Architect Antonio Gaudí is well known for his Modernist buildings in Barcelona, including the Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera), Casa Batlló, and his still unfinished masterpiece, the Church of the Sagrada Familia. Perhaps one of his most imaginative projects was the creation of the Park Güell in the Gràcia district of Barcelona called La Salut.
Built between 1900-1914, the park was commissioned by Gaudí’s friend and patron, Eusebi Güell. It was originally conceived as a private estate that would include a park and an exclusive gated community for 60 private villas. Only 2 of the 60 planned houses were ever sold, as the park was considered far from town at that time. The project was unsuccessful, and the park became city property in 1923. Today it is considered one of the most impressive public parks in the world, and is one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Locals and visitors flock to the park to admire Gaudí’s creativity and imagination that is on display in the gingerbread gatehouses, colorful ceramic tile work, and whimsical structures such as the multicolored mosaic salamander, known as “el drac” (the dragon), that greets visitors at the main entrance.
One of the two houses constructed was Gaudí’s home, Torre Rosa, which was designed by Francesc Berenguer in 1904. The artist lived in the house the last 20 years of his life, until he passed away in 1926. The house is now the Gaudí House Museum and contains original works by the artist.
The park is open daily from 10:00am and there is a fee for accessing the areas that contain a majority of Gaudí’s creations. Tickets can be purchased in advance online. For more information on the park, click here.
There is a separate fee for visiting the house-museum, and tickets can be purchased in advance online. For more information on the Gaudí House Museum, click here.
Book a private tour! You may want to consider booking a private tour with an English-speaking guide. Your personal guide can provide you with information on the city and its historic sites. For more information on our Gaudí tour, click here, and for information on all of our Barcelona tours, click here.
Photo credit: Manuel Pino
For assistance with your travel plans, including hotel and private tour reservations, click here.