For a unique vacation, head to the village of Santa Coloma de Cervello, just 20 km from Barcelona city center and home to the magnificent Colonia Guell.
In this article, I'll tell you what to expect when you get there.
La Colonia Guell: article summary
What you need to know about Colonia Guell
Spain's industrial revolution in the 19ᵉ century led to the creation of workers' colonies outside the city on estates owned by industrialists. Colonia Guell was one such colony. However, it was different from the others because of Eusebi Guell's wish to to improve the lives of the people who worked for him.
Construction of the colony began in 1890, and at Guell's request, Gaudi and his contemporaries were commissioned to build it. The colony had theaters, schools, gardens and an Athenaeum for residents.
Why should you visit Barcelona's Colonia Guell?
If you're a history and architecture buff, a visit to the site will give you an insight into art as it existed at the time of the industrial revolution.
Gaudi's crypt at the Colonia Guell church is a site of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and carries the know-how of Gaudi.
Many of Barcelona's structures are overcrowded with tourists, and if you're looking for a quiet place to spend some time admiring and carefully observing Gaudi's work, you've come to the right place, there's no better place than the colony.
Visit the crypt of Colonia Guell
Gaudi envisioned a church with upper and lower naves, topped by towers and a 40-metre-high central dome. But Guell was unable to finance the construction after 1914. The single room built remains an excellent example of Gaudi's work and is known as the crypt of Colonia Guell. A replica of the original design now stands in a pavilion near the construction site and looks like La Sagrada Familia.
The crypt of Colonia Guell is in harmony with nature and welcomes you with its curved pillars at the entrance. It's considered the most important place on the site, so make sure you don't miss out! spend enough time exploring the intricacies of the crypt.
How does a visit to Colonia Guell work?
Once you've collected your audio guide and a map from the visitor center, you can start strolling through the streets of the colony. Some of Gaudi's characteristic style will become immediately apparent. This is all the more true in the vicinity of the crypt, which is at one with its verdant surroundings.
On site, the church's stained glass windows and parabolic walls reflect Gaudi's work in all its beauty.
Once you know more about Gaudi, you can return to the visitor center. Return the audioguide before take the train back to Barcelona.
How much do tickets cost?
To access this site, you must count :
- 14.30 per person
The tour includes an audioguide that lets you translate the show in front of you. You can then learn more about the history of this place. a few kilometers from Barcelona.
What are the opening hours?
There are different opening times, depending on when you want to visit Colonia Guell.
During the summer months, between May and October, Colonia Guell remains open:
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- And from 3 pm to 7 pm.
Every weekend and during the winter months from November to April, the site remains open:
- From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The site closes on December 25 and 26, 1ᵉʳ and January 6, Palm Sunday and Good Friday.
How do I get there?
To reach Gaudi's crypt from Barcelona, you can either take the bus or the train.
Visit train, S4, S8 and S33 are the three train lines that link Barcelona to the historic site. The journey takes 30 minutes.
If you choose to take the bus, board lines L70 and L72 from Barcelona Pl. Espanya and settle in for a 40-minute ride to Frédéric Mompou. From here, it's about a 15-minute walk to the crypt.
While in Barcelona, I strongly recommend a visit to Colonia Guell. There you can see for yourself the impact of Gaudi's work in Catalonia. A perfect place to travel back in time.
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