Trencadis Serpentine Mosaic Tile Bench at Park Guell Barcelona

Antoni Gaudi’s trencadis mosaic tile bench at Park Guell is a major tourist attraction in Barcelona’s Gracia district. Trencadis is a type of mosaic using broken tiles and was popular with the Catalan modernism style. Gaudi used this style in many of his designs.

The serpentine mosaic bench at Park Guell is an exceptional example of mosaic tile used in a functional architectural design.

In this article you will learn about visiting Park Guell in Barcelona where you can see the beautiful trencadis mosaic bench and the wonderful views.

 

 

 

Tossed out tile transformed to trencadis

To create the bench Gaudi utilized discarded tiles from a nearby factory for the magnificent serpentine mosaic tile bench at Park Guell.

Of course all of the bits and pieces in a mosaic must fit together somehow. Each piece found it’s place within the tile bench. The beautiful thing with trencadis style mosaic is that the tiles need not match in exact color or style. Although there are many sections of the serpentine bench where the design is clearly planned and executed.

Part of the planning included drainage holes where the backrest and seating area meet up. This allows the rain to flow away rather than settling on the bench.

READ MORE: 25 Best Places to See in Barcelona

 

 

View from Gaudi’s mosaic tile bench

 

 

Originally Park Guell was planned as a housing development by industrialist Eusebi Guell. The construction was to include 60 lots for luxury homes located away from central Barcelona.

 

 

Unfortunately the development was a flop as only two lots were sold and the project was abandoned by Guell in 1914. After Eusebi Guell’s death his heirs offered the land to the city of Barcelona which acquired it in 1922 and later opened it as a park.

Park Guell was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

 

 

How much time do you need to see Park Guell

In total I spent five hours wandering around Park Guell on a beautiful spring day. The park is so popular that there is a limit of 400 people admitted to the park every 30 minutes to avoid overcrowding.

After purchasing my ticket at 1:00 pm (for 2:00 pm entry) I wandered the public area that doesn’t require payment for admittance.

 

 

Plan to spend at least a couple of hours to wander around Park Guell. I recommend packing a picnic lunch or purchasing same at one of the vendors just outside the park.

 

 

Though the park is a major attraction and hundreds of people flock to it daily I was able to find a nice quiet bench to enjoy my sandwich of salami & cheese on a baguette style bread. I was joined by a few pigeons in the park.

 

 

 

Gaudi mosaic tile bench detail images

Once in the paid admittance area I made my way to the serpent shape mosaic tile bench on the terrace.

I couldn’t stop taking pictures of all the beautiful mosaic tile. So many beautiful combinations of colors and design caught my eye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Park Guell is the perfect place to spend some time in Barcelona – enjoying nature and people watching on Antoni Gaudi’s beautiful trencadis serpentine mosaic tile bench.

I walked to Park Guell from Casa Vicens – another magnificent work of architecture by Antoni Gaudi. You can get to Park Guell via Metro green line and get off at Lesseps or Vallcarca station.

 

---

Park Guell Barcelona Visitor info

Address

Carrer d’Olot, Barcelona

Phone Number

+34 934 091 831 Monday to Sunday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Park Guell Hours

• Summer 8 am – 9:10 pm
• Winter 8:30 am – 6:15 pm

Admission Cost

• Adults  €10.00
• Children 7+ and seniors: €7.00
• Children 6 and under) FREE

How to Get to Park Guell

• Metro stops Lesseps or Vallcarca on the green line L3
• Bus 24 at Passeig de Gracia or Placa Catalunya takes you to the gates of Park Guell

 

---