This is one of those amazing places that you absolutely must visit in Barcelona. And there are several reasons for that: there is a lot of greenery here, an unusual, even "fairy-tale" atmosphere, a stunning view from the top of the hill, and many other things no less interesting.
More than a century ago, this plot of land belonged to Eusebi Güell, who wanted to build a residential complex in the "garden city" style on it. He set aside plots for 62 houses, but only two were sold. Wealthy Barcelonans did not want to buy a house "in the middle of nowhere," and those who dreamed of moving farther from the bustle of the city did not have sufficient funds. At the same time, most of the work had already been completed: the slopes had been landscaped, paths laid out, plantings planned, etc. And all of this was done not by just anyone, but by the incomparable Antoni Gaudí. Although, really, there is no need even to mention this; it is enough just to look at the elegant architecture of the park's houses to immediately recognize the style of the famous Catalan.
He created a luxurious colonnade, which was supposed to serve as a market or a place for residents to gather. Gaudí also designed the bench that runs around the entire roof perimeter, twisting like a snake. Or rather, a salamander, whose image appears in almost all of the master's works. To make the bench comfortable, Antoni Gaudí decided to make it anatomical. How? Very simply: he asked a worker to sit on the still-soft clay to measure the curve of the back. This is how the undulating shape came about, which is indeed very comfortable for sitting.
Gaudí used broken ceramics to decorate the surface. He even asked all the construction workers to bring him any pieces of broken glass they happened to come across. The result was a bright, colorful mosaic that you can admire for hours. The bench is 302 meters long!
At the entrance to the park there are two charming little houses. One of them was intended for the administration, the second for the gatekeeper. Then begins the grand staircase, where you can also see a salamander sculpture. Visitors then enter the "Hall of a Hundred Columns." Although, in fact, there are not 100, but 86, and above them rises an undulating ceiling, also decorated with bright mosaics.
In 2013, an admission fee was introduced for Park Güell. The cost of an adult ticket is 8 euros, and a child's ticket is 5.60 euros, but you can save money by ordering tickets on the park's website, then the adult ticket will cost 7 euros, and the child's ticket will cost 4.90 euros.
