The Barcelona Zoological Park first opened its gates on the Day of the Mercè, patron saint of Barcelona, 1892. The collection of animals on show there came from a private collection kept by Lluis Marti i Codolar at La Granja Vella, his estate in Horta. He offered the animals to Barcelona City Council, and the mayor, Manuel Porcar, gave his approval to their purchase and the subsequent move to the publicly-owned site that was left vacant in Ciutadella Park after the 1888 Universal Exposition. The zoo ranks among the top zoos in Spain.
