Most imaginative public park
Located in La Salut, Park Güell is a Gaudi designed public park. Probably it is the most original and imaginative public park that has ever been built.
Park Guell Interesting Facts
Ambitious residential enclave
Park Güell was initially designed as part of a high-class mountainside residential enclave that was envisioned by Eusebi Guell, Catalan textile magnate and politician. Guell loved Greek Mythology and symbolism. He wanted to develop a new city of Dephi and to that end, he bought 15- hectare plot of land on a low uneven hill, four kilometers from the old part of the City of Barcelona. Gaudi was commissioned to bring Guell’s vision to reality and design the exclusive neighborhood.
Converted to a public park
However, the far-flung location and high pricing meant that the residential complex was a commercial failure. By the time, the project was called off, the residential park and a model house were ready. Barcelona City Council bought the park and converted it into a municipal garden, the model house became Gaudi’ residence.
World heritage status
In 1984, UNESCO declared the Park Güell a World Heritage Site under “Works of Antoni Gaudí”. Since October 2013, visitors have to pay an entrance fee to enter the ‘
Monumental Zone’ while access to rest of the park remains free. The fee was imposed, in part, to reduce the numbers of visitors entering the Monumental zone. The idea seems to have worked as according to the data, there has been a sharp decrease in visitors, from approximately nine million in 2012 to 2.7 in 2015.