La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is one of Gaudí's most impressive works. This enormous church, as yet unfinished, is in some respect a summary of everything that Gaudí designed before, because the structural difficulties he faced and errors he committed in other projects are revisited and resolved here. It's a giant temple that has been under construction since 1882 and it's not expected to be completed for between 30 to 80 years (time for completion varies depending on different sources of information).

The Temple of the Sagrada Famila is visited by more than a million people annually by staying in Barcelona hotels, and this doesn't take into account those who stand outside and simply gasp on the sidewalks. After taking on this project, Antoni Gaudí's enormously ambitious undertaking became the main project for the rest of his life. According to my guidebook, at the time of his death in 1926, only the crypt, apse and part of the Nacimiento (Nativity) facade and one tower had been completed. As a mark of respect, Antoni Gaudí's body is entombed in the crypt. One of the main projects being considered is the construction of the central tower, which is planned to soar way above the existing ones. There has been much debate about completing the massive temple which has acquired almost an iconic status. Some feel it should be left unfinished and others want to see it done. (I would sure love to see it's completion in my lifetime!). Fortunately Barcelona's commitment to the temple has continued construction for more than 70 years after his death. I strongly feel that whether you love or hate this building, you will never forget the first time you set eyes on it. You can take a virtual tour on their WebPages.

La Sagrada Familia is a striking example of Gaudi's unique Art Nouveau architecture and is filled with religious symbolism and meaning. Eight of the intended twelve towers have been built, which rise to over 100 meters. These represent the Twelve Apostles and each one bears the name and statue of its apostle.

The interior is still under construction. It is impressive when you have a good look though. There is an overview of types of stone used for the pillars, which made me appreciate the structure even more.

Construction on Sagrada Família is not supported by any government or official church sources. Private patrons funded the initial stages. The ongoing construction of Sagrada Familia is paid for by tourism. Some hotels in Barcelona even offer free tours to the Temple for their clients. It is a really good idea, because hotel tourists have their own qualified and experienced guide, who knows the history of the Temple, from the beginning till nowadays. Money from tickets purchased by tourists is now used to pay for the work, and private donations are accepted through the Friends of the Temple. When the church is complete, it will have a total of 18 towers, each dedicated to a different religious figure, and each one hollow, allowing the placement of various types of bells which will sound with the choir.

La Sagrada Familia is easily accessed by bus or the excellent Barcelona metro and has its own metro stop where line 2 and line 5 meet. It is open daily between 9am and 8pm from April to September and between 9am and 6pm from October to March.

Gaudi was once quoted as saying “The patron of this project is not in a hurry.” Well it’s a good job, because who knows when it will be finished.

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