The Colònia Güell was built on the lower part of the slope of the mountains of Santa Coloma de Cervelló, beside the road that links Sant Boi to Sant Vicenç dels Horts. This road, which runs alongside the right channel of the river Llobregat, separates the irrigated farmland on the plain of the lower valley of the Llobregat from the dry fields that extended at that time across the slopes the mountain, alternating with some pinewoods.

Thus, the ensemble of the Colony was situated between cultivated fields and pinewoods. The fact that there has been no significant modification of its urban structure over the course of time has allowed this setting to be preserved to a large extent.

Nevertheless, the cultivated area has diminished. Grain is grown in the area nearest the Colony, and cherries are cultivated closer to the mountain. The pinewoods are located in the areas around the school and the church.

The Gaudí path is a track that runs from the entrance of the factory to the church, passing through a pinewood. It is used by the residents of the Colony for walks. At its start, near the factory, lies the sinofós bench where pensioners often sit to chat.

In the pinewoods surrounding the church there are also some benches where one may sit to enjoy the peace of this area. There is a fountain in the pinewood that is known as the “forest of Joaquim Folguera”, near the church. The pinewoods are a favourite place for walking among the residents of the Colony as well as among visitors and especially schoolchildren.

The most peaceful corner is doubtless the area structured around a trail that runs between the Gaudí path and Carrer Lluís Artó. It features a great profusion of acanthus plants which display all their exuberance in spring if the weather is not too dry.

Some buildings separated from the urban core of the Colony are of interest to visitors: the farmhouse of Can Julià de la Muntanya, next to the visitors’ parking area, and the Salbana tower. Between these two structures lies the Colony’s soccer pitch.

Can Julià is an old farmhouse that is still partly inhabited, as is another structure that stands quite near it. Part of the farmhouse is in ruins. Between Can Julià and the urban core of the Colony, near the track that leads down from the parking area, the new Colonia Güell school is under construction. This facility is very necessary to attend to the growing need for school places in the municipality.

The Salbana tower is a well-preserved structure from the 12th century. Built against it, however, is a construction from the 19th century, which is in ruins. The tower was declared a historic-artistic monument in 1949.