During our four days in Barcelona, we managed to fit in 4 of Gaudi’s most popular works: Casa Mila, Casa Batllo, La Sagrada Familia, and Park Guell. Each was different and whimsical in its own way, but Park Guell really captured me with its story and atmosphere.
What is Park Guell?
Fun fact: Park Guell was supposed to be a residential neighborhood for Barcelona’s bourgeoise! The richest man in Barcelona at the time (Eusebi Guell) wanted to create a unique park for 60 elaborate residences. So he hired the in-demand architect Antoni Gaudi to design something like Spain had never seen!
Unfortunately, the project was a failure due to how far it was from the city center. Despite the cleaner air and beautiful views, none of Barcelona’s elite wanted to drive so far into town, so Park Guell was abandoned and eventually turned into a public park.
But that failure is good news for us modern-day tourists! Not only are the architectural elements stunning, but the park is a gorgeous place to wander around with an incredible view of Barcelona off in the distance.
If you want a break from the city’s bustle without leaving the city, Park Guell is the place to go!
Tour or Self-Guided Visit?
I highly recommend booking a tour of Park Guell while you’re in Barcelona! You can visit on your own, of course, but our guided tour helped us understand so much more about the park’s history and intent.
We booked an English tour with Julia Travel through Viator, and we couldn’t have been happier with the service. We were each given a small radio with headphones that allowed us to hear our guide clearly, regardless of how far we were from her or how loud the atmosphere got.
The tour took us through the most significant parts of Park Guell and gave us the fascinating details behind the architecture and plans. This lasted about 90 minutes, and we learned so much! Afterward, we were free to go back and explore everything again at our own pace and hit a few places that weren’t on the tour.
Learn More About Our Park Guell Adventure on YouTube!
Highlights of Park Guell
You could easily spend a whole morning or afternoon strolling through all the hidden paths and curated gardens of Park Guell, but you don’t have to in order to see the highlights. However, you’ll definitely be glad if you do set aside the time to wander around.
Porter’s Cottages
On the south side of Park Guell, you’ll find the main entrance that looks onto the iconic stairway and hypostyle. Two whimsical cottages flank the gates, each topped with a unique mosaic roof. These were originally meant to be the porter’s lodges, with one serving as the waiting room and the other as his personal residence. Now, one is part of the Barcelona History Museum, and the other serves as a small gift shop for park visitors.
Viaducts
One of my favorite elements of the park was the stone viaducts winding up the hill. These fascinating pathways were created to make a clear path for carriages to get around. However, many parts also double as covered walkways for pedestrians below, and they provide incredible views of Barcelona from the upper levels!
These viaducts also serve as miniature gardens, with plenty of plants and alcoves scattered along the route and even some scenic “balconies” where you can step out to see the view more clearly.
Nature Square
One of the park’s most iconic areas is the Greek Theatre (aka Nature Square). This large, sand-covered area is enclosed by mosaic-tiled benches in a full rainbow of colors, and the southern side offers one of the best views of the porter’s cottages and Barcelona in the distance.
This area was originally intended to host large social gatherings, including open-air shows, for the residents. But it had another fascinating function: water filtration! Gaudi designed the square to gather and filter water through the sand, down the columns into the Hypostyle Room below, where it would be stored to provide residents with clean drinking water. How cool!
Fun fact: The mosaic benches were created with used pottery shards, which means Gaudi was well ahead of his time in using recycled materials!
The Hypostyle Room
Below the courtyard, you’ll find the Hypostyle Room, with its impressive collection of columns and mosaic works. In addition to storing clean water, this area was meant to double as a marketplace for residents.
The ceiling here is also particularly fascinating because it has many small little domes decorated with mosaics. It’s very unique, even in Gaudi’s world.
Dragon Stairway
Another of the park’s most iconic sites is the Dragon Stairway. These stairs lead up to the Hypostyle Room in four segments, 3 of which contain fountains that would originally have been fed with water from the Hypostyle Room’s overflow.
The most famous of these fountains is the Dragon (or Salamander) Fountain. This gorgeous mosaic work ties in with the many “dragons” that you’ll hear of and see around Barcelona. You’ll almost always find a crowd gathered around this fountain, waiting to get a picture taken. However, there is some debate about whether Gaudi intended it to be a dragon or a fancy salamander.
Closing Thoughts on Park Guell
If you have any extra time, I highly recommend that you walk up the viaducts and explore the park beyond the main buildings and attractions. There are many garden and forest paths to enjoy, and you’ll get to see Barcelona from several stunning angles, as well as the gorgeous residence up on the hill. The paths range from wide and even to rocky woodland trails, so make sure you have good shoes and watch your step–especially as you go downhill.
As you explore, you’ll also come across many street vendors with blankets set up with small trinkets, from magnets to wooden whistles to cold water bottles. These are not “official” Guadi souvenirs, but they do work as fun and inexpensive Barcelona memorabilia.
Finally, keep your head up! Park Guell is home to many adorable parakeets who nest in the palm trees! If you listen and watch closely, you’ll undoubtedly see a few hopping around on the branches and hanging upside down from their nest entrances.
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out the rest of the blogs in my Barcelona series!
- Montserrat: A Guide to the Highest Point in Barcelona
- Mataro, Barcelona: A Relaxing Getaway on the Mediterranean Sea
- The Best Barcelona Bucketlist for First-Time Visitors
- What You Need to Know Before Visiting La Sagrada Familia
I’ll be adding more content throughout 2023, so be sure to subscribe to the blog if you’d like to be updated when a new post drops.
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Feel free to drop any questions (or comments) you have in the comment section below–I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks and happy travels!
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