It’s Wednesday, and time to wander again. This week I’m heading to Barcelona, Spain, and to Antoni Gaudi’s magnificent Parc Guell.
High on a hilltop overlooking the city, the park is accessed via a series of escalators and steps up a narrow and very steep street. There may have been some complaining from certain family members on our way up the hill, but when we got there it was certainly worth it!
Built between 1900 and 1914, the park was the brainchild of Count Eusebi Guell, who wanted to create a luxury housing estate on the site, and worked with Gaudi on the design. However, only two houses were ever built, one of which Gaudi and his family ended up living in for twenty years – it is now a museum.
Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, the park is full of Gaudi’s signature design style, from undulating dragon-spine rooftops to stylised stalactites and sculpted pillars. The park is laid out across several levels, and can be walked in a circular fashion up to the topmost point (marked by a stone cross) before heading downhill once more.
I’m a huge fan of Gaudi’s design style, so a visit to the park was high on my list of things to do when we visited Barcelona. And I was definitely not disappointed. Although it was a bit crowded at times, the views, the design, the wonderful shapes and whimsy of Gaudi’s unique vision were all there to be seen and enjoyed. There is a freshness and modernity to his work which makes it hard to believe it’s over a century old.
Thank you for coming on another Wednesday Wander with me – see you next time!
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Helen Glynn Jones 
Beautiful! How wonderful to be surrounded by such beauty!
Barcelona is such a wonderful city – the residents are lucky indeed! I’d love to live there 🙂
It is the most fabulous city and this is a gem within it isn’t it. Just wondering Helen if you’ve come across Jo’s Monday Walks https://restlessjo.me/2017/05/01/jos-monday-walk-odeleite-a-beautiful-disaster/ you’ll find links to so many walks here, they always inspire me and yours would add to the gaiety of nations. Jo leaves her post open a week and then collates the links people leave. If you added your Wednesday Wanders as a link in the comments after you posted, or as a pingback I know people would love them. No pressure if it’s not for you.
Thanks, Geoff, both for the comment and the recommendation – I’ll definitely check it out 🙂 And yes, Parc Guell is something special indeed, even in a city as special as Barcelona.
Oh I’ve missed your wanders and this was most definitely worth the walk. How beautiful. Thanks for sharing Helen.
Thanks so much, Miriam. It’s the most amazing place, my photos didn’t really do it justice. 🙂
They never do, do they? 🙂
I love those photos! The photo of the loggia with all the Roman Dorics, what an optical illusion! It looked to me at first glance that the photo was in half and photo-shopped halfway down until I had a closer look and saw that the columns were all actually a different design halfway down, but so exactly that it looked like there was a different photo attached somehow. It even changes the viewer’s perception of the light in the space. What an excellent photo!
Thanks so much, Linda – it’s a cool optical illusion, isn’t it? Gaudi had a talent for bending space and light, I think 🙂
All the times I’ve been to Spain and I’ve never managed to get to Barcelona yet. Must do it!
Oh, you must, Mick – it’s a fabulous city 🙂
Yes, I must!
Such a lovely view! I’ve not been to Spain at all yet, but sure would like to go!
Thank you! 🙂 The view was amazing, and looking the other way there were even higher hills with houses. Barcelona is a fabulous city, I would definitely recommend a visit!
I love the columns.
That was a really cool space, and oddly deserted, considering how busy other parts of the park were.
We loved Barcelona and the integration of art and architecture. I come from an art background. Love your photos!
Thanks, Suzie 🙂 I’m from an art background too, and so Barcelona was just heaven – such a gorgeous city!
I love Gaudi! He and Dali make me wanna go to Barcelona.
It’s such a great city, you should go! I’m sure you’d love it xx
Yes I must go!!!
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Thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
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