The Park Guell
Lots of wonders, a dragon and a beautiful view
The Park Guell is definitely one of the most unique spots of the city of Barcelona. In fact, this Mediterranean city has plenty of uniqueness thanks to architect Antoni Gaudí, the maximum representative of the (also) unique architectural style known as Catalan Modernisme. The structure and looks of the Park Guell doesn't resemble much anything we usually conceive as a park, since it is a mixture of nature and urbanism, all with the colours, symbols and techniques so characteristic of the genius Gaudí.
The Park is located in the upper part of Barcelona, in the Carmelo Hill, and was declared as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984, together with many other works by Gaudí. It's no surprise, then, that it receives over 2 million visitors a year!
The Park Guell: A little bit of history
A wonderful combination of different constructions: A monument, a courtyard lined by colourful benches, promenades that seem as if nature itself had decided to become an architect, since they are designed and made from natural elements. All that is in the Park Guell, which is why it constitutes a sight that no visitor is likely to forget.
The Park Guell is one of the results of the very profitable relationship between Antoni Gaudí and businessman Eusebi Güell, who was his main sponsor. Güell, who made his fortune in Cuba and would later be given his own earldom, was impressed by a vitrine that Gaudí had designed for Paris'Expo. They met in 1878 and started their sponsorship soon after - which is why Güell's name has lived on in many of Antoni Gaudí's works, such as the Church of the Colònia Güell, a manufacturing suburb outside Barcelona, The Palau Güell (Guell Palace) located in the neighbourhood of El Raval, or the Celler Güell, a winery located in Sitges. And finally, of course, the most famous of all, one of Gaudí's masterpieces: The Park Guell.
Gaudí built the Park Guell between 1900 and 1914, in what is considered his period of maximum splendour, the summit of his creative genius. The park was conceived as an urban area that would include high-quality homes, however, it would end up being something very different. Only two houses were built, except for the two little ones in the entrance, and they weren't designed by Gaudí. One of them is today the Gaudí House-Museum.
But we can say now that the fact that the Park Güell ended up being something quite different from a housing development worked in our favour. We can nowadays enjoy a park that reflects Gaudí's artistic plenitude and that shows the basic traits of Catalan Modernisme, with an important focus on symbolism. Gaudí and Güell envisioned a certain type of community for their urban project, and tried to convey several ideals in the design. This is why in the symbolism of the Park Güell we can identify several elements linked to political Catalanism (Güell was an important politician of the Lliga Regionalista, a political party that worked in favour of Catalan culture) and Catholicism, like in the case of the Monument to Calvary, also known as the Hill of the Three Crosses). Gaudí produced incredibly complex designs: the mythological elements, symbolism and elements of history, philosophy and religious exaltation that can be found in Park Guell are also found in other works by the architect.
The symbolism, even if quite specific in the case of the Park Guell, is also strongly linked with Catalan Modernisme, together with the inspiration in nature and geometry, as well as the sinuous shapes and colours. Gaudí's style is present in all the elements that form the park, especially in the form of the trencadís, the technique of irregularly broken tiles that he invented. You will see it in the colourful dragon that will welcome you inside the park (a picture of you putting your hand in the dragon's mouth is a must!), in the benches shaped as a sea serpent that outline the main courtyard, and in the ceiling mosaics that you will find underneath that courtyard, in what is called the Hypostyle Room, formed by those beautiful mosaics and a great number of majestic columns. And we can't forget about the cute little houses at the entrance, that will remind you of the famous candy or chocolate houses from children's tales. You will also be able to walk through curvy colonnaded pathways and viaducts, walled pathways that imitate the trees surrounding it and terrace walls, all surrounded by plants and trees and nature.
All in all, the beautiful Park Guell is a wonderful experience for the senses, and you will be able to enjoy several atmospheres and very different monuments, all sharing one same style and the same symbolism.
