♥♥Gone to pastures new. Thanks to all of you. You are a lovely crowd, but time does not ...
♥♥Gone to pastures new. Thanks to all of you. You are a lovely crowd, but time does not permit me to do the site justice any more♥♥
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The Parc Guell is deep in the heart of Barcelona, and for those who do not speak Spanish, the best route is to take a taxi from any central point of the city, which will cost around ten euros, and the for peace of mind, and for parking it is well worth the fare, although parking can be found at the less commercial entrances to this park.
The Parc Guell was constructed between 1900 and 1914 under the direction and architectural guidance of Gaudi, for the Guell family. The park was intended for families living in the district, and in 1923 was handed over to the City for all the people to visit and I am certainly glad that it was because it is an adventure into another time and another dimension.
We entered by the less commercial area of Gracia and immediately
were drawn to the huge bridge like structures built into high slopes with stone formed balconies in what is a lesser known part of the park. Here, the tourist can chill, find a little corner and look over the city of Barcelona in an ambiance of peacefulness and tranquility that the city does not otherwise allow.
Wide walkways take you through woodland and gardens, and there are so many hidden treasures throughout these gardens that at every turn, there is something to look at. The walkways are wide and go for miles and are wheelchair friendly, although the entrance to the pavillions or the main entrance to the park is not so wheelchair friendly.
As you walk along the walkways, you see splendid buildings, a church tower in pastel pink against a blue sky, little niches with seats for people to tuck themselves away from the hot sun and read, and you are lead through this woodland towards the pavillion, where there is a huge place with seating all around it in a kind of romantic setting, the seats all colourful and rounded with ceramic pictures which are beautiful. Whilst we were there, we listened to musicians that had stopped to bask in the sunshine and play their music.
Steps lead down from this pavillion to a corridor which was constructed in the typical Gaudi style of rounded edges and is almost like it was built lopsided, as it veers to the right, and all the pillars that shelter visitors from the sunshine are also put in at a slope, making the corridor seem like part of a natural landscape.
Further down, you reach a hall of towers, with a wonderful accoustic quality and here, classical guitar was being played and as you walk amidst pillars and gaze with wonderment at the ceiling with its domes and ceramics, you are drawn into the world of Gaudi, a world conceived from perhaps childlike simplicity that seems to escape the regular construction theories of other architects.
Down from this hallway of pillars you approach the entrance to the park, which has a wonderful structure on each side, and here, you do need time to take in the beauty of the buildings as well as relax and chill amidst the splendour of Gaudi's work. It is almost like you are stepping into his world and on the buildings that have towers that seem to touch the sky, you have ceramic roofs of all the colours of the rainbow, and the buildings have rounded edges, and are indeed beautiful.
Entrance to the park is free. There are no hidden charges and although there is a tourist shop at the entrance to the park, I found that the emphasis of the park was more enjoyment and appreciation of the surroundings, rather than the exploitation of tourism. There is a cafe with refreshments at cheap prices, toilets, etc., although the main emphasis of the park is that the visitor feels like they blend with their surroundings, rather than being a blight on them.
For any visitor to Barcelona, this park is a must and is located centrally and easy to reach, the easiest means for a non Spanish speaker being by taxi.
I finish my visit to the Guell Park with a thought that Gaudi goes into the places that others just dream about, that his work captures that which thoughts and dreams keep outside of the human grasp, and that the presence of places like this make the human soul feel richer for the experience.
Pictures of Parc Güell (Barcelona)
Guell Park
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Advantages: Wonderful architecture, galleries and parks, superb romantic atmosphere, great for shopping Disadvantages: Aged quarters can feel a bit grotty, but that is natural and part of their charm. More expensive than nearby localities, but then cities always are.
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