Parc Guell in Barcelona

Parc Guell is an 18 hectare park in Barcelona. It was created in 1900 in a rocky area outside the then city limits of Barcelona as a housing development based on the English Garden City movement. Count Guell hired Gaudi to design the site with gardens and places for houses. Unfortunately it was too far out of town and not a success financially. However, the Park is now magnificent and well worth a visit.
Below is a map of the park showing the one house that did get built at the top and its access road winding down the steep hill.

In places the road has to be supported by pillars under which is a promenade. The architecture is typical Gaudi, extraordinary and fanciful.

A view under the road on the promenade

 The gardens are quite naturalistic and contrast with the striking architecture

In one area, a large sand filled promenade area with seating was created on columns that juts out of the hillside. This area was intended as a gathering place for people to walk about. It also served another purpose as rain water was filtered through the sand into tanks below. The water was used to irrigate the gardens. The seating around the area was made from disused and broken tiles collected from potteries in the area.

The seats were curved so groups of people could sit and talk to each other while seeing their companions.

Looking over the edge of the promenade, you can see the two gate houses that guard the entrance. The decoration is typically fanciful Gaudi

The overflow from the water tanks is a dramatic reptile again made using broken pottery and tiles. It is a very famous structure that attracts tourists who seem to like to climb on it to be photographed.

The tile work and design of even the simplest walls is amazing