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 Barcelona
- Güell Park and Horta
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From the Plaça de Lesseps From the Plaça de Lesseps in Gracia,
Güell Park can be reached via the Travessera de Dalt and the Plaça
Sanllehí. This famous park, built by Gaudí, stands on Carmel Hill
from where there is a magnificent view out across the city and the sea. The financier
Eusebi Güell wanted to make a city garden there but only a small part of
it was actually built. The lower section of the park is surrounded by a wall
that is decorated with coloured roofs in the purest Gaudí style. Leaving
behind the little square located here we go up a curious flight of steps where
there is a fountain flowing out of the mouth of a large toad. At the end of the
steps we find the amazing "hall of 100 Columns" (in fact there are
only 80) on whose ceiling can be seen real "collages" consisting
of the most varied of objects, including pieces of broken plate, china dolls,
glasses
and glass bottles, etc. Above this hall is the square that is fringed with
undulating benches - yet another of the artistic discoveries on the part of
this architect
of genius. The containing wall in the upper part of the square seems to be
inspired by the texture of the trunks of palm trees.
Near here we have the Gaudí Museum which contains plans, photographs,
furniture and many objects related to the park and to the architect's life.
Of further interest is the road which winds up over the most imaginative bridges,
as if in an enchanted world, until it reaches a promontory crowned by three
crosses. The Plaça de Lesseps is reached by taking the Travessera de
Dalt once again. From here we take the Avinguda de l´Hospital Militar,
and, passing through the picturesque Vallcarca district, come to the Passeig
de la Vall d´Hebron. Access to several interesting sites is possible
on the left hand side at the foot of the mountain. For example, there is the
Church of Sant Genís dels Agudells, the "Hogares Mundet" (an
Old Peoples Home), the ultramodern cycle track, and especially "El laberint" -
an estate with several buildings, outside staircases, sculptures and other
installations dating from the 18C and 19C, set in the middle of a large park.
There is also a maze made from cypress trees for the delight of both young
and old.
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