Antoni Gaudí's Park Güell: Making Nature a Mosaic

Antoni Gaudí's Park Güell covers 15 hectares on a hillside overlooking the city.

Previously occupied by Can Muntaner de Dalt, the site was acquired in 1899 by Eusebi Güell, who planned to create a "Garden City" in accordance with the most advanced town planning ideas current in Europe at that time.

The residential development, designed for the affluent, was to have an open market, roads, and other amenities. Antoni Gaudí, a close friend of Güell, was commissioned to build this "Garden City". He worked on the project from 1900 to 1914, when it was abandoned owing to financial difficulties.

Barcelona's City Council acquired the property in 1918 and in 1923, just 3 years before Antoni Gaudí's death, made it a public park. In 1984, UNESCO declared Park Güell a World Heritage Site.

The Park Güell dragon, Barcelona's unofficial mascot, welcomes visitors near the entrance to the park.

Blanketed in mosaic, the dragon slinks down the staircase on which he is positioned. If you get a chance, take a picture with him; it's truly an iconic Barcelona Experience.

The dragon's staircase gives way to an open, columned space called the "Nature Square." It is here that classic columns support a ceiling covered in soothing taupe mosaic with bursts of colored discs featuring bright blues.

The Carob's viaduct splits off to the left of the Nature Square, luring you into its walkway. Colums hold up the slanted, low-slung ceiling as light alternates with shadow in this popular photo spot.

Walkways on both sides of the square lead up to an open space on top of the square. Visitors like to pass the time in this plaza-like location taking photos, eating lunch or admiring the amazing views of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea.

Trails and stairs lead farther up the park, where trees dominate the landscape. If you're lucky, you'll catch some of Barcelona's street performers wowing the crowds with their talent.

• The park originally was intended to be an urban community where residents could purchase a plot of land and a build a home to their liking.
• Only one plot was ever purchased.
• Before Gaudís project, Park Guell was a dry, dusty brown chunk of land without much greenery.
• Antoni Gaudi lived at Park Guell in what was the model home built to illustrate the potential of such a wonderful park.

Opening Hours for Park Guell are:

Location & contact information:

• Carrer d'Olot, 08024
• You can take the green metro line to the "Lesseps" stop. It is a 20-30 minute monstly uphill walk from there.
• Telephone: +34 902 200 302