Palau Güell

Palau Güell review

A fortress-like edifice shoehorned into a narrow six-storey sliver, the Palau Güell was Gaudí's first major commission, begun in 1886 for textile baron Eusebi Güell. After major structural renovation, it has partially reopened to the public, and is expected to fully reopen in 2010. For the time being visitors can look around the subterranean stables, with an exotic canopy of stone palm fronds on the ceiling, and the ground floor. Here the vestibule has ornate mudéjar carved ceilings from which the Güells could snoop on their arriving guests through the jalousie trellis-work; at the heart of the house lies the spectacular six-storey hall complete with musicians' galleries and topped by a dome covered in cobalt honeycomb tiles. Visitors are also shown a short video about the building. The antidote to this dark and gloomy palace lies on its roof terrace, decorated with a rainbow forest of 20 mosaic-covered chimneys.