Combining functionalism and esthetics in the Washerwoman portico, Gaudí designed a sloping wall with a triple use: to naturally contain the terrain's rock fragments; to produce a surface area above wide enough for a road; and to create a pedestrian way on the lower level. All the columns, stemming from the portico's tilted supports, are different shapes and topped by mushroom-like capitals. The portico is named for the caryatid that adorns the first column.

It was pretty difficult to get this shot without people, but Jose Antonio and my husband were lookouts for people coming in either direction ;-).

This is a part of the portico: