Palau Güell

Another day of exploring, wandering around the city really.  I had by all intentions finally decided that it’ll never rain here and as such I needed to reluctantly partake in indoor touristy things.  I decided to make such first venture to the national Cathedral and read somewhere that there’s even live choir music after 2pm on weekdays. 

I metro down to the Liceu (the metro line that gets me the closest without having to transfer) and walk the rest of the way.  Now I can’t impress upon you all enough that it is getting hotter and hotter here each and every day with 2-5pm being the absolutely worst time to be out and about.  But I’m dedicated to providing you all with cultural updates and damn it, I’m going.  Of course I’m heading to a Catholic Cathedral and remember that I need to wear something that covers my shoulders.  What I failed to piece together is that they were going to turn you away for wearing shorts.  Well then, thanks anyway! 

So slightly annoyed and extremely hot, I decide to once again start walking aimlessly assuming I’ll stumble upon something of some cultural importance, which I’ll later research and provide you all details on.  Somehow, in following the crowd I ended up on some historical path that used to be old Roman and Jewish quarters.  

I’ll have to go back to and provide more of an update on this later; however where this ultimately lead me to was Palau Güell. 

The home that Anthoni Guadi built for Eusebi Güell prior to devoting the remainder of his life to Sangrada Familia, is regarded as one of Guadi’s great works.  It is a mansion located on the streets between old town and Para-lel, which I would have missed had I not seen a queue of tourists.  Following are some pictures with limited details as I’ve been accused of sounding too much like a tour book with my descriptions (note that most facts will come from some sort of publication, be it a tour book or literature obtained during a tour.  I’m neither an encyclopedia nor a scholar of Spanish history – art or otherwise).  

Briefly I will say however, per the audio-tour, Güell was married to with 10 children.  While Guadi was requested by his dear friend Eusebi Güell to build a home meant to reflect the family’s status and wealth, it’s said that this was not Güell’s wife’s idea of a home at all.

Upon entering, you see the following ceiling tiles.  This room leads to the old horse stable area

Base of the ramp which horses were lead down to the stable area (essentially the basement of the house)

The pillars which support the weight of the house (in the stable area)

A cast iron ring which was used to hold horses.   

One of the two outside doors, which has cast-iron formed in a manner that allowed the Güell family to see outside but not allow outsiders to see in.

Staircase that leads up to a large room where visitors would be entertained

Outside window casing of the bay window (located in a large room where visitors were entertained). The shades had to be specially designed; I believe they said there were over 20 different shades needed to cover the entire window.  

Another intricately designed ceiling.    

View from lower level (there are three levels) to the area where guest were entertained, concerts occurred and Catholic Church services were held.  Notice that the ceiling was constructed to look like the sky at night.  

Stained glass window in bedroom of oldest daughter’s room that depict two Shakespeare characters; Hamlet and MacBeth.  

Rooftop of Palau Güell.  All of these are chimney tops for all fireplaces in the home, for which, you can see, there are many.  The exception being, the large dome in the center with the weathervane on top; this is actually the top of the 3 story area where entertaining and church services took place