Dragon Stairway

The Dragon staircase

The Barcelona audio-guided tour reveals, at the entrance to Park Güell, the monumental double staircase of the Drac, the Dragon. Crowned by its famous mosaic salamander, it is one of the most recognisable images of Gaudi's work.

The city of a thousand dragons

Barcelona is rich in hundreds of representations of dragons, so much so that it is sometimes nicknamed Drakcelona: facades, porticoes, churches and street lamps bear their mark. This presence goes back to a 9th-century legend, that of a dragon that terrorised the region and to which the inhabitants offered cattle, before Saint George slew it. The dragon is also linked to the founding myth of Catalonia.

What there is to see

The staircase is organised in landings, along which flows the water of a fountain once fed by the park's cistern. The multicoloured salamander, covered in trencadis (mosaic of ceramic fragments), is its centrepiece, having become the emblem of Park Güell. Beyond it begins the hypostyle hall, supported by its slanting columns.

Practical information

The Dragon staircase is in the monumental zone of Park Güell, on the Carmel hill in Barcelona. Access to this zone is ticketed and limited, with hours that vary by season; it is best to plan ahead. As the salamander is much photographed, the place is often very busy.

What does the staircase salamander represent ?

Covered in trencadis mosaic, it has become the emblem of Park Güell and one of the most famous images of Barcelona.

Why so many dragons in Barcelona ?

The dragon, linked to the legend of Saint George and to the Catalan myth, is present in their hundreds on the city's facades and monuments.