From my dear friend the Casino de la Rabassada, which I’m very fond of and visit devotedly every now and then, you can easily reach two fountains: the Font de la Rabassada, which was part of the casino’s gardens, and, a few metres further on, the Font d’en Ribas, one of the prettiest fountains in Collserola. You can also reach these fountains along other forest paths.

Font d'en Ribas, Collserola

This fountain, built in 1909 in the Catalan Art Nouveau (Modernisme) style, was made for what should have been the house of Lluís Ribas, one of the largest fortunes in Barcelona at the time, who, as their nephew, had inherited the legacy of the brothers Rossend, Frederic and Lluís Regodosa. For this project he brought in the architect Emili Sala i Cortès. But he died without heirs, so his mansion was never finished. All that was ever built, and can still be seen today, is a viaduct, the foundations that the forest has slowly been swallowing up, and the beautiful fountain, surrounded by greenery and damp, which the sun’s rays barely reach. It’s also said that it wasn’t a house he wanted to build but a hotel, seeing a business opportunity in being right next to the Casino’s grand hotel.