you don’t, why not pack up your sun lotion and your swimsuit and take a trip to the Forum? Watch this space for updates on the latest events in the park!
