Saturday, March 24, 2012

Park Guell, Barcelona

The wavy, serpentine seats at Park Guell



A mosaic covered dragon at the entrance to Park Guell

The dragon has since been restored after an act of vandalism in Feb 2007


The tiles have been intentional cracked to blend with the overall mosaic patterns





A unique ceiling mosaic tile




Doesn't this look like a Gingerbread house with smarties adorning its windows ?

Gaudi's whimsical style makes Park Guell a truly unique and iconic landmark


The park was originally part of a commercially unsuccessful housing site. Named after Count Eusebi Guell, Gaudi's long time friend and patron, it lies on the site of a rocky hill overlooking Barcelona. It became a public park in 1922 and is the best and most famous example of Art Nouveau landscape-architecture. Designated as a  UNESO World Heritage Site, its shapes and colours were inspired by natural forms which Gaudi, a devout catholic, saw as instances of divine craftsmanship. The park is beautiful for its serpentine terraces, seats, galleries decorated with mosaics of broken ceramics, a unique Gaudi trademark.

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