Park Guell online tickets
As you probably know, Barcelona is one of Europe's top tourist destinations, which is why it is worth finding out some information about how to get into the main attractions. One of the most loved and visited ones is of course the one we're talking about now, so you should definitely look into Park Guell online tickets before arriving to Barcelona. And now you can do so with GowithOh!
You can buy your Park Guell online tickets up to three months in advance, and, as in any other major attraction of the city of Barcelona, there are several kinds of them. You can buy a simple entry ticket, which will allow you to visit the monumental area (where the main constructions by Gaudí are, since the access to the rest of the park is free), one that includes a guided visit, and also another one that includes a private guided visit. You can also arrange for a guided visit with the members of your family, depending on what your needs and preferences are. The prices of the Park Guell online tickets range between 7€ (for the general entry ticket) and 39€ (for the private guided visit), but there are discounts for children, the elderly and people with special needs. Kids younger than 6 years old can enter for free.
The park opens at different times depending on when you travel. It opens at 8 in the morning all year except from November to March; whereas the closing times are different. In those winter months, it closes at 6.15 in the evening, whereas the rest of the year it opens until 8.30 in the evening except for the summer months (from May to the end of August), when it closes at 9.30 at night. The last visit available with your Park Guell online tickets will be an hour prior closing time.
Remember that, besides helping you get your Park Guell online tickets, at GowithOh we can also find you the best apartment deals near this monument, and in any other area of the city of Barcelona!
Other useful information
Your Park Guell online tickets will give you access to the monumental area of the park, but there is more to the park than that, and there are interesting and beautiful parts that are outside that area. For instance, the Hill of the Three Crosses isn't inside the monumental area, and it is an important monument of the park. This is important because you can visit the whole park after enjoying your Park Guell online tickets, but once you leave the premises of the monumental area, you won't be allowed back in with the same ticket. So make the most of your visit once you're there, or visit the hill before going into the monumental area. And how can you do that? Well, it's easy enough, but we should talk a little bit about how to get to the Park Guell first.
There are two metro stations that will leave you close to the Park Guell, both of L3 (green) of Barcelona's metro system, and there are also several entrances to the park. If you stop at station Lesseps and follow directions towards the park, you will arrive to the ones located in carrer d'Olot,, which are closest to the monumental area. If you stop in the next metro station instead, Vallcarca, you will also be able to follow street signs towards the Park, but instead you will arrive to another entrance (after a very interesting climb in escalators! The neighbourhood around Vallcarca is one of the steepest in Barcelona, and you will be able to get to know a very different part of the city). That entrance will give you access to the free area of the park: You will be able to hike, and to climb to the top of the Hill of the Three Crosses, enjoy the views, and then descend towards the monumental area. This is important so you can plan your visit accordingly and make the most out of your Park Guell online tickets!
Of course, if you enter the park from the entrance closest to station Vallcarca and then access the monumental area, you will be able to hike some more in the free area afterwards. Nonetheless, there is something else you should take into account: Respecting your schedule! As you saw before, once you buy your Park Guell online tickets, you will have to choose a time. You will only be allowed access in the first 30 minutes after the time chosen, which is something to keep in mind if you decide to visit the free area first.
Our recommendation? Go there with plenty of time, stop at Vallcarca, and visit the free area for as long as you like, enjoying the views and the nature, and then go to the monumental area in a timely fashion. Why? The answer is in our next section!
Where to go next
After making the most out of your Park Guell online tickets, you should leave the park from one of the two main entrances, the ones at Carrer d'Olot. This way, you can start walking towards Lesseps metro station, and then take a street called Gran de Gràcia. This is the main street of the neighbourhood of Gràcia, one of the nicest and most familiar areas of Barcelona. In this charming neighbourhood, you will find cosy restaurants and cafés, designer's boutiques, beautiful plazas and a very friendly atmosphere, as well as pubs and bars. Besides, it's not too crowded with tourists, so it is an opportunity for you to experience a different side of Barcelona.
Are you ready to visit Barcelona and enjoy your Park Guell online tickets? Remember that at GowithOh, we're at your service to help you make the most of your trip!
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