Visiting Park Güell
Tourists flock to this living, breathing city-monument to see structures designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí. Architecture built by this man has a very distinct look – and feel – to it, one that captures the eyes and hearts of visitors when they gaze upon the late artist’s work.
One of these such works is Park Güell, one of the more popular of the Gaudí attractions sprinkled throughout Barcelona. This article is a handy guide to visiting the park, including all you need to know to sound intelligent when you act as tour-guide for your friends and family.
About the artist
Antoni Gaudí was born and raised in Catalonia. He was actually born in the city of Reus in 1852, suffering from Rheumatism as a child. Young Gaudí spent a lot of time interacting with animals and nature, which certainly inspired his later art (Casa Batlló, for instance, seems to resemble a shimmering fish). His admiration for nature shone through for the duration of his life, demonstrated in his vegetarian lifestyle as much as his art.
He first arrived in Barcelona in the year 1868, becoming an architecture student. His professors, as is often the case with prodigies, either thought his work was downright awful or placed him on a pedestal as a genius. After his graduation, the city of Barcelona seemingly took a gamble when they commissioned Gaudí to design the lampposts in the Plaça Reial. If you visit the plaza, remember to look up and take in the very Gaudí-style heads on the lampposts, adorned with swirls and spikes and subtle hints at the natural world.
Gaudí went on to become a very famed artist in Barcelona, and is even considered the father of the Modernism art movement.
The history of Park Güell
Gaudí’s passion for nature rears its head most obviously in Park Güell, where architecture and the man-made blends almost imperceptibly with the natural world around it.
In 1900, Count Eusebi Güell purchased the expanse of land on a hillside decorated with trees and hired the then-popular artist to design a miniature city of houses specifically for the wealthy. Somewhat fortunately, the project was not a success story, and in 1914, the idea was abandoned. However, this was not before Gaudí had already begun his landscaping project, creating 3km of roads and walks, steps, a plaza and two gatehouses. The city bought the estate in 1922, and thus it became a public park.
Things to see
Just inside the entrance are the two gatehouses, displaying the typical Gaudí style of wavy terraces and subtle accents. The Centre d’Interpretaciò used to be a porter’s home, but now it holds a display on Gaudí’s building methods and the history of Park Güell. Make sure to check out the top floor for a stunning look-out point.
The steps stretching up from the entrance are guarded by a mosaic reptile, boasting vibrant hues of blue, green, orange and yellow. This is quite a symbol of the park and even the city, and a great photo op for tourists.
Above this is the Sala Hipóstila, a forest of 86 columns made of stone. Although man-made, the columns really appear like trees, bending and leaning and carved ornately like bark. Gaudí certainly paid attention to detail.
Atop this is the Banc de Trencadís, a tiles bench which winds around a terrace overlooking the park below. This was actually designed by Josep Maria Jujol, a close friend of Gaudí, but in very typical style, it is never as simple as it seems. The ‘bench’ acts as a catchment for rainwater that runs down the hillside; the water filters through stone and sane and drains through the tree-like columns to an underground cistern.
The Park is also home to the Casa-Museu Gaudí, where the architect lived out his last 20 years. The structure still contains furniture of his own design, including items brought in from other locations. It was built as a prototype for the other houses that were originally intended to be built in the park.
Now, the Park is a UNESCO-listed property, making it a very rewarding visit for tourists who come to Barcelona.
Visiting the park
Park Güell is located just to the north of Gràcia, which actually used to be a city separate from Barcelona until the 1890s. You can take the Metro to Lesseps and then walk to the park, but this requires a lot of uphill walking (followed by a long walk around the expanse that is Park Güell) and is not necessarily the fastest route. Alternatively, take Bus 24 or 32, which drops off visitors right by the gates.
It is estimated that around four million people visit the Park per year. Authorities limit access to a certain number of people per half-hour, meaning that sometimes, it can be difficult to get in. If you are planning your Barcelona trip during peak tourist season (i.e. summer), it can be advised to book ahead and perhaps visit the Park early in the morning. Booking ahead also saves you a euro on the admission fee.
The park is open from 8am-9:30pm from May-August but closes earlier at other times (closing at 8:30pm in April, September and October, and at 6:30pm from November through to March). The admission fee is €8, or €5.60 for children, but admission into the Casa-Museu Gaudí will put you out another €5.50 (definitely worth it if you’re interested in all things Gaudí!).
Final tips
It can get hot when walking around the Park, so make sure you bring sunscreen and a hat, or perhaps even sunglasses. Considering the fact that the Park is on a hill, make sure you wear appropriate footwear to navigate the terrain, and prepare to do some walking.
There are some restaurants or cafes in the Park, but these can be expensive. Perhaps take along a packed lunch and a bottle of water and indulge in a lovely picnic on the curvaceous bench on the terrace.
Finally, there are plenty of wonderful sights to see in Park Güell, so don’t forget your camera!