By Ashley Hearn
Barcelona is blessed with amazing architecture, thanks to Antoni Gaudí. The late Catalan architect’s irreplicable style is ingrained throughout the city, enticing visitors from all over the world to experience the unique blend of colors, textures and themes found in his work.
One of his most notorious projects is Park Güell, where a stroll through impressive greenery and enchanting architecture feels like walking through a fairytale.
Embedded in El Carmel’s hillside you’ll find this eclectic space that’s mentioned as a must-see in every Barcelona visiting guide.
A Flourishing Failure
Every year 12 million visitors enjoy Park Güell’s grounds, yet the marvelous Mediterranean views and lush landscaping cherished today weren’t always meant to be shared.
What is now Barcelona’s most treasured green space would have had a Hollywood Hills-esque aura of exclusivity and allure if entrepreneur Eusebi Güell’s vision came to fruition.
At the turn of the 20th century, Güell commissioned Gaudí to create a residential neighborhood fit for the city’s most elite. Inspired by England's garden city movement, Güell thought this space would become an oasis for wealthy households looking to escape the Catalan capital’s bustling city center.
He was wrong.
The project had a promising start, yet its popularity never peaked. To both the architect and patron’s dismay, construction halted in 1914 and the project was abandoned. Only two out of the 60 luxury homes were completed, one of which Gaudí would live in until his death in 1926.
Despite failing at its original purpose, the winding trails and earth-like architecture Gaudí poured his heart into would not go unused. Following Güell’s death, the unfinished development was sold to the city and opened as a municipal park almost a century ago.
Today, Park Güell is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting millions of art lovers and adventures wishing to admire the work of one of the world’s most acclaimed architects.
The Park's Pride and Joys
Nature was Gaudi’s muse and in the case of Park Güell, his architectural playground. As an appreciator of the natural world, he wanted to preserve the integrity of the land. Instead of leveling all of El Carmel hill to build, he embraced the topography.
For parkgoers, this means making sure you’re wearing a good pair of walking shoes.
That’s advice Hannah, a University of Georgia student studying abroad, said she wish she had known before exploring the park’s grounds.
“When I hear the word park, I was thinking low, flat areas,” she said. “Not anything like this.”
The park's winding trails and walkways is estimated to take a minimum of two hours to explore.
Park Güell is expansive, with its two zones covering over 40 acres. The Monumental Zone is where you'll want to go to experience eccentric Catalan Modernisme architecture. With the purchase of a €10 ticket, you'll see vivid tiles, themes of nature and religion, and dynamic shapes that will leave you amazed at the artistic mind of Gaudí.
You should carve out an entire afternoon to explore Barcelona’s more prominent park, trying to take in the grandeur of these following pieces of abstract architecture:
The Dragon Staircase
If you enter through Park Güell's main entrance, you'll be greeted by a busy staircase boasting flowers and fountains.
The white stairs conjoin to create a grand walk-up to a columned pavilion, known as the Hypostyle Room. As you make your way up, you’ll see three landings with fountains that are perfect for a picture opportunity.
Arguably the most whimsical part of the park is paying a visit to El Drac, the very animal the staircase is named after. The lizard’s electric colors are thanks to a style known as trencadís, which is the method of using broken tiles Gaudí trailblazed.
Katherine, a first-time Barcelona visitor from Austria, made her way to El Drac as soon as she set foot into the park. She couldn’t help but run her hand over the lizard’s textured body.
“I am sure this will be my favorite part of the park,” she said. “Gaudí is amazing, and I enjoy seeing all the different themes in his work.
Another popular fountain mosaic found along the staircase uses the trencadís technique to depict a snake and a Catalan flag. Many people believe that the snake represents the one found on Moses’ staff called Nejustan.
Keep in mind that on a busy day, The Dragon Staircase will be crowded with visitors, so don’t expect to snag a picture free of photobombers.
The Hypostyle Room The Dragon Staircase leads up to an impressive room that would have been a marketplace and event center if the park became a lucrative estate.
The 86 columns found inside the Hypostyle Room are impressive but don’t forget to look up while you are walking through the forest of Greek-inspired architecture.
The four vibrant medallions found on the ceiling are made with the trencadís technique and are meant to signify the seasons.
The columns serve as more than just a support system. Their hollow interiors allow water to seep through into water tanks, which is how the El Drac fountain used to be sourced. If you look on the ceiling, you’ll find an octopus meant to signify this elaborate water system.
The Greek Theatre or Nature Square
On top of the Hypostyle Room, you will find the Nature Square (formerly known as the Greek Theatre). What was supposed to be a space for entertainment is now where visitors flock to find the park’s most popular vantage point of the city.
“I think this is one of the most breathtaking views ever,” an American tourist said.
A meandering mosaiced bench stretching more than 320 feet in length lines this plaza. While the seating area is composed of broken plates, cups and tiles of all colors and shapes, they come together cohesively.
A Must-Visit
From your first step into the park, it’s evident that Gaudí doesn’t color within the lines. His imagination is astounding and his architecture is unparalleled. You'll find yourself in wonder as you wander the grounds of what was never supposed to be a publicly accessible park.
Listen to tour books' advice and make visiting Park Güell a priority.
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