La Sagrada Familia: análisis, significados e historia de la basílica

La Sagrada Familia es una de las iglesias católicas más emblemáticas y está localizada en la ciudad de Barcelona, España.

El templo fue proyectado por Antonio Gaudí a finales del siglo XIX. Pertenece al llamado modernismo, movimiento que recibió el nombre de Art Nouveau en Francia, Liberty en Italia, Jugendstil en Alemania y Sezessionstil en Austria.

La Sagrada Familia, fachada de La Natividad.

La Sagrada Familia todavía no ha terminado de construirse, aunque es posible que esta generación pueda asistir al resultado final. Aparentemente, el templo podrá ser culminado en el primer tercio del siglo XXI.

A pesar de que pueden distinguirse elementos que recuerdan al medioevo, la edificación no se enmarca en el estilo neogótico que alguna vez utilizó Gaudí, sino que representa un punto de inflexión en toda su obra. Veamos por qué.

Análisis de la Sagrada Familia

Detalle fachada La Natividad.

Podemos distinguir dos niveles de análisis cuando hablamos de la Sagrada Familia, uno referido a sus características estructurales y estéticas y otro referido a su función y significado. Ambos niveles se entrelazan y necesitan mutuamente. Fue esa una de las genialidades de Gaudí. La estructura, por tanto, es el recurso que le permite al arquitecto afirmar sus valores espirituales y estéticos.

Todo el monumento está pensado a partir de dos ejes fundamentales que conmovían al arquitecto: el discurso cristiano y la observación de la naturaleza. Por eso, la basílica no puede ser comprendida sin atención a estos dos elementos.

Gaudí acude a símbolos y alegorías de la Biblia y los relaciona estructural, formal y simbólicamente con la naturaleza. Y la verdad es que, para el arquitecto, la naturaleza era obra de Dios.

En lugar de hacer planos, Gaudí elaboraba maquetas tridimensionales con las cuales dirigía el proyecto. Una de sus técnicas era crear volúmenes usando un sistema de péndulos. Hecho esto, colocaba un espejo por debajo de estos y analizaba la imagen invertida que el reflejo ofrecía, lo que le permitía concebir y visualizar la estructura del edificio.

Estructura

Planta de la Sagrada Familia.

Esta iglesia está construida en una planta de cruz latina, a partir de la cual se forman cinco naves. Sobre el punto de cruce de la planta, se encuentra un ábside semicircular que corona el espacio.

Está pensado para destacar tres fachadas fundamentales: la fachada de la Natividad, la fachada de la Pasión y la fachada de la Gloria, todas ellas concebidas como grandes libros de piedra que relatan la llamada “historia de la salvación”.

Además, Gaudí proyectó la construcción de 18 torres. La más alta representará a Jesucristo, mientras que las demás representarán a los apóstoles, los evangelistas y la Virgen María. El monumento alcanzará así una altura máxima de 172,5 metros.

Detalle de escalera de caracol: la observación de la naturaleza resuelve una necesidad estructural.

El aspecto orgánico de las fachadas y del interior del templo deriva de la observación de la geometría de la naturaleza. No es de extrañar que las columnas asemejen troncos de árboles irregulares, ramajes, caracoles y muchos elementos más.

Se distinguen como su principal aporte constructivo la utilización de estructuras hiperboloides, paraboloides, helicoides, conoides y elipsoides.

De acuerdo con los expertos, las soluciones arquitectónicas o estructurales ideadas por Gaudí nunca se habían implementado, de manera que la estructura de la Sagrada Familia es, además, una tesis de construcción aún en desarrollo.

Los significados

Interior de la Sagrada Familia: columnas y apliques en el techo asemejan troncos y copas de árboles.

La luz es un elemento de la construcción, pero al mismo tiempo está cargada de significado. Esto es mucho más patente en el arte sacro. Así, Gaudí diseñó la iluminación de la Sagrada Familia para profundizar en las alegorías espirituales y no solo para iluminar el espacio funcionalmente.

El arquitecto usa vidrieras coloridas que aportan efectos emocionales, siguiendo en este caso la inspiración del arte gótico que prefería los tamices de colores que el uso de la luz diáfana.

Detalle de pináculos.

Así, la fachada de la Natividad recibe la luz del amanecer como símbolo del nacimiento de Jesús, luz del mundo. La fachada de la pasión recibe la luz del atardecer o del sol poniente, metáfora de la muerte de Jesús y su descenso a los infiernos. Y la fachada de la Gloria recibe la luz del pleno día que ilumina la nave central en todo su esplendor, símbolo de la resurrección.

Además de la luz, Gaudí utiliza el color en los apliques y detalles del monumento de manera simbólica. Por eso se puede ver color en pináculos y diversos motivos decorativos, siempre de talante alegórico.

Historia del templo

Contexto histórico cultural

En el siglo XIX, las artes y la arquitectura fueron sensiblemente afectadas por la industrialización que sustituía los procesos artesanales y hacía los productos más económicos a través de la producción en serie.

Para entonces, la belleza no era una preocupación del sector industrial, así que muchas cosas comenzaron a tornarse prácticas pero poco estéticas. Frente a esto, las artes respondieron con diferentes movimientos, algunos de los cuales se anclaban en procesos artesanales o en el revisionismo histórico, es decir, en el apego a las estéticas y recursos del pasado.

El modernismo, en cambio, fue un movimiento que buscó aprovechar los mejores recursos de la era industrializada pero en búsqueda de una estética que representara a su tiempo. Por ende, muchos artistas y arquitectos comenzaron a explorar con materiales y técnicas novedosas, buscando recuperar el sentido del gusto y la belleza. Más pronto que tarde, los estilos personales se hicieron notar.

El origen de la idea

Proyecto inicial para la Sagrada Familia propuesto por Villar.

Fue Josep María Bocabella quien tuvo la idea de hacer un templo dedicado a esta devoción. Bocabella era un librero de la ciudad vinculado con la Congregación de Hijos de la Sagrada Familia y la Congregación de Misioneras Hijas de la Sagrada Familia de Nazaret, fundadas por Josep Manyanet.

Con el propósito de recaudar los fondos necesarios, Bocabella fundó la Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José en 1866. Con los años, esto hizo posible que en 1881 se comprara el terreno.

Inicialmente, Bocabella pretendía hacer una réplica del santuario de Loreto en Italia y encargó el proyecto al arquitecto Francisco de Paula del Villar Lozano, quien dejó esa idea de lado y prefirió un concepto neogótico.

La primera piedra de la Sagrada Familia se puso en el año 1882 bajo la dirección de Villar, ceremonia que contaba con la presencia del joven Antonio Gaudí, ayudante del arquitecto Joan Martorell. Martorell, de hecho, cumplía funciones como asesor de Bocabella.

En 1883, se inició la construcción del templo, pero en ese mismo año Villar renunció tras diferencias irreconciliables con Bocabella. Este le solicitó a Martorell que se hiciera cargo, pero el arquitecto recusó y recomendó a su ayudante Antonio Gaudí. A partir de entonces, todo daría un giro inesperado.

Vea también Torre Eiffel

Entrada de Gaudí al proyecto

Fachada de la Natividad en tiempos de Gaudí.

Con algo de la construcción avanzada, Gaudí dio un vuelco al concepto de Villar y transformó este proyecto, su primer gran proyecto, en un novedoso desarrollo arquitectónico orgánico. Sabiendo que la Sagrada Familia demoraría generaciones, Gaudí realizó maquetas a escala para que sirvieran como modelos.

Gaudí acompañó la construcción del templo hasta su muerte, acaecida en el año 1926 como consecuencia de un infortunado arrollamiento.

Los trabajos continuaron, pero en 1936, tras el alzamiento que provocaría la Guerra Civil española, un atentado acometido por los anarquistas contra el proyecto destruyó las maquetas, fotografías y modelos. Esta destrucción significó demoras invaluables en la construcción.

El arquitecto Lluís Bonet i Garí logró recuperar algunos vestigios y conservarlos. De lo poco que quedó, los arquitectos Francesc Quintana y Isidre Puig i Boada se unieron a Bonet y juntos reconstruyeron apenas la maqueta de la nave principal.

La complejidad del proyecto ideado por Gaudí y la ausencia de fuentes documentales han demorado el proyecto mucho más de lo imaginado.

7 datos curiosos sobre la Sagrada Familia

Fachada de la Pasión.

1) Tras el incendio intencional provocado por los anarquistas en 1936, los cuidadores del templo decidieron emparedar en yeso lo que quedaba para proteger el patrimonio de otros posibles ataques. Cuando el peligro pasó, el emparedado fue removido.

2) En un artículo publicado por la BBC se recoge el testimonio del arquitecto Jordi Faulí i Oller, responsable de la Sagrada Familia actualmente. Según Faulí, el genio de Gaudí era tal que:

Las columnas, por ejemplo, nadie las había hecho en la historia de la arquitectura. Columnas que se van transformando desde la base hasta arriba donde parece casi un círculo. Se van afinando hasta llegar al cielo. Es la búsqueda de la perfección, la búsqueda de Dios.

