Barcelona is a Spanish city where art is energetically mixed with delicious cuisine, great music festivals, fashion with an alternative flavour and fascinating traditions linked to the identity of Catalonia. The monuments and museums to visit in Barcelona are numerous and varied and many are connected to Catalan modernism and, in particular, to the work of architect Antoni Gaudí.
The extraordinary Parc Güell, with its colourful tiles, sinuous shapes and elements reminiscent of nature, is a must-see if you want to get to know one of the souls of the city better.
Tickets to enter the Parc Güell
Buying tickets for the Parc Güell in Barcelona in advance is strongly recommended: in order to preserve the architectural structures, the natural environment, but also the right of residents to enjoy the park, entry is restricted and only permitted at certain times of the day.
The park is located on a hill, from where you can admire a wonderful panorama of the city. With the entrance ticket to the Parc Güell you can see all those architectural works that Gaudí masterfully integrated into the spaces of nature. Examples are the Plaça de la Natura, a large terrace embraced by a long, colourful bench (a popular spot for selfies!), the fanciful ceramic Salamander that dominates the steps near the entrance and the Austrian Gardens. If you want to visit Gaudí’s house-museum, the home within the park where the architect lived for almost twenty years, you need a different ticket.
There is also the possibility of booking a guided tour in Italian with an official guide who will be waiting for you directly at the garden.
The Parc Güell was commissioned by the industrialist Eusebi Güell to Gaudí in 1900 and the work lasted until at least 1914. Initially a private garden, it was later donated to the city by Güell’s heirs and since 1984 has also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today we are lucky enough to be able to visit it in all its wonderful uniqueness.
Visit Parc Güell and Sagrada Familia with a single ticket
Looking out from the colourful balustrade of the park, two things jump out at you in the panorama: the sea on the horizon and, closer, the imposing Sagrada Familia. Together with structures such as the Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, this immense religious building is one of Gaudí’s works that must be included in a trip to Barcelona.
With the ticket combining entry to the Parc Güell and the Sagrada Familia, you can avoid long queues before your visit and will be entitled to a convenient transfer between the two attractions. In addition, with this ticket you get the possibility of a guided tour through Gaudi’s spaces.
The Sagrada Familia was built as an expiatory temple at the behest of the Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José. The foundation stone was laid in 1881, but it was not until 1883 that the project was entrusted to Antoni Gaudí. To this day, the building is still under construction and it is estimated that it will be finally completed in a few years. Already from the outside, the church is striking in its solemnity: from here one can admire the three large façades, dedicated to the Nativity, the Passion and the Glory of Jesus. In addition to these, there are the towers, built in reference to the apostles, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. Finally, inside, you will undoubtedly be enraptured by the play of light and colours created by the stained glass windows.
The streets of Barcelona are overflowing with art from every era and art lovers will know what to look for, from ancient Roman ruins to the works of MACBA – Barcelona’s Museum of Contemporary Art – and the rooms of the Joan Miró Foundation.