Discover the Parc Guell & Horta areas of Barcelona

Description of Parc Guell and Horta

Between the mountains behind Barcelona called la serra de collserola is a series of small hills in the Carmel district. Located on these hills is the Gaudi urbanisation of Parc Guell which via a short walk is linked to parc Guinardo and the Carmel Bunkers known as Turo Carmel which was the location for a large anti-ariel bombardment gun emplacement during the civil war and was a popular night spot for drinking and enjoying the panoramic views of the city.

Parc Guell is named after Eusebi Guell, a rich catalan entrepreneur who contracted Antoni Gaudi to construct a premium residential complex in the hills outside of downtown barcelona for the wealthy merchants of the city. The project was a comercial failure due to it being too far from the city centre and only two houses inside the estate were actually built. Upon the death of Eusebi Guell died in 1918, his heirs gifted the unfinished housing estate to the City Council and it and opened as a municipal park in 1926.

Within Parc guell is a separate museum called Casa Gaudi which is the former home of antoni Gaudi. Tickets can be found via the sagrada familia website.

I recommend visiting Parc Guell and Carmel Bunkers together in one day. Both sites offer spectacular panoramic views of the Barcelona city. For more information click on one of the photos below.

I have amalgamated the adjacent La Salut, El Carmel, El Guinardo and La Vall d'Hebron neighbourhoods to make this list of things to do and see in the area. It covers from the top of the Gracia neighbourhood up to the edge of the city with parc collserola. These neighbourhoods are modern residential constructions, (Horta means field or allotment) and non-touristy so do not have many hotels and few attractions but there are some gems hidden away such as the labyrinth de Horta park.

Labrinth de Horta sits in the foothills of collserola and is the oldest garden in Barcelona and located in the grounds of a former mansion. It can be visited on its own or combined with a walking route to tibidabo.

Happy Exploring!