Park Güell entrance

You’re now standing at the entrance of the mythical Park Güell. Since 2013, access has been limited, ticketed, and regulated — a necessary step to protect the site from any further damage with mass tourism. You’re probably wondering why it’s called Park Güell in English, not Parque in Spanish. That’s because Gaudí’s idea was to create a British-style garden city. The park takes its name from Eusebi Güell — a close friend of Gaudí, in addition to being a loyal patron and great fan. He dreamed of building an elegant garden city for Barcelona’s aristocracy — ideally housing a chapel and 60 luxurious homes. In the end, however, only four buildings saw the light of day. The two mushroom-shaped houses at the entrance were the first to be built, meant for the caretaker and administration. Next, Gaudí’s own residence, designed by his friend Francesc Berenguer, that is now a museum. And finally, the Martí Trias i Domènech house, offering stunning views of the city. When Gaudí took on the project, the hill — then known as Pelada Mountain — was barren and dry. So he got to work, planting a whole new landscape of Mediterranean vegetation, carefully chosen to adapt to this environment. Sadly, financial difficulties and rising construction costs eventually brought the ambitious plan to a halt. Just imagine what this place could’ve looked like if the full vision had come to life — 60 homes and a chapel, all by Gaudí! One of the highlights you’ll see right at the entrance is the gingerbread-style house, often compared to the one from Hansel and Gretel. Built between 1901 and 1903 to be the caretaker’s lodge, it is now known as Casa del Guarda, home to a small museum exhibiting the history of the park and Catalan Modernism. Although the project was ended in 1914 with just a few completed structures, what remains is pure magic. Gaudí kept the natural shape of the hill and embedded an architectural world that blends with nature, rather than fighting against it. The park has belonged to the city of Barcelona since 1923, and like all of Gaudí’s major works, Park Güell was declared a UNESCO site in 1984.