Colonia Güell

Located in the industrial suburbs just southwest of Barcelona proper, this is really a half-day excursion, easy to reach thanks to the frequent FGC commuter trains from Plaça de Espanya (lines S4, S8 and S33 all stop at the Colònia Güell station). The trip takes about 20min

At the end of the 19th century, tycoons everywhere were building planned industrial communities out beyond the suburbs, looking for more room to grow, but more importantly, hoping to avoid the constant labour disputes and class violence of the cities.

In Barcelona, Eusebi Güell began his own little adventure in planned rural paternalism in 1890, located in what was then open country at Santa Coloma de Cervelló. Güell shut down his Barcelona cotton mills, fired all his Anarchist employees, and headed out for the promised land.