Portico of the Washerwoman

According to Salvador Dalí, this intricate wrought iron gate looks like… calf livers. Only Dalí could come up with something like that. Anyway, this gate marks the entrance to one of the park’s most curious features: the Portico of the Washerwoman — or in Catalan, Pòrtic de la Bugadera. To help people move across the park, Gaudí designed a whole system of elevated viaducts — wide enough for carriages and cars — with arched walkways underneath for pedestrians. This particular portico is shaped like a Romanesque cloister, made of rows of double columns. The outer columns are straight and tall, resembling palm trees. The inner ones lean inward, following the natural slope of the land. You really feel like you’re walking inside a giant ocean wave! Now, why the name “Washerwoman”? Look closely at one of the columns — you’ll see a caryatid carved in the form of a washerwoman. However, not everyone agrees on this interpretation. Some art historians suggest it’s actually inspired by the Offering Bearer, a famous Egyptian statuette housed in the Louvre Museum. Whatever the truth, Gaudí once again plays with nature, myth, and meaning — turning even a simple walkway into a landmark full of history.