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Ended up here by chance and without expectations. What a magic place with the most interesting history. So worth a visit, and listen to the guide, watch the view and enjoy all the details.
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Date of experience: January 2020
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Our plans to see Gaudi’s first house, Palau Guell were thwarted because we went on one of the free Sundays but we didn't know to book ahead. Entry is free but you still need a ticket and the trick is to book in advance online. We turned up reasonably early but there is a limit on numbers and all of the slots were gone already. Palau Guell is actually not so expensive anyway (€12). It is by far the most budget-friendly of Barcelona’s Gaudi houses. Casa Battlo and Casa Mila both have hefty entry fees, starting at €25 and €24. We would have gone the following day but it’s closed on Mondays so we missed out altogether. Disappointing as it was to miss out on Palau Guell, we found that you can still see a lot from the outside. There is no fence or wall so you see the whole façade and some (but not much) of the distinctive Gaudi rooftop. Gaudi designed this house in 1885 when he was still a rookie. Eusebi Guell, the wealthy industrialist, gave the young Gaudi this first commission (he would later commission him to build Parc Guell). Straight away, the city mansion strikes you as strangely forbidding, creepy even. Depending on your age, the Addams Family comes to mind. The main features are: • The façade is harsh, the stone walls are severe and the decoration really doesn’t lighten anything up. It’s all intricate and twisting black wrought iron patterns and window grilles. • The large twin entry gates are the most obvious feature. They stand almost 5m high and above each entry is an ornate, black ‘G’ at the top, representing the Guell family. When visitors came and went, their horse-drawn carriages could enter through these gates and pull up beside the grand stairs where the guests would get out. Guell’s well-to-do guests would never need to stand on the street and their carriage would be led to underground stables. From the street, you can see inside to the spot that the carriages pulled up. • A phoenix hovers above the entry, with outstretched wings represents Catalan renaissance. He looks medieval creepy. Beneath the phoenix, the striped decoration represents the four stripes of the Catalan flag. • I particularly liked some of the small detail in the wrought iron. Close up, you can spot snakes writhing through sides of the gateways • Rooftop Terrace – from across the road, you can see the tops of Gaudi’s brightly coloured ceramic and tile chimney stacks. GETTING THERE: Palau Guell is just off Las Ramblas, in the Raval district. It is off to your right as you head towards the waterfront and the Colombus Monument. We combined seeing Palau Guell with lunch at the waterfront at Tapa Tapa, a walk along the harbour promenade and a visit to the Maritime Museum.…
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Date of experience: January 2020
2 Helpful votes
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Visited today and really enjoyed it. The building is very well designed with great views from the roof terrace. The audio guide is excellent.
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Date of experience: July 2020
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If you have time and nothing to do, you can go here. All the house museums like this are all about the same to me. Interesting but once you've seen one, also kind of boring.
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Date of experience: February 2020
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My husband and I spent an hour there, somehow it is nice to go but you got to book tickets in advance, always better to book everything online. Or you go early a bit before they open so you only have to queue 5-10mins. It got busy quickly, go early is the best, and too much sun in the afternoon thats not nice to take pic on the roof.…
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Date of experience: July 2019
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