The surrealistic public park of Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain*

*WS 65: The surrealistic public park of Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain*

Barcelona is the home of this genius architect Antoni Gaudi. 7 of his building projects are grouped together and recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site as "Works of Antoni Gaudi". The only man given that honour. In 2017 we visited this Park Guell, one of his 7 projects.  

Park Guell is a surrealistic public park, beautifully landscaped and features architectural elements in Gaudí's signature style. Built from 1900 to 1914, it features a dragon fountain covered in bright ceramic mosaics, viaducts, a colonnaded hall, winding staircases, spectacular terraces, etc. Gaudi stayed in a house here for 20 years, now a museum.

First the entrance guardhouse and the perimeter fencing, then the general view of the central terrace and the dragon (or alligator) fountain at the center. Next the colonnaded Hypostyle room and the open square on top of the room, with curved and tiled benches. And lastly a viaduct, rough and earthly, a strong contrast with the smooth tiled elements in other places. Only Gaudi could dare to do that.