Everything You Need to Know About Park Guell

Park Guell is Barcelona’s most spectacular park. Designed by Antoni Gaudi and like the Sagrada Familia, the park is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sitting up in the hills behind the hip neighborhood of Gracia, this stunning park is another of Gaudi’s crowning architectural achievements. It is a massive year-round attraction and boasts some of the best views in Barcelona.

The man behind the park

Like the Sagrada Familia, many people credit Park Guell to Antoni Gaudi. And, while this is half true, the Catalan architect did design the place, after all, the idea for the park was not his. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why its called Park Guell and not Park Gaudi? That’s because the man who actually conceived of the park was Eusebi Guell.

Eusebi Guell: A Brief History

Eusebi Guell, born in 1846, was the son of wealthy businessman Joan Guell. Joan, originally from Tarragon, made his fortune in Cuba before returning to Spain and settling in Barcelona. Here, he raised his family and operated several more very successful businesses in the textile industry, including one of the first-ever corduroy factories. The families wealth would see Eusebi pass through some of the most prestigious schools in Spain, England, and France and his father’s entrepreneurial spirit would prove hereditary.

When Guell met Gaudi for the first time in 1878, Gaudi was exhibiting his work at the World Fair in Paris. Guell was an admirer of great architecture and found Gaudi’s work hugely impressive, The two, who were both devout Christians and shared many other similar interests, became fast friends and a personal and professional relationship took shape.

Soon a partnership formed and Guell and Gaudi would work on many projects together with Gaudi bringing to life Guell’s ideas. One of the earliest projects that the two would work together, in 1890, was a workers colony, inspired by those that existed in Britain at the time. This is probably the earliest evidence of the creative spark the two shared.

Some years later Guell would buy land that sat just outside of Barcelona in what was at the time the independent village of Gracia. Guell had what was to be one of his biggest ideas yet and approached Gaudi to consult him. The entrepreneur wanted to build a modern housing project like no other. Inspired by British garden city movement, he would call it Park Guell, and it would be a home for the wealthy Barcelonins who wished to live removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. It would come complete with its own market, theatre, and the public square.

Although Gaudi set about designing the park and building parts of it, the project would never secure any investors. And, with no money, the park eventually fell through. The one model home that was constructed would end up being bought by Gaudi.

Guell died in 1918, but his legacy lives on through the fantastic architecture of Barcelona.

What is there to see?

Park Guell has two visiting areas. The “Free Access Zone” is free of charge and open to the public and makes for a pleasant walk. However, to enjoy the bulk of Gaudi’s architectural genius, you will want to buy tickets of the “Monumental Zone.” In here you will find…

The Dragon

The minute you walk through Park Guell’s main entrance, you are greeted by “El Drac” or the Dragon. This fierce-looking, a mosaiced dragon sits perched on a staircase and makes for a fantastic photo.

Hypostyle Room

Continue up up the stairs, and you hit the Hypostyle Room. This was built to serve as the Park’s covered market. It consists of 86 sturdy columns that reach up to a tiled ceiling formed by many small domes.

Placa de la Natura

Without a doubt, the most iconic part of Park Guell is the Placa de la Natura. Guell and Gaudi had envisioned this part of the park to serve as a large open-air theatre where performances could be put on. The mosaiced bench that stretches along one side of it is hugely impressive and gives way to one of the best views in all of Barcelona.

Gaudi House Museum

Gaudi bought the only model home built on the site and moved into it with his family. Now it is a museum that you can visit. Ironically, Gaudi did not design the house. Instead, the architect was Francesc Berenguer I Mestres.

When and How to Visit

Park Guell is open year-round with opening hours depending on the season.

Only 400 people are allowed within the park at any one time. When you buy a ticket, you are allocated an entrance time. This is generally a 30-minute window. If you do not enter the park within you assigned entry time you will be denied entrance and have to get a new ticket.

You can take a self-guided tour park or a guided tour. Guided tours provide you with a slew of information and interesting insights, whereas a self-guided tour is a more peaceful and introspective experience.

Generally, allow yourself a full morning or afternoon to explore all the park has to offer.

Source: DoTravel