3) Debido a que las soluciones ideadas por Gaudí nunca se habían usado en la arquitectura, hoy es necesario el uso de diferentes programas informáticos para dar con las fórmulas arquitectónicas de este genio.

4) En el desarrollo del programa escultórico de los pórticos o fachadas han participado 28 artistas a lo largo de los años, entre quienes destacan los artistas Llorenç y Joan Matamala, Jaume Busquets, Carles Mani, Joaquim Ros i Bofarull, Etsuro Sotoo y Josep Maria Subirachs.

5) La fachada de la Natividad y la cripta del templo expiatorio la Sagrada Familia fueron nombradas Patrimonio de la Humanidad en el año 2005. Se suman así a las obras de Gaudí que desde el año 1984 engrosan la lista de Patrimonio Mundial de la Unesco. A este respecto, la Unesco informa a través de su página web que las obras:

…atestiguan la excepcional contribución de las creaciones de Gaudí a la evolución de la arquitectura y las técnicas de construcción a finales del siglo XIX y principios del XX. Son la expresión de un estilo ecléctico y sumamente personal al que su autor dio rienda suelta no sólo en la arquitectura, sino también en la jardinería, la escultura y muchas otras artes decorativas. Los siete edificios son: Parque Güell, Palacio Güell, Casa Milá, Casa Vicens, la obra de Gaudí en la fachada de la Natividad y la cripta de la Sagrada Familia, la Casa Batlló y la cripta de la Colonia Güell.

6) Se llaman “templos expiatorios” a aquellos templos que exponen de forma permanente al Santísimo Sacramento para el perdón de los pecados.

7) Se espera que el Templo Expiatorio la Sagrada Familia esté concluido en el año 2026.

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Historia del templo – Sagrada Familia

HISTORIA DE LA BASÍLICA

La Sagrada Familia es un templo excepcional, tanto por lo que respecta a su origen y a su fundación como por lo relativo a sus propósitos. Fruto de la obra del genial arquitecto Antoni Gaudí, fue un proyecto impulsado por y para el pueblo, y ya son cinco generaciones las que han ido viendo la evolución del templo en Barcelona. Actualmente, con más de 140 años desde la colocación de la primera piedra, la Basílica sigue en construcción.

La Sagrada Familia es un templo excepcional, fruto de la obra del genial arquitecto Antoni Gaudí. Actualmente, con más de 135 años desde la colocación de la primera piedra, la Basílica sigue en construcción.

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HITOS DESTACADOS

1882

Proyecto de Francisco de Paula del Villar.

Dibujo original del proyecto que el arquitecto diocesano Francisco de Paula del Villar realizó para la Sagrada Familia, el cual, respondiendo a las pautas dominantes de la época, aplicaba las fórmulas propias del neogótico: ventanales ojivales, contrafuertes y arbotantes exteriores, y un campanario afilado. Divergencias de carácter técnico, relativas al coste de los materiales, conllevaron la destitución de este arquitecto y la elección de otro que comenzaba a destacar, Antoni Gaudí, que confirió una nueva orientación al proyecto y lo transformó en una ambiciosa propuesta de templo para la iglesia del futuro.

El 19 de marzo, el obispo Urquinaona coloca la primera piedra del templo.

1883

Antoni Gaudí asume el proyecto, encargo que compatibiliza con otras obras.

1885

Se inaugura la capilla de San José, en la cripta, y se celebran en ella las primeras misas.

1891

Comienzan las obras de la fachada del Nacimiento.

1914

Antoni Gaudí se dedica exclusivamente al templo, hasta su muerte.

1925

Se concluye el campanario de san Bernabé en la fachada del Nacimiento.

El campanario dedicado al apóstol Bernabé fue el único que Gaudí pudo dejar terminado.

1926

Gaudí muere, y su discípulo, Domènec Sugranyes, asume la dirección de las obras.

1936

La Sagrada Família es objeto de actos vandálicos como consecuencia de la Guerra Civil. Se queman planos y fotografías y se destrozan las maquetas de yeso.

1939

Francesc de Paula Quintana asume la dirección de las obras, que pueden continuar gracias al material que se salvó del taller de Gaudí y al que se reconstruyó a partir de fotografías y planos publicados.

1952

Se construye la escalinata de la fachada del Nacimiento, fachada que se ilumina por primera vez.

1954

Se inician los cimientos para construir la fachada de la Pasión.

1955

Se organiza la primera cuestación.

1958

El 19 de marzo, festividad de San José, se coloca en la fachada del Nacimiento el conjunto escultórico que representa a la Sagrada Familia, obra de Jaume Busquets.

1961

Se inaugura un museo para explicar a los visitantes los aspectos históricos, técnicos, artísticos y simbólicos del templo.

1966

Muere Francesc de Paula Quintana, y se hacen cargo de la dirección de las obras Isidre Puig i Boada y Lluís Bonet i Garí.

1976

Se acaban de construir los campanarios de la fachada de la Pasión.

1978

Comienza la construcción de las fachadas de las naves laterales.

1983

Francesc Cardoner i Blanch asume la dirección de las obras.

1985

Jordi Bonet i Armengol es nombrado arquitecto coordinador y director de las obras.

1986

Se encarga a Josep Maria Subirachs la realización de los grupos escultóricos de la fachada de la Pasión.

1986

Se comienzan a construir los cimientos de todas las naves, las columnas, las bóvedas y las fachadas de la nave principal, los transeptos, el crucero y el ábside. Las obras se terminan en el año 2010.

Hasta mediados del siglo xx, en la construcción aún se usaban los andamios de madera, que no tienen nada que ver con los medios actuales.

2005

La fachada del Nacimiento y la cripta del templo entran a formar parte del Patrimonio Mundial de la Unesco.

2010

El 7 de noviembre del 2010, el papa Benedicto XVI dedica la Basílica al culto y la distingue como basílica menor.

2011

Se otorga el Premio Ciudad de Barcelona 2010, en el apartado de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, a la nave del templo.

2012

Jordi Faulí sucede a Jordi Bonet como arquitecto coordinador y director de las obras del templo de la Sagrada Familia, que prosiguen de acuerdo con las directrices de Antoni Gaudí.

2016

Se comienzan a alzar las torres de los Evangelistas, María y Jesús.

Finalización de la construcción de la sacristía de poniente y del claustro de la Virgen de los Dolores.

2018

Julio del 2018 Se coloca la Cruz en lo alto del frontón de la fachada de la Pasión.

2019

Llegan los primeros paneles de piedra de la torre de Jesucristo, y las torres de los Evangelistas y la de la Virgen María van cogiendo forma.

2020

Febrero de 2020 Las torres de Jesucristo y de la Virgen María superan en altura a las torres de las fachadas de la Pasión y del Nacimiento.

Marzo del 2020 La Junta Constructora de la Sagrada Família para las obras de construcción ante la emergencia sanitaria provocada por la pandemia de la COVID-19.

Octubre del 2020 Se retoman las obras, que se centran en finalizar la torre de la Virgen María, la cual ya cuenta con todos los niveles de paneles colocados. Solo faltan los elementos del terminal, de 25 metros, que estará coronado por una estrella iluminada de doce puntas.

2021

Durante el 2021 todos los esfuerzos se centran en acabar la torre de la Virgen María, la segunda más alta del conjunto de la Basílica con 138 metros de altura.

En abril del 2021 se empieza la construcción del fuste o pináculo, parte intermedia del terminal de la torre de la Virgen María, de 18 metros de altura, que empieza en seis patas y finaliza en tres puntas o brazos de apoyo de la estrella luminosa. Durante este mes se coloca el encofrado y el armado del tercio inferior, pieza de 10,80 metros que cambia de forma evidente el skyline de la ciudad, ya que hace que la torre llegue a los 127 metros de altura. Es la pieza de mayor longitud (10,80 metros) que se ha subido nunca hasta ahora a la Sagrada Familia.

En julio del 2021 se ornamenta el fuste con trencadís. En este momento está colocada su parte inferior. La parte superior e inferior del fuste se recubren de trencadís artístico de gres cerámico con colores que van desde los azules a los blancos, con algunos puntos de mosaico veneciano dorado.

En septiembre del 2021 se coloca el tercio superior del fuste de la torre de la Virgen María. Con la colocación del tercio superior la torre ya llega a los 134 metros.

El 9 de noviembre se colocaron las doce estrellas de forja que culminan la corona de la torre de la Virgen María.

El 29 de noviembre se colocó la estrella de la Virgen María. Un hecho histórico al tratarse de la última pieza que se coloca en la torre y que cambia el perfil de la ciudad de Barcelona.

El día 8 de diciembre del 2021, la Sagrada Familia inauguró la torre de la Virgen María con el acto central de la eucaristía y con la posterior bendición e iluminación, por primera vez, de la segunda torre más alta ya finalizada.

