Park Guell, Barcelona, was originally conceived as a real estate sub-division for the wealthy. A few houses were built for those closely involved with the project, but a lack of buyers led to the works being abandoned in 1914. 

The land was eventually offered to the City Council who turned the area into a park for the people.

Architect Antoni Gaudi was involved in the design of the sub-division and also lived in one of the houses built on the site. The land sits on the side of a hill and offers good views over the city and out to the sea. It is very popular with locals as a recreation area. Indeed, in certain areas of the park, the number of people allowed in at any one time is restricted – your entry ticket stipulates a time when you can enter the park.

The day we visited was sunny and warm. People strolled around the paths that cross over the hillside, enjoying a picnic or listening to buskers.

There is plenty of evidence of architect Gaudi’s work, including his use of broken ceramic tiles to make mosaics, including a marvelous lizard.