La Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi

 The extraordinary unfinished church designed by a world-known architect Antonio Gaudi is a symbol of Barcelona.
The majestic Temple of the Sagrada Familia (Temple of the Holy Family) was started in 1882, though Gaudi was not the first architect to work on this project. The temple was conceived as a conventional Gothic-style church, but when Gaudi at the age of 32 started to work on it (at the end of 1883), he was given free rein and his unconventional ideas changed the building considerably.

By the time Gaudi died only one bell-tower had been completed and 10 years after architect’s death during Civil War his plans for the Sagrada Familia were destroyed, so it is impossible to be sure what the finished church would have looked like.
However, in 1952 the work on the building started again and nowadays it is still on though at quite a slow pace.

The current plan is to finish the temple by 2026 for the centenary of Gaudi’s death. La Sagrada Familia has always been an expiatory church, which means that from the outset (125 years ago) till now it has been built from donations.

The Nativity Façade was begun in 1891 and was finished during Gaudi’s life time in 1904, thus bears plenty of his hallmarks. At first sight the quaint façade may seem to be a jumble of molten wax: figures of saints, different species of birds and plants (from both Catalan and Holy Land), angels and the Holy Family are depicted in a very special manner.

The Passion façade causes lots of disputes, because it was completed by another architect and evidently doesn’t bear many of Gaudi’s hallmarks. The figures on this façade are harsh and angular and they were designed by a Catalan sculptor Joseph M. Subirachs. You may like it or not, however take a look at this façade to see the difference with your own eyes.

The crypt of the church in neo-gothic style was actually designed by Francesc de Villar, the architect who first started working on the building. Now there is a museum devoted to La Sagrada Familia, where some original sketches and Gaudi’s drawings are displayed. As a mark of respect, Antoni Gaudi’s body is entombed in one of the chapels of the crypt.

There are now 4 towers above each of the Nativity and Passion façade (8 in total), but it is envisaged to built a total of 18 towers, dedicated to 12 apostles, the four evangelists, Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. The spires are covered with ceramic mosaics and there are words in Latin - Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Hosanna in Excelsis (Holy, Holy, Holy, Glory to God in the Highest) written on the top.

The towers can be reached by climbing the spiral staircases; either you can take an elevator which will get you to the top of the spires. The views of the city and a close-up view of the spires and central nave are breathtaking and worth-seeing. So don’t forget to take your camera with you to take a couple of stunning pictures.

There are lots of souvenir stalls and gift shops in the area around selling all kinds of souvenirs, books, postcards etc. with the views of Sagrada Familia.

Opening hours:
April to September Daily 09.00 – 20.00
October to March Daily 09.00 – 18.00
25-26 December, 1st and 6th of January 09.00-14.00

Admission fees:  Adults 11 euros, children under 10 free, reduced 10 euros, for students and seniors – 9 euros. Lift to the towers - 2,50 euros per person. Audioguide 4 euros

Address: Mallorca, 401

How to get there:
By metro: Violet Line L2 and Blue Line L5 - Sagrada Familia stop
By bus: 19, 33, 43, 50, 51 and also Tourist bus

Some useful tips:
• Better come to see it in the morning hours, first, because it gets crowded very fast and second, because there are plenty of things to view.
• At night La Sagrada Familia is lit up, and the scene of that gorgeous church is fascinating.
• Be sure to take with you some documentation if you plan to use the audioguides, you will be asked to leave it as a security deposit.
• Be sure to dress appropriately – no sleeveless shirts, no shorts.

Webpage: http://www.sagradafamilia.org