2022

Durante el 2022 se finalizan dos de las cuatro torres de los Evangelistas, la de Lucas y la de Marcos. La torre de Jesucristo sube dos niveles, alcanzando el octavo nivel de los doce que tendrá y situando la torre en los 125,85 metros de altura. . El día 16 de diciembre del 2022 se iluminan por primera vez los terminales de las torres de los Evangelistas Lucas y Marcos, dos de las cuatro torres de los Evangelistas que forman parte del conjunto de torres centrales. Está previsto acabar las torres de los Evangelistas Juan y Mateo en el 2023, y terminar la torre central de Jesús en el 2026.

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New organ in the Sagrada Familia

The World of Antoni Gaudí
·
March 20, 2021

In the crypt of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, ​​where Antoni Gaudí is buried, sounds can now be heard
a unique musical instrument – an organ created more than a hundred years ago by the famous manufacturer Aristide Cavalier-Coll (Frenchman with Catalan roots) for another church in Barcelona,
and for a long time remained “Barcelona’s hidden treasure”.

Antoni Gaudí completed work on Crypt Sagrada Familia in 1895. Exactly one year later, Cavalier-Coll
received an order from Barcelona for the construction of an organ for the church of the religious congregation of the Sacred Heart (Congregació de les Religioses del Sagrat Cor), located on Diputacio Street in Barcelona.

In 1926, Antonio Gaudi was buried in the crypt of his greatest project, which brought him world fame – and now, after almost a hundred years, the unique, the only one in Catalonia and,
Without exaggeration, a priceless organ, the artistic, aesthetic and spiritual level of which corresponds to the level of Gaudí’s construction, is installed a few meters from Gaudí’s grave.

At one time, few people knew that in the church of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart on Diputacio Street there is a real Cavaillé-Coll! If we compare this instrument with violins, for example, this is a pure
Stradivarius water! It was this reaction – shock, mixed with disbelief and gradually turning into violent uncontrollable delight, bordering on joyful madness – that was noted by the organist Sagrada
Surname Juan de la Rubia when he learned that the congregation of the Sacred Heart was going to donate this musical gem to the Sagrada Familia.

“Opening the lid and seeing the inscription Cavaillé-Coll is an incredible luxury for an organist. This automatically means a very distinctive sound, top performance… Like an organ
Saint Sulplice or Notre-Dame de Paris,” he says. “From the point of view of heritage, organs are of great value, the loss of which may be irreparable – which could be seen in the example
fire at Notre Dame de Paris. In Spain, in the churches of the Basque Country, there are several original Cavalier-Coll organs, but in Catalonia this organ is the only one.

I must say, both the instrument and humanity were very lucky that it was not destroyed in 1936, at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. In Barcelona, ​​then, there was no place for religion at all: churches
they robbed, blew up, burned, and clergymen were shot with frightening ease. Of course, the monastery of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart was also desecrated and plundered, but, fortunately,
organ survived.

The organ survived – with the exception, of course, of the pipes, since metal in those years was the subject of the first and highest necessity. After the war ended, repair and restoration
no one was engaged in a unique instrument.

And in 2019, the Congregation of the Sacred Heart presented an instrument in need of restoration as a gift to the Sagrada Familia. A year and a half ago, the Sagrada Familia launched a fundraising campaign for
organ restoration – which has so far managed to raise 178,000 euros – about half the amount needed.

However, they did not wait – restoration work began simultaneously with the start of fundraising. Restoration in the famous workshop of Albert Blancafort (where, by the way, was built and
the largest organ in Catalonia – for Basilica Montserrat ) required 4,000 jobs and took just a year and a half.

The Blancafort Orgueners workshop dismantled the organ literally piece by piece, carefully studied its structure and examined its condition – after which painstaking work began on restoration, during
which used the highest quality materials.

“Each organ is made to order, it’s a work of art, just like a sculpture or a good painting,” says Blancafort.

When it was finally installed in the chapel of the crypt, in the place where before the war there was another instrument (safely destroyed by the Republicans), it became obvious that the neo-Gothic organ with
Cavalier Colle fits perfectly into contemporary architecture, and not only in size (5.4 meters high, 3.1 wide and 3 deep), but also in appearance and sound, because.
as it turned out, the acoustics of the crypt is ideal for him.

As Josep Maria Turullu, Rector of the Basilica and the Parish of Sagrada Familia, said during a solemn mass yesterday, “Everything has been arranged according to God’s providence, and now people from all over the world
will be able to enjoy the sound of this instrument.”

As for the sound, it must be taken into account that during the restoration several more registers were added at the back, and now their total number is 13, and the number of pipes is 639.
instrument is carried out using two keyboards for hands and pedals. Organist Juan de la Rubia describes the instrument’s sound as beautiful, rich and “romantic”. “Perfect sound for
liturgical accompaniment and concerts.

ANTONIO GAUDI – 9 EXCURSIONS0003

TOP 10 EXCURSIONS IN BARCELONA

Small Sagrada Familia in the province of Alicante • News of Spain ≪︎All Spain≫︎

Sanctuary of Santa Maria Magdalena in Novelda

The temple resembles Gaudí’s basilica due to some elements, such as towers 25 meters high.

Sanctuary of Santa Maria Magdalena in Novelda

The small municipality of Novelda (Alicante) attracts visitors with an impressive Catalan Art Nouveau building, included in the “Modern European Route”. This is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Magdalena, which, thanks to its amazing architecture, has received the special pseudonym “Little Holy Family”.

Gaudian influence

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria Magdalena is located 3 km from the city center of Novelda on the hill of La Mola, next to the Almohad castle of the same name. To learn about its history, we went to the beginning of the 20th century, when work began to replace the old medieval skete that was on this site. The religious temple was built in 1918 to a design by local textile engineer José Sala Sala and was completed 28 years later in 1946.

Sanctuary of Santa Maria Magdalena in Novelda

This Art Nouveau church with a clear Gaudí influence is reminiscent of Barcelona’s famous basilica, which is why it is called the “little Sagrada Familia”. The decorations of the sanctuary also provide a backdrop for medieval and baroque styles, as well as the influence of nature itself.

Curious shapes

Two towers stand out on the main facade of the church, one on each side, reaching 25 meters in height and crowned with a stone cross. This symbol is also found on the dome and the upper arches of the façade. In addition, pebbles from the Vinalopo River, polychrome tiles, reddish brick and stonework are perfectly combined on the outside.
As soon as we direct our steps inward, we can admire its central nave, which shows scenes from the life of Santa Maria Magdalena, the patroness of Novelda. On the other hand, in the apse we find a chapel. It should be noted that the interior of the temple has the shape of a jug.

Sanctuary of Santa Maria Magdalena in Novelda

How to get to the Sanctuary

The drive between Alicante and Novelda takes half an hour on the A-31 highway. Once there, we will drive to the sanctuary on the CV-832 for 15 minutes, writes Аllspain.info citing 20minutos.

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Antonio Gaudi

Antonio Gaudi

Barcelona. Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia is a church in the Eixample district of Barcelona. If we talk about the full name of this temple, then officially it sounds like the expiatory temple of the Holy Family (in Catalan – Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família).

The most important distinguishing feature from other cathedrals and churches is the fact that this building is being built exclusively on private donations, moreover, construction according to the Gaudí project has been carried out almost continuously since the beginning of 1882.

This is currently one of the longest construction projects in the world. The fact is that, according to the wishes of those who ordered the construction of the temple, the entire temple should be built exclusively on contributions from private individuals. An equally important factor that significantly slows down the construction of the cathedral is the special shape of the stone blocks from which the church is built. The fact is that they are all made taking into account the fit to neighboring blocks. This fact is confirmed by numerous computer studies.

It is also important to mention the fact that the temple is active and after its consecration by the Pope in November 2010, it also has the official status of the Minor Papal Basilica.

The extremely unusual appearance of the temple, resembling a fairy-tale palace, attracts a huge number of tourists, which does not put it on a par with other famous attractions of Barcelona.

Imágenes, de De sagrada familia, fotos e imágenes de stock de De sagrada familia

Descubra millones de imágenes de alta resolución de De sagrada familia y visuales de stock para uso comercial.

