{"id":7801,"date":"2024-05-01T17:30:16","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T17:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vacationpass.com\/?post_type=barcelona&p=7801"},"modified":"2024-05-16T00:14:24","modified_gmt":"2024-05-16T00:14:24","slug":"park-guell","status":"publish","type":"barcelona","link":"https:\/\/www.vacationpass.com\/de\/barcelona\/park-guell","title":{"rendered":"Park G\u00fcell"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Not only is Park G\u00fcell a major Barcelona landmark, but it\u2019s one of the most iconic urban parks located anywhere in the world. Containing multiple prominent elements designed by the one and only Antoni Gaud\u00ed, Park G\u00fcell is renowned for its monumental staircase, elegant terrace, and brightly colored salamander sculpture. It also offers visitors plenty of lovely green spaces and majestic city views. Today Park G\u00fcell is divided up into two \u201czones\u201d: the \u201cForest Zone\u201d of the park is free to local residents, while the \u201cMonumental Zone\u201d is accessible to those visitors who purchase tickets to explore its various charms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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History of Park G\u00fcell<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The idea for the development that would eventually become the beloved attraction Park G\u00fcell came from Eusebi G\u00fcell, a local businessman. G\u00fcell owned a significant tract of land he wished to transform into a neighborhood of luxury estates catering to Barcelona\u2019s wealthiest residents, and he enlisted the services of legendary architect Antoni Gaud\u00ed\u2014whose other famous Barcelona works include Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, Casa Batll\u00f3, and Casa Vicens\u2014in hopes of making this vision a reality. G\u00fcell today is remembered as one of Gaud\u00ed\u2019s most notable patrons, and Park G\u00fcell is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the real-estate project itself was not successful. Only two (of a planned 60) houses were ever built, neither of which bears Gaud\u00ed\u2019s fingerprints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, Gaud\u00ed\u2019s primary achievements here between the years 1900 and 1914 consist of two distinctive buildings flanking the park\u2019s main entrance; a stylish terrace covered in mosaic tiles; the so-called Hypostyle Room, which features 86 Doric columns (it was intended to be the estate\u2019s marketplace); and an extensive network of idyllic gardens: to this day, Park G\u00fcell carries the English spelling of \u201cpark\u201d because G\u00fcell wanted the housing development broken up by an elaborate series of English-style gardens. While Park G\u00fcell opened to the public as a municipal park in 1926, portions were transitioned to a tourist attraction<\/a> later in the twentieth century while other areas remain reserved for resident use only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Park G\u00fcell Highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the minute you arrive at Park G\u00fcell, you\u2019ll discover a wide array of fantastic architectural flourishes, striking historical monuments, and iconic city landmarks. Upon entering the park from the south via Carrer d\u2019Olot, you\u2019ll pass Casa del Guarda: this structure was originally built as a residence for porters; today it houses a small museum devoted to telling the story of Park G\u00fcell\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep walking straight and you\u2019ll immediately arrive at the park\u2019s most famous feature: a monumental staircase adorned by a large statue of a salamander, the entirety of which is covered in brightly colored mosaic tiles. Affectionately known as \u201cthe dragon,\u201d this unforgettable piece of public art is also by Gaud\u00ed and it\u2019s a mandatory photo opportunity for any Barcelona visitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the top of the monumental staircase is Pla\u00e7a de la Natura (Nature Square). Formerly known as the Greek Theatre, this site provides a series of stunning views in multiple directions. If you keep moving past this remarkable spot, you\u2019ll encounter an expansive green space crisscrossed by walking paths and hiking trails. The actual highest point in Park G\u00fcell is known as the Hill of Three Crosses; checking in at an elevation of approximately 600 feet, it too offers visitors breathtaking views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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More to See and Do at Park G\u00fcell<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading for a couple sightseeing tips and a few additional things to see and do during your time at Park G\u00fcell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Anyone wishing to experience Park G\u00fcell firsthand will need to make reservations (for a specific date and hour) in advance. Tickets can be purchased up to three months ahead of time, and while the booking cannot be cancelled and refunded, you can edit your reservation anytime up until one day before your scheduled visit. If you\u2019re looking to visit the park when it is the quietest, be advised that it is typically least-busy immediately after it opens first thing in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Conversely, many people love to visit Park G\u00fcell late enough in the day to try and watch the sun set on Barcelona from this special vantagepoint; if you\u2019ve got flexibility in your schedule\u2014and you\u2019re willing to put up with crowds\u2014experiencing the sunset from Park G\u00fcell is a dream photo opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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*Park G\u00fcell has designed its very own app that you can access straight from its official website. This free service provides visitors with maps, background information, suggested itineraries, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*If you want to get even more out of your visit to Park G\u00fcell, consider purchasing a ticket to go on a guided tour of the attraction. It\u2019ll cost you more than the standard price of admission, but along the way you\u2019ll learn a whole bunch of behind-the-scenes details and obscure facts about the park that you would otherwise likely miss. Some Barcelona tourist passes<\/strong> include a guided tour of Park G\u00fcell as one of their covered attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Likewise, if you have extra time in your schedule\u2014and a bit of wiggle room in your budget\u2014consider purchasing tickets to Casa Museu Gaud\u00ed (the Gaud\u00ed House Museum). Located within Park G\u00fcell, this historic house museum is where Gaud\u00ed lived and worked for nearly 20 years; its collection contains an assortment of the great architect\u2019s belongings, sketches, plans, paintings, and more. Your standard Park G\u00fcell ticket doesn\u2019t include admission to the Gaud\u00ed House Museum, but you can acquire it as an \u201cadd-on\u201d for just a few extra euros.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why Park G\u00fcell Should Be on Your Must-See List<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Year in and year out, Park G\u00fcell is among the most popular attractions in Barcelona\u2014and it\u2019s not difficult to see why. One of the world\u2019s most distinctive city parks, Park G\u00fcell is full of beautiful landscapes, scenic vantagepoints, riveting architectural details, and monuments that are absolutely must-see destinations for any first-time visitor to Barcelona. Whether you\u2019re a long-time admirer of Gaud\u00ed\u2019s work or his style is completely new to you, Park G\u00fcell is an essential itinerary item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This inimitable city landmark is Barcelona\u2019s most famous park and one of the more memorable urban green spaces you\u2019ll encounter. Designed by Antoni Gaud\u00ed, Park G\u00fcell is renowned for its monumental staircase and brightly colored salamander sculpture, distinctive architecture, and fabulous views.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","type_of_thing_to_do":[4662],"class_list":["post-7801","barcelona","type-barcelona","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","type_of_thing_to_do-photo-featured-attraction"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vacationpass.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/barcelona\/7801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vacationpass.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/barcelona"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vacationpass.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/barcelona"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vacationpass.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7801"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.vacationpass.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/barcelona\/7801\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8556,"href":"https:\/\/www.vacationpass.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/barcelona\/7801\/revisions\/8556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vacationpass.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"type_of_thing_to_do","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vacationpass.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type_of_thing_to_do?post=7801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}