Portico of the Washerwoman

The Washerwoman's Portico

The Barcelona audio-guided tour leads you, in Park Güell, under the Washerwoman's Portico, the Portic de la Bugadera. This gallery with slanting columns, which follows the slope of the ground, illustrates Gaudi's genius for blending architecture into nature.

A viaduct turned cloister

To cross the park, Gaudi built a whole series of viaducts wide enough for the passage of carriages, with, below, arcaded paths for pedestrians. This portico takes the form of a Romanesque cloister supported by rows of double columns: vertical outer columns shaped like palm trees, and slanting inner columns, following the natural slope of the ground, which create a striking wave effect.

What there is to see

The portico's name comes from a figure sculpted in a column, evoking a washerwoman carrying her basket on her head. The wrought-iron gate leading to it was compared by Dali to calves' livers. The first example of an organic architecture blended into the landscape, the portico illustrates how Gaudi drew on the forms of nature to build.

Practical information

The Washerwoman's Portico is in the monumental zone of Park Güell, in Barcelona. Access to this zone is ticketed and limited, with hours that vary by season; it is best to plan ahead. The portico, shaded, offers a refreshing stop during the walk through the park.

Where does the name Washerwoman's Portico come from ?

From a figure sculpted in a column, depicting a washerwoman carrying her basket on her head.

What is special about the portico's columns ?

The inner columns are slanted, following the slope of the ground, and create a wave effect that blends the structure into the landscape.