‘Weird and wonderful’ European theme park opens brand new ride with 360 views of city break destination
DAREDEVILS have been invited to have an “unforgettable” and “magical” experience on a new ride that has opened at a lesser-known European theme park.
Tibidabo Park overlooks Barcelona from high up on top of a hill that towers over the city.
Its collection of rides has been described as both “weird and wonderful” and its views over the city are breathtaking.
It’s Europe’s third oldest theme park and one of its best, according to Do Travel Mag, who revealed that Walt Disney liked the park so much, he even tried to buy it.
They said: “This remarkable funfair overlooking the city of Barcelona is considered one of the best theme parks in Europe.
“Tibidabo is known and loved for its weird and wonderful rides, breathtaking views and place in history.
“Even Walt Disney recognised its charm. In 1957 he offered to buy its collection from the Automata Museum, for any price! Yet he was turned down.”
Now, Tibidabo Park is home to a brand new attraction that, like some of the others at the unique funfair, also offers a great view out over Barcelona.
Over the weekend Merli was launched for the first time, giving people the chance to ride the new attraction.
The park has labelled it “the the tallest magic wand” and claimed it “will be visible from all over the city of Barcelona“.
Its name refers to the name of the wizard Merlí, or Merlin, and is a vertical drop tower ride.
From the very top, it looks out over the city from 170ft in the air, offering those on it amazing views of the sea and the landscape before they plummet down to the ground.
A video shared on the park’s Instagram page shows those who were among the first to ride it.
Other theme park fans reacted, saying they were planning their visits.
One wrote: “I’m already looking forward to getting on! Spectacular!”
Another simply added: “What a beast.”
Use these tips on your next theme park trip
Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.
- Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
- Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer – this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
- Download the park’s app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
- Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out “birthday badges” that can get you freebies.
- If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.
It’s far from the only ride at Tibidabo Park to provide guests with a fantastic view of Barcelona.
L’Embruixabruixes, or “The Sorceress” was the first major ride at the park, and sees riders go on a “flying carpet” through two dark sections, as well as an outdoor part above the treetops.
Another of the park’s most famous rides is Avio – a small red plane that “transports you like a giant bird over an amazing backdrop and you will feel as if you are flying in a real plane” according to a review of the ride from when it first opened in 1928.
The plane is a replica of the first aircraft to fly from Barcelona to Madrid and is even powered by its own propeller.
Other classic fairground staples like a carousel, bumper cars and a haunted house can be found, while the red rollercoaster Muntaya is another family favourite.
However, many people visit the park to ride on the Ferris wheel and Talaia, or “lookout” in Basque.
The latter of the two lifts riders in a giant bucket to a pinnacle of 1,808ft above sea level, providing the best viewpoint in the park.
That peak is almost matched by the big wheel, which has a high point only slightly lower down.
Meanwhile, this huge new European theme park is set to open with 50 attractions and viking and mermaid-themed lands.
And these five theme parks are alternatives to Disneyland.