Cropped view of muslim father giving book to son with prayer beads at home, banner

Mujeres multiétnicas y niños rezando sobre alfombras con patrón oriental en casa

Muslim father holding book and looking at son on couch at home

Vista trasera del niño musulmán rezando cerca de papá y abuelo en casa

Vista lateral del niño rizado musulmán rezando cerca de los padres interracial en casa

Vista lateral de la chica en hijab tomados de la mano cerca de la cara mientras se reza cerca de la familia multiétnica

Vista aérea del niño adolescente rezando cerca de mamá en casa

Vista lateral del joven árabe rezando cerca de su hijo y papá borroso en casa

Vista de ángulo bajo de la mujer árabe rezando cerca de hija borrosa en casa

Mujer asiática con ropa tradicional musulmana rezando cerca de la hija y nieta árabe en casa

Vista recortada de la mujer musulmana rezando en casa

Vista recortada del hombre musulmán rezando cerca de chico borroso en casa, pancarta

Mujer musulmana rezando y doblándose en la alfombra cerca de la familia en casa

Hombre maduro rezando cerca de padre e hijo musulmán en casa

Middle eastern man looking at son near blurred book at home, banner

Arabian man holding prayer beads while talking to son with blurred book at home

Vista recortada del niño árabe sentado en la alfombra cerca de la familia en casa, pancarta

Vista lateral del hombre de mediana edad rezando en la alfombra borrosa en casa

Chica adolescente rezando cerca de las mujeres borrosas en casa

Cropped view of muslim father giving book to son with prayer beads at home

Vista parcial del hombre apoyando a la madre mayor con rosario de madera

Vista de ángulo bajo del hombre árabe barbudo cerca de padre maduro rezando en casa

Mujeres y niñas multiétnicas en hiyabs doblándose en trapos en casa

Vista parcial del hombre que apoya a la madre mayor con pelo gris

Vista recortada de mujeres musulmanas rezando en casa

Padre de mediana edad e hijo árabe rezando en casa

Los hombres árabes y los niños se doblan en las alfombras mientras rezan en casa

Blurred muslim dad with prayer beads near smiling son holding book at home

Muslim man reading book near son on couch at home

Vista recortada de mujeres musulmanas con ropa tradicional rezando sobre alfombras en casa

Hombre maduro rezando con los ojos cerrados cerca de hijo y niño musulmán en casa

Muslim boy looking at dad near blurred book at home

Vista lateral del hombre maduro rezando con los ojos cerrados cerca borrosa hijo árabe en casa

Muslim man holding prayer beads near preteen son with book on couch at home

Vista lateral del niño preadolescente árabe en ropa tradicional rezando cerca de los hombres en casa

Niño rizado musulmán rezando en la alfombra cerca de padre y abuelo en casa

Interracial hombres y musulmán chico doblez mientras orar en casa

Vista recortada del niño preadolescente musulmán sentado en la alfombra tradicional mientras rezaba con la familia en casa

Hombre árabe joven rezando cerca de borrosa hijo y padre en casa

Hombres multiétnicos y chico árabe rezando en alfombras en casa

Cropped view of muslim man with prayer beads giving book to son at home

Vista parcial de la mujer mayor con rosario cogido de la mano con el hijo

Muslim boy reading book with father on couch at home

Chico árabe rizado cogido de la mano cerca de la cara mientras rezaba cerca de un padre borroso en casa

Muslim man hugging son and holding prayer beads while reading book at home

Joven mujer musulmana rezando cerca borrosa hija adolescente en casa

Cropped view of blurred muslim dad giving koran to son with prayer beads at home

Hombre maduro rezando cerca borrosa nieto musulmán e hijo en casa

Mujeres y niños interraciales en hiyabs orando sobre alfombras en casa

Vista lateral del joven musulmán rezando cerca de padre e hijo en alfombras en casa

La Sagrada Família de Antoni Gaudí

Al final de esta página encontrarás una extensa guía de fotos de La Sagrada Família de Antoni Gaudí. Las fotos fueron tomadas en el sentido de las agujas del reloj, recorriendo los 360º alrededor del edificio.

La Sagrada Família es la atracción turística más visitada de Barcelona, atendiendo a más de 2.000.000 visitantes cada año . Es un trabajo de proporciones inmensas y el Mundo de la Arquitectura la considera como una de las construcciones modernas más originales y ambiciosas.

Mapa que muestra la ubicación de la Sagrada Família

Tetuan Metro

Este mapa está registrado y protegido por derechos de autor y no puede ser copiado.

Hospital de Sant Pau Metro

Sagrada Família Hotel

Abalon Hotel

Medicis Hotel

Acta Antibes Hotel Barcelona

Aranea Hotel Barcelona

Carlit Hesperia Hotel

Eurostars Cristal Palace Hotel

Sagrada Família
Carrer de Mallorca, 401

Sagrada Família Metro

Sagrada Família Metro

Verdaguer Metro

Monumental Metro

Aparcamiento PROMOPARC Industria 9

Aparcamiento BSM Avenida Gaudí

Aparcamiento Rasina House

Aparcamiento BSM Sagrada Família

Aparcamiento NN Valencia III

Aparcamiento NN Valenica

Como puedes ver, el edificio todavía está en construcción y no será terminado en los próximos 20 / 25 años. La construcción de la Sagrada Família comenzó en el año 1882.

Cómo llegar:
Carrer Mallorca, 401
Metro: Sagrada Família (Línea Azul, L5) y (Línea Púrpura, L2) mapa del metro de Barcelona

Horarios de Atención:

Precio de la Entrada: €26,00 

Haz clic para reservar en línea tus entradas sin colas para la Basílica de la Sagrada Familia de Gaudí

Parada de autobuses turístico sube y baja

La parada más cercana a La Sagrada Família es “Sagrada Família” con el Autobús Turístico “sube y baja”

Autobús público

Mallorca / Marina: 19, 33, 34, 50, 51, h20

Aparcamiento

Aparcamiento cerca de Sagrada Família

Hoteles cerca de La Sagrada Família

Haz clic para ver hoteles cerca de la Sagrada Família

Para comenzar el tour de fotos de La Sagrada Família haz clic aquí ahora o haz clic sobre la primera foto en la tabla que está debajo. Recuerda que sacarás más provecho a esta guía de fotos si sigues las fotografías en secuencia.

Sagrada Familia inside and out

Sagrada Familia inside surprises no less than at first glance at the facades of this majestic architectural monument. Every year, crowds of tourists explore the details inside this temple. It does not lose its positions in the ranking of the most popular sights of the city. Unfortunately, during his lifetime, Antonio Gaudí was unable to complete his main project.

Sagrada Familia does not belong to the lands belonging to the church. In this regard, equating this landmark with a diocesan church is a common mistake. Inside you feel the atmosphere of light and magic, there is no usual severity of such buildings. Sagrada Familia inside surprises with vaults, which are supported by amazingly beautiful arches and columns.

Every year, the Sagrada Familia attracts about three million travelers.

In order to get inside the Sagrada Familia, you will have to stand in a long queue. It is best to purchase tickets in advance online via the link.

Sagrada Familia inside

Sagrada Familia inside and out: features of the temple

1. To complete the project, it is necessary to build 4 more towers (120 meters each) in memory of the Evangelists. The Sagrada Familia, inside and out, is due to receive its final look by 2026.

   Sagrada Familia inside

2. At the first glance at the Sagrada Familia, one feels the scale and grandeur of the attraction. Beautiful forms and a non-standard approach to design are also noticeable inside the temple. Antonio Gaudi made it his principle to refuse standard solutions, experimenting with architectural forms. Sagrada Familia inside is characterized by curvilinear outlines that merge perfectly into a single ensemble.
3. Now the pace of building facades has been seriously increased. For decorations and decorations inside the temple, the best specialists in their field are involved. Stable funding ensures strict compliance with the construction plan of the Sagrada Familia. The only difficulty now is the processing of stone blocks.

Almost all the features of the Sagrada Familia inside and out can be read in the material.

The history of the Sagrada Familia

Initially, the financing of the temple fell on the shoulders of the parishioners. In 1874, the accumulated amount was enough to start implementing the Sagrada Familia project. After 7 years, a suitable plot of land was bought in the immediate vicinity of the city for the construction of a future architectural masterpiece. Since then, Barcelona has grown significantly in terms of area.

The Sagrada Familia is currently located in the central part of the city.

The original version of the Sagrada Familia was entrusted to design Francisco del Villar. His ideas were that outside and inside it is worth sticking to a neo-Gothic basilica. A huge asp with seven chapels was designed. Disagreements with customers constantly hampered the design of the Sagrada Familia. Not having worked even a year, Francisco del Villar was suspended from work and left the project.

The Sagrada Familia is located in the central part of the city

The work on the Sagrada Familia was entrusted to Antonio Gaudi, who at that time had already managed to find his own creative style and decided on fundamental changes. Gaudi believed that outside and inside the building should be in harmony with the natural features of the territory. The height of the Sagrada Familia was not to exceed 170 meters. Antonio chose Mount Montjuic as the main natural landmark.

Sagrada Familia

7 years after the start of construction inside the temple, work on the crypt was completed. According to the original idea, the Sagrada Familia inside was supposed to serve as a visual encyclopedia on the subjects of the Gospel.

Inside the temple, the work was extremely slow, the facades were erected for a long time. This was due to a lack of funding, because the budget was determined solely by donations from parishioners. During the construction of the apse, it was possible to obtain a significant amount, which made it possible to make adjustments to the project. It was decided to additionally develop several towers that would improve the appearance of the facades. Inside, each of them had unique features. The architect paid a lot of attention to decorations for the external appearance. Sagrada Familia inside surprises with inventive decorative elements.

