Barcelona Weekend Break

Park Guell

Gaudi did not just confine his ideas to buildings, he also explored his flamboyant approach to design in this popular city park.

The Park Guell is located on the hill of "el Camel", just outside of the city, and was intended to be a complete living complex with houses, shops and all the necessities of life. It was built between 1900 and 1914.

The original scheme was to model the "village" on similar approaches that were popular with some of the more enlightened mill owners and social benefactors in England. The finance (and scheme concept) was supplied by Count Guell.

A major difference (and ultimately a flaw) of this idea compared to the English version, was that the estate was to be commercial, appeal to the moneyed classes, and transfer city centre living to a more rural alternative.

Ultimately, the concept was never realized (mainly because of financial reasons – it was not well received), but the park element was completed and shows off Gaudi’s unusual flair in a different setting.

The park was given to the city of Barcelona in 1923 when it became municipal property and open to all.

Like all parks, this one is a haven and getaway, but it also has Gaudi’s distinctive touch which is first seen in the form of the buildings at the parks entrance. The Gaudi elements continue with strangely shaped stairs, columns, walls and folly type structures appearing where you expect and do not expect them to be.

High points of the park are the main terrace with the famous "sea serpent" bench and most visitors also spot various pieces of symbolism that relate to nationalism (of the local kind), religion and the mosaics and animal likenesses. There is also a dragon at the park’s entrance that was infamously vandalised in February of 2007 (it has since been repaired).

The park also has a house in which Gaudi lived for over 20 years. Strangely the home was not designed by Gaudi, but in every other way his mark is imprinted on this unique area of land.

In addition to the parks Gaudi connections, it also offers stunning views of Barcelona’s city and bay and warrants a visit in its own right.

Tourist information

Summer opening is normally from 10.00am to 8.00pm.

you can reach the summit of the park courtesy of a moving staircase and this allows you to take a leisurely stroll all the way down whilst enjoying the park and city views.