Tuesday October 17th - Park Guell

Tuesday October 17th - Park Guell

Today we ventured out to another Gaudi landmark Park Guell (pronounced like "Park Whale") that sits atop one of the major foothills to the North and overlooking the City of Barcelona and the Med beyond.

Originally conceived as an upscale residential development for the elites of Barcelona hoping to escape the rabble of the city, Park Guell was the brainchild of a collaboration between Antoni Gaudi and Count Eusebi Güell circa 1900.

 Count Eusebi Güell added to the prestige of the development by moving in 1906 to live in Larrard House. Ultimately, only two additional houses were built, neither designed by Gaudí. One was intended to be a show house, but on being completed in 1904 was put up for sale, and as no buyers came forward, Gaudí, at Güell's suggestion, bought it with his savings and moved in with his family in 1906.

Gaudi's influence is evidenced by the extensive application of ceramic mosaic tiles to the facades of the two residences to minimize the appearance of straight lines and right angles in favor of the curvilinear features found in nature. It is said that nature abhors a straight line. So too did Gaudi. These same design sensibilities are also evident in the many park benches and grotto-like resting and picnicking areas carved from the stone of the hillside.

This likeness of Antoni Gaudi is actually a living person who poses for photos with the tourists.

The park benches and walls are covered with fragments from recycled dishes assembled into random mosaic patterns.

This column is finished in the form of a female.

Other column designs are inspired by fruits and plants, a favorite of Gaudi's owing to his obsession with nature as a design guide.

A portico and viewing area above overlook the city and the sea.

A tourist poses for the camera in one of the windows.

Next stop La Pedrera