Features of the external facades of the Sagrada Familia

At first glance, the attraction focuses on three striking facades:

• Rozhdestva
• Glory
• Passion of Christ

Initially, the architect planned to experiment with shades of ceramics for decoration, but then rejected this idea. During his lifetime, Antoni Gaudí was only able to complete work on the façade of the Nativity. He tried to reflect as much as possible in the drawings, as he was aware of the scale of the structure. In the depths of his soul, he understood that he would not be able to realize all his ideas during his lifetime.

According to the architect, the Nativity facade is the main ideological symbol of the Sagrada Familia, which determines the stylistic features of the temple. To decorate this facade, Gaudí resorted to elements of wildlife. Inside the Sagrada Familia, work was in full swing on the construction of the cloister.

The Sagrada Familia acquired at the beginning of the last century close to the appearance that now exists outside and inside the sights.

In 1909, it was decided to add a parochial school to the Sagrada Familia project. It was built in just a year, striking with unusual architectural solutions both inside and out. The rejection of straight lines, characteristic of Gaudi’s work, created an atmosphere of harmony and comfort.

The Nativity Façade was completed in 1925. Further construction of facades took place under the guidance of students and followers of the architect. An amazing feature of the Sagrada Familia is the 100-meter column of St. Barnabas.

Sagrada FamiliaSagrada Familia

The tragic death of Antoni Gaudí

1. On June 7, 1926, a tragedy occurred that claimed the life of one of the most talented architects in the history of mankind. Enthusiasm for working on my project and a departure from ordinary worldly values ​​​​played a significant role in what happened.
2. After Antonio was hit by a tram, he landed in a hospital for the poor. This was facilitated by a rather modest appearance, lack of money and documents with him.
3. The next day, Gaudí was identified by the Sagrada chaplain, but the architect’s condition was critical.
4. June 10, 1926 Antoni Gaudí left this world. He was buried inside the temple under construction (directly in the crypt). Such a decision, according to those working on the Sagrada Familia project, would allow him not to part with the main project of his life.

What happened next

Further work on the construction of the temple was entrusted to one of the most talented students of Gaudi – Domenech Sugranes. He approached his work with trepidation, creating unique solutions that can be admired inside and outside the sights.

By 1930, the remaining columns of the Nativity facade were completed. The civil war of 1936 seriously slowed down the construction of the Sagrada Familia. The burnt drawings that defined the appearance of the Sagrada Familia inside and out became a great loss. At 19Domenech Sugranes died in 38, not having time to realize his ideas.

In 1952, successful results were achieved in the construction of the temple. Sagrada Familia inside received an original staircase, unusual lighting. The work inside the Nativity façade was nearing its logical conclusion. After 2 years, work began on the construction of the Passion Facade. The temple has acquired a crypt in its final form. It became the basis for a museum inside the temple dedicated to Gaudi and the features of the building.

Passion façade details

Towers to adorn the Passion façade completed by 1977. Inside the temple, they were actively engaged in decorations in the form of stained-glass windows and sculptures. There is a single motif for jewelry – the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The rate of construction of the temple is increasing from year to year. However, only:

• transepts

received their final look

• nave
• their facades and vaults

In 2010, the construction of the apse and crossroads was completed. They serve as the basis for two more towers. The height of the main tower (decorated with a cross) is 170 meters. The tower above the apse is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

How to get inside the temple: buying tickets

Sagrada Familia inside is striking in how reverently they approached the decoration process with the help of stucco, stained glass and mosaics. The resulting play of light and form is a truly unique achievement.

The lines of those wishing to get into the temple are quite impressive. If you want to explore the inside of the Sagrada Familia in detail, you should think about purchasing tickets in advance. Now the easiest way to do this is through the Internet using the link without extra charges and commissions.

1. Sagrada Familia is available inside for 20€.
2. From October to March, the attraction opens its doors to those who wish from 09:00 to 18:00.
3. April – September: from 09:00 to 20:00.
4. The earlier the ticket is purchased, the better.

Sagrada Familia inside attracts crowds of visitors thanks to its unique architectural solutions and original decorations. Even in its unfinished form, this temple is an iconic landmark in Barcelona.

Detailed instructions on how to purchase tickets are available in the material.

Address

Barcelona, ​​Via Mallorca, 401

You can view the best hotels nearby using the link on Booking.com.

How to get to Sagrada Familia

Subway : station Sagrada Familia blue and purple lines L2 and L5
Buses : 19, 33, 34, 43, 44, 50, 51.

Sagrada Familia opening hours Barcelona

Summer season : April – September – daily from 9 am to 8 pm.
Winter season : October – March – daily from 9 am to 6 pm.
Holidays (December 25, 26, January 1, 6) — from 9 am to 2 pm.

• How to avoid queues at Barcelona attractions. Tickets for the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell skip the line.
• How not to be deceived by local taxi drivers. Order a taxi in advance with fixed rates online. The most reliable service for ordering a taxi – KiwiTaxi .
• Excursions in Barcelona with locals will help you get to know this city for real. The best way to get comfortable in an unfamiliar city is to walk around it with a person who has lived here for many years.
• We advise you to take out travel insurance so that there are no unpleasant surprises while traveling to Barcelona.

• Barcelona City Pass is a one-stop card that makes organizing your holiday in Barcelona easier and saves you a lot of time and money.
• Barcelona Hotels: is our selection and recommendations.
• Bus Turistic is a tourist bus and a great way to get to all the necessary monuments of Barcelona quickly, with a breeze and comfort.
• Drimsim is a universal international SIM card and a free travel application. Best prices, fast internet and worldwide calls.

photos and reviews – NGS.TOURISM

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Sagrada Familia

Once in Barcelona, ​​you can take a long walk through the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter or along the noisy Rambla, you can enjoy the breeze in the Olympic port and dance with the Magic Fountains on Montjuic. But sooner or later, the legs themselves lead to the streets of Mallorca, the eyes rise to the sky, and the heart skips a couple of beats – this is how everyone who first met the Sagrada Familia tete-a-tete reacts.

Speak , Chairman of the Society of St. Jacob, saw in a dream that a blue-eyed blond man would bring to mind the temple ordered by his organization. In reality, he met Antonio Gaudi, then not yet the author of the Mila and Batllo houses and not even the creator of the Park Güell, but only the architect of a workshop at a textile enterprise, but fair-haired and with aquamarine eyes. I met and believed, as they say, and also realized that a novice designer would not have to pay much, and his estimates would be divine. Did not guess. Gaudi improvised, and so much money was needed for his quirks that the amount that the customers expected flew away in the first years of construction.

From 1882 to the present day, work has been in full swing on the largest architectural masterpiece of recent centuries. Initially, the project was developed by Francisco del Villar and the Sagrada Familia could be lost among other outstanding buildings in Barcelona, ​​being mediocre. But Gaudi doomed him to eternal glory! The genius was guided solely by his intuition, and his contemporaries shook their heads and openly mocked his ideas. “Crash!” they said. And who is right now? Moreover, modern computer models have proven that Gaudi’s inner instinct did not let him down – every element deserves to be put into practice.

The brain explodes with fireworks at the thought that the already magnificent building could be even more beautiful than . The facades were planned to be lined with ceramics and glass of various colors, on which the sun would dance, turning the temple into a giant jewel.

What’s the real deal? Nativity, Glory and Passion of Christ – three facades, three stories come to life, animated by the skill of the sculptor. The building itself is an intricacies of towers, each of which is elegantly decorated and not just anyhow, but jewelry. When Gaudi was asked why so many efforts, because people from the earth cannot see even half, he answered that not people, so angels will be able to admire the fruits of his labors.

In fairness, it should be noted that Gaudi managed to come to grips with only the first of the listed facades. Upon completion of the main work on , the facade of Nativity , the distinctive elements of which were drainpipes that fit perfectly into the overall picture, and an ornament represented by local living creatures: images of snails and lizards; Gaudi undertook to revise the already developed project of the Passion façade. It took almost 12 years! The vaults and naves have changed beyond recognition, but Gaudi never started to implement the idea. But he managed to sketch out the drawings of the facade of Glory, which was supposed to become a forest of columns, flooded with soft light penetrating through the stained-glass windows. Gaudi said that such lighting is comparable to the tenderness of starlight.

In November 1925, the 100-meter bell tower of St. Barnabas (the only one completed by Antonio Gaudi himself). The first 40 years of construction dressed the temple in decor of liturgical and biblical quotations, religious symbols and all kinds of sculptures . Wherever you look, you will see commandment, sin, goodness, redemption.

In June 1926 the first tram passed through Barcelona. Passed and took with him the life of Antoni Gaudí . Since the architect was dressed modestly, he had no documents with him, he ended up in a hospital for the poor, where they provide appropriate assistance. Gaudi was identified a day later, but time was lost – Antonio died a few days before his 74 years. The genius was buried in the crypt of the still unfinished temple, so that Gaudi would “look after” the work even from the other world.

one of his most talented students, Sugranes , who worked with Antonio for almost 25 years, undertook to continue the work of the master. With his help, three final columns appear on the facade of the Nativity, a ceramic cypress, and then the Civil War begins and construction is suspended. At the same time, the fire looks into the workshop of Gaudi, absorbing all the models and drawings of the Sagrada Familia. It took several years to recover the loss, and when it was possible to take up work again, Sugranes dies.

By the way, the temple was built solely on donations, which were few after the war. So, they returned to the Sagrada Familia only in 1952, continuing to decorate the facade of the Nativity. The Passion was approached 2 years later, focusing on Gaudi’s drawings, created at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1061, the crypt was brought to mind, today it houses exposition , connected with the peculiarities of the construction of the temple and with the author of the project.

Soon 4 towers appeared on the side of the Passion façade, from the end of the 80s to the beginning of the 21st century, work was in full swing on sculptures and stained-glass windows telling about the Resurrection of Christ.
Last years construction is progressing by leaps and bounds , but as if through the looking glass, to stay in place, you need to run as fast as you can, and to move forward, you need to run even faster. There were transepts, a nave, their vaults and facades, an apse and a crossroads, and on them – 2 towers: 170 meters high with a cross and the Virgin Mary.

Next in line was 4 more Evangelist towers appeared to the world: Luke, John, Matthew and Mark; on each of which there will be a sculpture: a calf, an eagle, an angel and a lion, respectively. The huge tower of Jesus will be crowned with a gigantic cross, the rest – bunches of grapes and sheaves of wheat – symbols of Communion.

If everything goes without a hitch, the temple will be completed in 2026.

Gaudi knew that such a large-scale project as the Sagrada Familia would outlive the creator, and therefore he drew for the future . He wanted the temple to be simple and ingenious at the same time, to be a triumph of geometry – ellipses, helicoids, conoids, hyperboloids and hyperbolic paraboloids. The intersections of these figures gave rise to straight lines that simplified the connection of internal structures into a single composition.

There is still enough money for Gaudi’s ideas: the parishioners were supported by Catholics and believers from all over the world, even representatives of other faiths. Especially a lot of money comes from Japan. But a century ago, Gaudí had to beg for donations. The lack of material support was the reason for the loss of so many years!

Another obstacle to the happy ending of the Sagrada Familia is the complexity of the work. This is especially true for the formation of stone blocks of eccentric shapes. Even computer models do not exclude subsequent fitting and manual processing.

Sagrada Familia is beautiful not only in its “face” but also in its “soul”. The shapes of the columns and other interior elements transform the space. There is not a single piece of surface on which there would be no mosaic, painting, stucco, fresco or sculpture. But there is no need to talk about piling up – everything is harmonious, logical, geometric.

When the numbness passes and a person who has admired the facades of crosses the threshold of the Sagrada Familia , a second wave of shock rolls over him – goosebumps run from the grandeur and beauty of the interior. A large number of window openings of various sizes and shapes, coupled with rainbow stained-glass windows, allow the temple to be filled with light. This is just the case when, from happiness and an abundance of surging emotions, tears appear in the eyes. And you can breathe again.

Up to 10,000 tourists experience this every day. Entrance to the temple is paid , the visit can be individual and accompanied by a guide.

An important point : Sagrada Familia is located on non-church land, built on donations from ordinary people and was lit only in 2010. It is a church, but by no means a cathedral. There can be only one cathedral in the city; this role in Barcelona is played by the cathedral in the Gothic quarter.

190 views for April,
238 for March,
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Catalan News | Symbolism and hidden meanings behind the Sagrada Família

When you look at the Sagrada Família, there’s a lot going on. The level of detail can almost be overwhelming. 

There’s not one central tower or element capturing your attention, but rather there are many competing for it. 

Each facade is packed with symbolism and hidden meanings, with dozens of sculptures collectively telling the story of Jesus Christ. But what does it all mean?

The ‘Bible made of stone’

The primary architect of the work, Antoni Gaudí, wanted the basilica to represent ‘the Bible made of stone,’ as explained to Catalan News by Onno Schoemaker, a tour guide specializing in the exterior design of the breathtaking piece of architecture. 

During Gaudí’s lifetime, “a lot of the working class was illiterate,” Schoemaker explains, “so Gaudí wanted to tell the story of Jesus through imagery, through sculptures and visual elements, rather than through text. ” As such, each side of the structure relates to a different aspect of Jesus’ life.

The three facades in place today represent the Nativity, which is a celebration of the birth of Jesus and life and nature in general; the Passion of Christ, showing the crucifixion of Jesus and his ascension to heaven; and then there’s the Glory facade, which tells the story of the message and teachings of Christ and Christianity.

The Sagrada Família is almost like a “story book,” Shoemaker jokes, and within each facade “you get specific elements of Jesus’ life story.” 

Towers

Antoni Gaudí envisioned 18 towers for the Sagrada Família, of which nine have already been built. The latest was complete on December 8, 2021, when the star that sits atop what will be the second-tallest tower once complete was lit up for the first time. 

These 18 towers have a lot of meaning behind them as well, they all represent different characters from the Bible.  

Twelve stand for Jesus’ twelve apostles, while four stand for the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, those who ascribed the Gospel. The star-topped second-tallest tower is named after the Virgin Mary, while the last tower, which will be the tallest once construction is complete, is in honour of Jesus Christ.

Once this largest one is erected, it will make Sagrada Família the highest church in the world, and the tallest building in Barcelona.

Nature

Once it’s complete, the tallest tower of the Sagrada Família will stand at a height of 172.5 metres. This is a very deliberate figure because it is just below the peak of Montjuïc, the highest point of the city of Barcelona. 

Gaudí wanted to ensure that no man-made object would overtake the natural world, as he viewed this as God’s work.

“There are different elements again when it comes to his inspiration from nature, sometimes literally,” Schoemaker explains. Gaudí would often create moulds from real-life animals, whenever possible, to use as a basis for the sculptures that would adorn the facades.

“Especially on the Nativity facade which is a celebration of life in general, there are so many little details of plants, animals, literal natural elements that were copied one-to-one precisely from real living things at the time.”

As well as that, some of the apostle’s towers are topped with colourful rounded designs. These are fruits, used as symbols to represent the fruits of the spirit and the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ.

If you’re interested in learning more about the exterior design of the Sagrada Família, you can find Onno Schoemaker’s walking tour at SagradaFreeTour.com.

Tickets & Information For Your Visit

The Sagrada Família is the symbol of Barcelona. The construction of the ‘Holy Family’ church began in 1882, but the completion of Gaudí’s masterpiece seems Barcelona’s biggest mystery.

The Sagrada Familia is one of the most striking and unique pieces of architecture in the world

What you will find in this article:

• Information about tickets and tours
• Dress code during your visit
• Opening hours
• Information on how to get there
• Tips to visit the Sagrada Família for free or attend a mass
• Background information (facts, history and architecture) on the Sagrada Família
• Tips to combine the Sagrada Família with a visit to Park Güell

What is the Sagrada Família and why is it a must-visit?

The Sagrada Família (literal meaning: ‘Holy Family’) is a church in the neighbourhood of Eixample in Barcelona and the most visited monument of the city.

People from around the world especially come to Barcelona to see the basilica, some because of the architecture, others out of religious motives.

The Sagrada Família is the most famous work of the modernist architect Antoni Gaudí. Its unique shapes and structure make it completely different from other churches in the world.

It’s also a symbol of Barcelona and of Catalan Modernism. If there is one attraction you can’t miss durnig your visit, it’s the Sagrada Família!

Gaudí’s temple, with more than three million visitors every year, is the most visited monument in the whole of Spain.

For more background, history and architecture of the Sagrada Família, scroll further down.

The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Visit the Sagrada Família

To visit Barcelona and not see the Sagrada Família is like going to Paris for the first time and skipping the Eiffel Tower.

It will take roughly an hour and a half for a regular visit, and two hours if you climb one of the towers.

Our personal tips

• One of the most spectacular features of the Sagrada Família is the beautiful light from its enormous stained glass windows — which varies in color throughout the day. Early in the morning the light is cooler with blue and green tones being more common, while later in the day you’ll see more oranges, yellows and reds.
• When you visit the towers of the Sagrada Família, you’ll have to leave your backpack in a special locker before entering the elevator. You’ll need coins (50 cents or 1 euro) for this, so make sure you have some on you.
• The area around the Sagrada Família features a lot of fast food chains and souvenir shops — not particularly interesting. After visiting the Basilica you can head north to Sant Pau Recinte Modernista, or to Passeig de Gràcia, where you’ll find the Casa Milà and Casa Batlló, also by Gaudí. La Casa de les Punxes is also nearby.
• For a wonderful view of La Sagrada Família, visit Hotel Majestic’s rooftop terrace, on Paseo de Gracia.

Dress code

As with many Catholic temples, there are several clothing restrictions. Make sure your clothing is suitable when you visit.

• Hats, caps and anything that covers the head is not permitted, with the exception of head covers that are related to one’s faith or due to health reasons.
• Shoulders must be covered. Tank-tops, short shorts, skirts above the knee, and garments that show the belly of have open backs aren’t allowed.
• Finally, clothes that draw special attention aren’t allowed either, such as for bachelor parties, regardless of religious purposes.

What is the best time to visit the Sagrada Família?

Generally speaking the temple is least crowded in the morning on weekdays.

If you book your tickets for 9 o’clock in the morning on a Tuesday there will still be people (the Sagrada Família receives over 3 million visitors a year so it’s always busy!), but less so than if you went on a weekend or later in the day.

A check-list for your visit

1. Because the lines can be very long, we recommend you buy your tickets in advance.
2. In case you don’t have tickets yet, try to plan your visit as early as possible. People can already be waiting in line before opening hours.
3. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, water and a hat for the sun, in case the temperatures are high.
4. The ticket office where you can purchase entrance tickets is located at the Carrer de Sardenya, in front of the Passion Facade.

Practical information

Sagrada Família Tickets & Prices

If you book your tickets online in advance you can skip the long waiting lines.

There are 4 different types of tickets to choose from, with reduced rates for under-30’s, seniors and students. Children under age 11 enter for free.

You can print your tickets at home or download them on your smartphone and show them at the door.

• • Basic ticket + audio guide app
    The easiest and best way to buy your tickets in advance is via our partner Ticketbar. With the ticket you’ll get an audio guide app for your smartphone.
    Cost is €15 for adults, €13 for students and under-30’s, and €11 for seniors.

• • Basic ticket + audio guide + towers
    Visit to one of the towers too. The view is really worth it. This option doesn’t include the audio-app but it does include the audio guide of the Sagrada Família.
    Cost is €29 for adults, €27 for students and under-30’s, and €22 for seniors.

• • Combination ticket: hop-on hop-off bus + Sagrada Família
    Combination ticket for the Sagrada Família and the Hop On Hop Off-bus. If you planned to do both, this ticket will be the cheapest option.
    Cost is €56 for adults, €40 for children between 10 and 17, and €15 for 4-9. Children under 4 enter for free.

• • Guided tour with a professional guide

You can go on a tour with a professional guide to learn even more about the history of the basilica and Gaudí’s life. The entrance fee is included in your tour, so no need to wait in the line.
Cost is €29.50 for adults and €26 for children between 10 and 17. Children under 10 enter for free.

Unemployed people can visit the Sagrada Família for free on Wednesday evenings. But Note: only people that are unemployed in Spain upon presentation of their unemployment documents.

Disabled people and visitors with a handicap of over 65% can visit the Sagrada Família for free presenting their medical documentation.

Opening hours

• Nov to Feb: 9am – 6pm
• March: 9am – 7pm
• April to Sept: 9am- 8pm
• October: 9am – 7pm

Note: the Sagrada Família works with time slots. This means that you have to decide in advance what time you would like to visit the church.

Make sure you arrive at the entrance door on time. You can either print out your tickets or save them on your smartphone.

How to get to the Sagrada Família?

The Sagrada Família’s address is Carrer de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona, Spain.

• Metro: The easiest way is to take the metro to stop Sagrada Família. Two lines stop here, the blue line L5 and purple line L2. Once you step out it’s impossible to miss Gaudí’s temple.
• Parking: the Sagrada Família doesn’t have its own parking, so if you come by car, you’ll need to find a parking place in the area. If you’re driving and using a GPS, just search for it by name, no need to input its location or coordinates.
• Hop-on hop-off bus: Both the Bus Turístic and the red buses stop at the Sagrada Família. There are tourist bus stops all over Barcelona, so check the routes and see which ones are most convenient.
• By bike: From the centre you can easily bike to the Sagrada Família. It will take you more or less 20 minutes, and you’ll find several places topark your bike nearby. There’s a bike path that runs along Carrer de Provença.
• On foot: It takes about half an hour to walk to Sagrada Família from Plaza Catalunya in the center. Use Google Maps to find the best route from your location.

The entrance for ticket holders and people wanting to attend a mass is at the Nativity Facade, on Carrer de la Marina. Groups and visitors that have booked a tour use special entrances, also on the Nativity Facade near the main one.

Ticket booths are located on the other side of the building, in front of the Passion Facade on Carrer de Sardenya.

Sagrada Familia, Church in Barcelona

What to see and do during your visit to the Sagrada Família?

If you don’t have entrance tickets you can still admire the exterior of the basilica. In front of the Nativity and Passion Facade you will find parks where you can sit and enjoy an excellent view of the church.

The Sagrada Família has the shape of a Latin cross with five aisles. The three facades each symbolize a part of the life of Christ.

Map of La Sagrada Familia

Image belonging to the Sagrada Familia Foundation/Sagradafamilia. org

Nativity Facade

The Nativity Facade is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This part of the Sagrada Família is located on Carrer de la Marina, from where you enter if you have bought your ticket in advance.

The Nativity Facade is easily recognizable, it’s a lot darker and more ornamented than many of the more modern parts of the building.

As its name suggests, the Nativity Facade represents the birth of Christ. There are also many references to nature, a constant in all of Gaudí’s work.

This was the only part of the building that was finished by the time of Gaudí’s death, and thus it is the closest to his original vision for the temple.

While you’re there, make sure to pause for a moment to admire the magnificently detailed Door of the Charity, by Japanese sculptor Etsuro Sotoo.

Passion Facade

The Sagrada Familia as seen from the Passion facade

In the years after Gaudí’s death, nobody cared about the completion of the Sagrada Família. In 1936 almost all of Gaudí’s original designs were lost in a fire in the crypt.

In the following years numerous architects took turns running the project, but lacking the original designs there was no clear consensus on what Gaudí’s vision for the building was.

In some instances, these departures from “Gaudí’s essence” angered people who wanted to stick to his roots as much as possible.

In 1978, the controversial Passion Facade was completed.

When visiting, you immediately see that the style of this side of the building is completely different from that of the Nativity Facade.

The Passion Facade is the work of architect Josep María Subirachs, who unlike Gaudí preferred simple, quasi-austere forms and little ornamentation.

The choice of this style was meant to evoke the suffering of Jesus Christ.

Facade of Glory

The Facade of Glory on Carrer de Mallorca is still incomplete.

For Gaudí this was the most important side of the building. The Facade of Glory refers to death, Heaven, and the glory of God.

Eventually this section should become the main entrance, but in order to complete it according to Gaudí’s design two blocks of houses would have to be demolished.

The project’s managers and the city council are still negotiating to decide how to proceed with construction of this section.

The interior of the Sagrada Família

The inside of the Sagrada Família is just as beautiful as the outside — perhaps even more so.

In 2010 the main nave was completed and this makes a visit to the church even more worthwhile.

Depending on the time of the day, the sunlight that filters through the stained glass windows is tinted blue, yellow, green, red, or orange.

The spectacular lighting isn’t the only thing that will grab your attention. The white stone columns that support the vaulted ceiling are also very beautiful.

Their shape, smooth and straight at the bottom and branching out at the top, mimics that of trees, giving the effect that you are in a forest.

You will find other references to nature everywhere you look, such as animals, flowers and plants. Also impressive is the temple’s organ, which holds 1492 pipes.

On the Facade of Glory side you can admire a five meter bronze door where the Holy Father is inscribed, followed by the sentence Give us our daily bread in many different languages.

Sagrada Família Museum

The Sagrada Família museum is located underneath the basilica, in the basement. Here you can see documents and old photos and learn more about Gaudí and the project.

There are also models that show what the basilica will look like upon completion.

You can also see the workshop where sculptors and stone-cutters are creating many of the decorative elements that cover the temple.

A visit to the museum is included in your entrance ticket.

Crypt

Also in the basement you’ll find the crypt. This is where Gaudí spent the last years of his life, and it is the place where he is buried.

He regularly slept in his workshop, together with his notes, plans, and a model of the temple. It’s not possible to visit the crypt, but it can be viewed from outside.

You can come closer if you attend a Mass. The crypt, like the Nativity Facade, is placed on the Unesco list of Cultural World Heritage sites.

The central altar has an altar piece from sculptor Josep Llimona.

There are also four chapels dedicated to the Virgin of El Carmen (which holds Gaudí’s grave), Christ, the Virgin of Montserrat, and Christ at the Cross.

The latter is the resting place of Josep María Bocabella, who came up with the idea to build the Sagrada Família at the end of the 19th century.

The floor of the crypt is decorated with a roman mosaic with images of wheat and vines.

Towers

When completed, The Sagrada Família will have a total of 18 towers.

In order of ascending height and importance these symbolize the twelve Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the four Evangelists, and Jesus Christ.

