Gaudi’s Park Güell of Barcelona, a Photo Gallery

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Who thinks of a ‘park’ in the same sentence as architectural gems of a city? But Park Güell, designed by Gaudi is unlike any other park. Join us for this virtual tour in pictures.

Resting on the beautiful bench in Parc Güell

Park Güell’s design combines form, function and beauty, all in its natural habitat – inspired by and honoring nature. It was architected by none other than Barcelona’s most famous architect, Antoni Gaudi. It is rightfully featured in our top architectural gems of Barcelone along-side famous monuments of Catalan’s modernisme style, such as La Sagrada Familia, Palau Guell, Casa Míla, Hospital Sant Pau and more.

The ambitious project was meant to be a community of upper class homes with a park, like in London. The project started in October 1900, but as history unfolded, only two of the 60 houses were sold. Eventually the remaining project was abandoned by 1914. Gaudi lived in one of the two houses, which is now a museum that you can tour. Fortunately for the city of Barcelona, the park lived on to be a favorite spot and a public park for all.

During our visit in Jan 2020, some parts of Park Güell were under restoration but that didn’t dampen its popularity. Everyone loves it just as much. It’s a very popular destination for visitors and locals, so you need to make reservations for a specific time slot. The tickets can be purchased online.

Gaudi’s unique tiles adorn the lower level ceiling that supports the serpentine bench courtyard.

Gaudí’s multicolored mosaic salamander

Park Güell sign is in English (Park not Parc) because this area was meant to be for luxury housing, similar to garden living in England.

Park Güell woman by Antoni Gaudí. The pillars are a genius combination of form, function, and art built with local materials that last.

A stroll through the walkways is just as joyful as it would have been 100 years ago.

Doric columns supporting the roof of the lower court below serpentine seating.

Famous serpentine bench in Park Güell

Viaducts that allow traveling through the park

Colonnaded footpath under the roadway viaduct. Sloping columns designed to take diagonal thrust from the vault supporting the road.

Park Güell by Antoni Gaudí - Bird nests on stone walls that imitate the trees planted on them

Bird nests on stone structures that imitate trees planted on them

The upper terrace is surrounded by the serpentine benches adorned by tile motifs.

Park Güell by Antoni Gaudí - Upper terrace serpentine bench faces the open space and hills. Perfect for events.

The serpentine bench on the upper terrace faces the open space, perfect for watching events.

The serpentine bench’s snake line curves form enclaves that allow for a more social setting and small group interactions. The designer thought of form and function as equally important. So, the seats slope down towards drains at the back. The small mounds at the back of the bench protect clothes from getting wet while quickly drying the bench seating space. Much of the serpentine bench was the work of Gaudí often overlooked collaborator Josep Maria Jujol.