Park Güell

Overview

Park Guell can arguably be described as one of the most fascinating and impressive parks in the world. It is located in the beautiful city of Barcelona and is a privatized park system which is composed of gardens and a variety of architectural elements designed by the world renown architect Antonio Gaudi. It is located on Carmel Hell which belongs to the mountain range of Collserola in the Barcelonian neighborhood of La Salut in the district of Gràcia.

The park was built from 1900 to 1914 and officially opened to the public in 1926. The park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984 under the "Works of Antoni Gaudí".

It was here that Gaudi could let his imagination loose as Eusebi Güell hired Gaudi to do so. Within the park Gaudi shaped nature into colonnades, archways and covered galleries. He also camouflaged many artificial structures and integrated many visual pieces like simulating palm-tree trunks as columns, quilts of ceramic tiles and so forth.

An elegant gazebo is made of angle iron - cheap to manufacture, good looking, doesn't lie about its material, but its shape gently bends like a climbing vine.

At the center is the planned market hall, a majestic forest of fluted columns. Its roof forms a huge terrace overlooking the city.

Surrounded by an undulating continuous bench, the back of which forms a railing, and the entire surface is covered with pottery pieces of various colors, some randomly arranged and some patterned.

For a stone bench, this seat is exceptionally comfortable: Gaudí had a worker remove his pants and sit in soft plaster to trace the correct anatomical curves—a half-century forerunner of the science of ergonomics.

Beyond the entrance, a smiling dragon creeps down the center of the split staircase.

The kids love it, and few adult visitors can resist patting the animals on the head - the spirit of the park is there. Park Güell is one of Barcelona's most famous landmarks.

Any day, especially weekends, you can see hordes of tourists and locals staring in awe at the gingerbread gatehouse and taking pictures of the giant ceramic lizards/dragons on the steps leading up to the hillside.

Below is the reservoir of the park fountain. Above is a patio lined with organic tile-covered benches that are ergonomically designed to fit the backs of construction site workers.

Overall the park is a spectacular work by Antoni Gaudí located in the upper part of Barcelona, which has wonderful views of the city. You'll be able to enjoy a fantastic green walk surrounded by a modernist works. There is a playground for younger children on the right side from the entrance area. Within the park you will also find a picnic area, the aqueducts, and plenty of room to sit and enjoy the city views.

Alternative activities to see Parc Guell: