Park Guell – Barcelona's magnificent Gaudi park

Park Guell is the serendipitous result of a failed planned community.
Around the turn of the 20th century, Count Eusebi Guell decided to build a garden community.  Only a few of the 60 lots sold. This despite the fact that  Gaudi was designing the community buildings. These are what you can see today (plus 2 houses that Gaudi didn’t design, but harmonize with what he did design).

The community may have failed, but what Gaudi left behind is now an amazing park with sinuous and twisting structures that please the eye.

One of the many attractive areas is the large open deck with a long serpentine bench. The bench goes around nearly the entire deck in a great open circle.  This bench shaping allows groups of people to sit together and chat easily. Also, it lends itself to pictures as it is completely covered by mosaic work.

Underneath this is a beautiful columned arcade with detailed designs on the ceiling.

I highly recommend a nice walk around if you are in Barcelona. Even if you don’t like most art, you may enjoy Gaudi’s playful art. The way this integrates into the surroundings and uses natural curves and shapes is alluring.

Locals hang out here as well, and you can see kids and adults blowing giant bubbles and playing music, etc.  A very welcoming place.

If you want to see more about Gaudi, this video is quite good.  His artwork is really creative. And this video does a good job showcasing it  (particularly the Sagrada Familia) and giving more information.

For more about Gaudi’s work in Barcelona see here

Happy travels!