Parc Guell, Barcelona

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Why is everybody speaking so much about this park?!
Honestly I was expecting to see something more “exciting”, but in fact, Parc Guell is not as impressive as I it was stated in all the other tips we have read before.
What is interesting from my point of view is the way Gaudi has built the structure of the park, using the local material and his new vision about architecture.
You can see here the living development of his columns and his view about the human-nature interference.
I don’t know how the park was developed but it seems for me that the money was finished after the completion of the entrance, the hall with the Doric columns and the special shaped bench which are amazing without any doubt.
After this, everything else is impressive in form, but not in color anymore.
Anyway, if you have a technical “sight” you can see the loads discharging along the leaning columns, twisted or (palm) tree structured. Under the raw rock cladding I could "feel" anyway a stronger concrete structure.
I have found nice to inform you that, for the shape of the so discussed bench, Gaudi used wet clay to “record” the naked forms of one of the workers.
Something else… don’t forget to do a trip to the top of the hill at the three crosses… you’ll appreciate the view, especially in a sunny day.
Another element which is not commented enough is the metal gate on the second entrance. This is also impressive. It is probably a good example of what that Art Nouveau means.
My conclusion is that the park is under the average as a park, but the architecture of it is still special.

But, if you really want to know more, go there with the crowd and make your own impression.
The easiest way to go there is by bus…. number 24 from plaza Catalunya or the bus stops on the Passeig de Gracia.

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This is a bit out of the way from other sites in the city, but the trek is worth it. Park Guell is another venture of Antonio Gaudi, and in fact he lived in one of the two homes that got completed. The intent of Eusebi Guell, the owner of the land was to have 60 homes developed. Gaudi developed the serene park between 1910-14, as part of the motif to entice people to live here. Eventually the park that was intended to replicate an English garden became a visiting place to the locals to get away form the grime and crowded city center.
There are a variety of shapes and designs throughout the park, beginning with the sitting arena with thousands of mosaics imbedded into the concrete, the irregular and rough terrace walls and bird nests appearance, columns holding up an upper portion, and winding road 7 trails to the top. The mountain was flat on top, and is now simply a place where a bench rests. It is about 1/2 mile from the main entry to the top, with winding streets all the way. Entry to the park is free, but the small museum is 2 Euro. the park is open dawn to dusk generally

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Parc Guell yet another of Antoni Gaudi's creation .... also situated on a hill overlooking the city it is a unique and odd looking place, but yet worth the long and steep walk ..... we got off the Vallcarca green line stop and took the electrical stairs for half the walk, but unless you hire a taxi it's all uphill. Once at the park there is no admission price to enter, it took us about 45 minutes to walk around .... the most famous site at the park is the lizard. If you have great weather then go !!!!

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Antoni Gaudí is probably the best-known representative of Catalan Modernisme, a style of art characterized by organic structures and bright colours, comparable to Hundertwasser’s style of art and architecture. Although the Sagrada Familia is Gaudí’s best known work, there are a couple of notable pieces to be seen in and around Barcelona. Parc Guell shows different pieces of Gaudí artwork on 17 hectares. It includes not only fountains, sculptures and columns, but also a hand full of buildings including a museum with more Gaudí art. The park itself does not charge any entry fees and is open during daytime from 10 am on. There is a fee to see the Gaudí Museum.
Originally an experimental urban project, the lack of interest led to a redesign of the area as an art park. The failed project was backed by the industrial magnate Eusebi Guell who became the name patron of the park. It was installed between 1900 and 1914 and afterwards abandoned. Even if it looks sometime like Disneyland – it’s real early 20th century art, from a time when Mickey Mouse wasn’t even born. In 1994, it became part of an UNESCO World Heritage site called “Works of Antoni Gaudí”. Located on a hill, you can enjoy a beautiful view on Barcelona from there. The location on a hill also means a lot of steps to reach the higher located points. Especially during summertime, the park is popular with visitors of all ages. School and student trips to Barcelona use this is a compulsory stop, so that you will see many groups of youngsters exploring the park. All in all, it’s full of tourists, but there’s no reason to avoid this park. Even if you don’t like your touristy fellows, there are some quieter corners in the park.

Parc Güell just might be the most beautiful park in the world. Five minutes walking distance from a really noisy street you end up in a wonderful and really quiet (despite all the tourists) park. It seems almost unreal that this park can be found in such a vibrant city. Definitely an ideal place to relax when the city itself becomes too noisy. You can sit in the park and listen to guitar players that will remind you of Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona. When you walk up the hills you get a lovely view of the city.

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Park Guell is one of Gaudi's many creations and if you're in Barcelona only for a couple of days, I suggest you take the time to go and see it. It is a large park with many stone structures and fascinating coloured tiling. From the top of the park you get a wonderful view of the park and of the city. At the top of the park there is a small shop where you can buy cold beverages or a snack. There are also coloured mosaic seats available where you can rest and take photos of the breathtaking view.

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Park Guell is the next stop, but we didn't get off the Bus as we had previously been here the day before.
The previous day, we caught the Metro to Vallcara station [Green line L3] We then walked a short way to where a lot of escalators went up a very steep hill to one of the Parks entrances. Thank goodness for them is all I can say. They are a life saver!!!!
I would say to you to get off and have a look around Park Guell as it is free of charge and is interesting, but I advise that it takes awhile to walk around.
When we were there, not all the paths were open as they were doing maintainence. It was extremely busy with lots of school children. There are hawkers around, but they didn't pressure anybody to look or buy.
It is a hilly park, so you may want to be a little fit also.
Go, and have a good time!

Open from 10am, closing times vary through out the year.

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So now we are going for a walk around the Park. We hadn't gone far along the footpath, when we found the unusual structure of what looked to be Tree trunks. Interesting, and so was the Busker playing a Spanish Musical Instrument. Other points of interest were a colonnaded pathway, the huge square with the Serpentine bench which was full of people sitting on it, old gates and houses, and Gaudi's design's.
Perhaps it was the time we were here, but I expected to see a more lush garden, in fact, it was fairly dry and nothing spectacular, it was Gaudi's works that made it.