Collserola Mountains: Collserola is a mountain range between the rivers Besòs and Llobregat. It is part of the Catalan Coastal Range. The Collserola mountain range and natural park is located about nine kilometres north of Barcelona, and it is the perfect getaway spot for hiking, horseback riding, family outings and picnics.

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The Collserola range rising above Barcelona city
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The Collserola Mountains

 

 

Parc Güell: The Park Güell  is a public park system composed of gardens and architectonic elements located on Carmel Hill, in Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain). Carmel Hill belongs to the mountain range of Collserola.

With urbanization in mind, Eusebi Güell assigned the design of the park to Antoni Gaudí, a renowned architect and the face of Catalan modernism. The park was built between 1900 and 1914 and was officially opened as a public park in 1926. In 1984, UNESCO declared the park a World Heritage Site under “Works of Antoni Gaudí”.

Visit here for a visual tour.

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The two buildings at the entrance of the park

Antoni Gaudi: (25 June 1852 – 10 June 1926) was an architect from Reus, Catalonia, Spain. He is the best known practitioner of Catalan Modernism. Gaudí’s works have a highly individualized and distinctive style. Most are located in Barcelona, including his magnum opus, the Sagrada Família.

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Gaudí in 1878, by Pau Audouard

Gaudí’s work was influenced by his passions in life: architecture, nature, and religion. He considered every detail of his creations and integrated into his architecture such crafts as ceramics, stained glass, wrought ironwork forging and carpentry.