Still to be constructed is the central tower representing Christ between the evangelists.

The shortest tower is 90 meters high. The tallest, when finished, will measure 172. 5 m, making the Sagrada Família the tallest church building in the world, and the tallest building in Barcelona.

An interesting fact: The reason Gaudí chose 172.5 meters as the height of the central tower is because of nearby Montjuic Hill.

In his view, the creations of men should never surpass the creations of God, so his Basilica couldn’t be taller than Montjuic, which at the time was believed to be 173 meters tall

It is now known that its actual height is slightly over 180 meters.

Which towers at the Sagrada Família should you visit?

You can choose between the Nativity Facade and the towers of the Passion Facade.

In the first case you look over the east of the city and in the second case the city center. We think that both towers are worth the view.

If you go up the Passion Facade you get slightly higher and the Nativity Facade has a longer bridge.

Unfortunately it’s not possible to visit both towers with one entrance ticket.

Because of security regulations, children under age 6 are not allowed up, and children up to age 16 should always be accompanied by an adult.

People with impaired mobility or vision are not allowed in the towers due to safety reasons.

In case of stormy weather or heavy rain, the elevators to the towers may be closed for security reasons. If this happens, you will get a refund.

The school of the Sagrada Família

Between 1908 and 1909 a school was built on the premises (Escoles de la Sagrada Família) for the children of the workers.

Gaudí wanted to demolish it to increase space for the Basilica, but it ended up being left up after his death.

In 2002 it was moved to the southern corner of the site, and today the old building can be visited.

Famous architects such as Le Corbusier and Santiago Calatrava were inspired by the Sagrada Família School’s iconic design.

The gift shop

Are you looking for a souvenir or a gift? The Sagrada Família has two gift shops.

The first store is behind the elevator of the Passion Facade while the second one is at street level at the Carrer de la Marina, on the side of the Nativity Facade.

The latter one is accessible without an entrance ticket.

the inside of the Sagrada Familia

Photography

There are no restrictions on photography inside the temple, you can take pictures of whatever you want. The only time it is not allowed is during religious services.

Attend a mass at the Sagrada Família

It is possible to attend a mass at the Sagrada Família, there are several possibilities. Currently, ceremonies are held in the crypt underneath the church and at the main altar.

Crypt

• Mon-Fri: 9 am (Spanish) and 8.15 pm
• Every day prior to a holiday: 7.30 pm
• Sunday and holidays: 9 am (Spanish), 10.30 am, 11.45 am (Spanish), 1 pm, 6.30 pm (only in the winter) and 8.15 pm (Spanish).

Unless otherwise specified, services are in Catalan.

Main Altar

On Sunday at 9am there is a special international mass at the great altar in the Sagrada Família.

The service is held in English, French and Italian and you can attend for free. If you attend the service you can visit the temple for free afterwards.

For the international mass there are 700 seats available and 2000 standing places. The earlier you arrive, the higher the chance for a good seat.

The service lasts about one hour and a half and guests must behave respectfully throughout. Be especially mindful of the dress code and limit picture-taking to the minimum.

Visit the Sagrada Família for free

Admiring Gaudí’s work from the outside doesn’t cost anything, you only pay to visit the interior. However it is possible to visit the Sagrada Família for free:

• During and after the international mass on Sunday morning
• During the city feasts of La Mercè on the 24th of September there are usually free tickets available for several days
• Free admission to the Sagrada Família is also included in the Barcelona City Pass

History and architecture of the Sagrada Família

After 135 years, the Sagrada Família, considered the masterpiece of modernist architect Antoni Gaudí, is still unfinished. The aim is to complete it in 2026.

Timeline

1882 – Francisco de Paula del Villar, an old acquaintance of Gaudí (they studied together), put the design on paper and the first stone was laid in 1882.
1886 – Antoni Gaudí was hired as the architect. He thought he’d need about ten years to finish the project. He estimates the project will take 10 years.
1910 – Gaudí is working exclusively on the Sagrada Família. He becomes so absorbed in the project that he moves into his workshop on site.
1926 – Gaudí is hit by a tram. He dies three days later in the hospital. The construction of the church slows down with his death.
1936 – A fire breaks out in the crypt, destroying most of Gaudí’s plans and sketches for the building.
1952 – The decision is made to bring the project to life again. New architects begin working on it and many leave their personal mark on the building.
1978 – The Passion Facade (the ‘modern’ side) is finished.
2010 – The interior of the Sagrada Família is finished. Pope Benedictus XVI consecras the temple and grants it the status of Basilica. Tens of thousands of people attend the event.
2026 – The building will (hopefully) be completed on the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. The following video shows what it will look like once it’s done.

Why is it taking so long to build?

The fact that the church still isn’t finished is partly because of the enormous size of the project. When it is completed, the Sagrada Família will be the largest church in the world.

Ornamentation is rich and abundant all over the temple

Gaudí’s elaborate style has also caused many complications.

The level of craftsmanship required to build the temple to his high standards has made work progress very slowly.

But beyond the technical difficulty of the build, finance was always the biggest problem.

According to the founder Josep Maria Bocabella, the Sagrada Familia should become a church of penance and therefore should be funded only with charitable donations.

This turned out to be quite a tall order, and for many years Gaudí dedicated much of his time to fundraising for the temple.

When asked about the project’s slow progress, Gaudí would respond by saying “My client, God, is in no hurry”.

Sagrada Familia becomes a tourist attraction

Every year, more and more tourists came to take a look at what nowadays is considered one of the most controversial masterpieces of modern architecture.

In the eighties, the building commission wised up on this and realized that there was an economic opportunity.

It was decided to charge an entrance fee, and with the new influx of funds the building process began to speed up.

In 2010 the interior of the church was finished but the exterior parts and towers are still under construction.

Currently, the project employs around 100 sculptors and builders on a permanent basis.

Who was Antoni Gaudí?

For the last sixteen years of his life, after completing the Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Gaudí dedicated himself exclusively to the Sagrada Família.

Gaudí had changed by then from a flamboyant young man to a shabbily dressed hermit and fervent catholic.

Gaudí was inspired by old gothic and Byzantine cathedrals for the Sagrada Família but he decided not to follow the initial neo-gothic design of his predecessor.

He wanted the Sagrada Família to embody the message of the four evangelists. He kept a maquette of the temple on his bed side table so it would always be in his thoughts.

In 1926, while out on a morning walk, Gaudí was hit by a tram.

At the time he was carrying no identity documents and because of his shabby clothing and unkempt appearance passersby mistook him for a beggar.

It is likely that he received substandard medical treatment because of this, and by the time he was identified his health had deteriorated significantly.

He died three days later in the hospital, and was buried in the Sagrada Família.

With his death, work on the project slowed down considerably and it would take many years for it to pick up again.

Interesting Fact: Gaudí’s face is depicted in two places in the Sagrada Família. On the Nativity Facade, as the figure that represents Joseph, and on the Passion Facade, where Veronica holds the face of Jesus with a cloth.

Magical square

On the Passion Facade you’ll find the magic square, created by Josep María Subirachs, who created the sculptures that decorate that portion of the building.

It is one of the many riddles and enigmas that you can find throughout the Sagrada Família. In a row, the numbers of the square all add up to 33, the age of Jesus Christ when he died, but also the number of grades in the order of Freemasons.

Food and drinks tips around La Sagrada Família

• Buenas Migas: italian sandwiches, salads, smoothies and homemade ice tea, cakes and cookies, good coffee with fresh milk, teas and organic yoghurt.
• La Paradeta: Fish, fish and more fish. Budget €25 per person for a very satisfying meal of fish and shellfish. Closed on Mondays and between 4pm-8pm.
• Xurrería Sagrada Família: old fashioned churros with chocolate sauce (their terrace is tiny, so you need a little bit of luck!)

Attractions near Sagrada Familia

There are two important attractions near La Sagrada Familia:

• Park Güell
• Sant Pau Modernist Complex

Visit La Sagrada Família and Park Güell in one day

Both la Sagrada Família and Park Güell are must sees, especially if it’s your first time in Barcelona. If you want to visit these two can’t-miss monuments on a single day read our tips below.

How do you get from the Sagrada Família to Park Güell?

There are several ways to get from one attraction to the other. Walking, by bike, taxi, bus and metro. Good to know: the difference in elevation is significant. Keep this in mind if you plan to walk or bike.

Tip: Make sure to budget enough time for your visits. The Sagrada Família usually takes between one and two hours (more if you’re visiting the towers), and Park Guell is more or less the same.

Travel time between the two varies depending on your mode of transport. On foot it’s roughly ~35 minutes.

• Walking
  If you have enough time, walk up to Park Güell and stop for lunch in the district of Gràcia. We love Sol Soler for tapas on Plaça del Sol. If you want something sweet instead, head to La Nena on Carrer Ramon i Cajal for churros and chocolate and lemon pie.
• By bus
  Take local bus line 92 at Sant Antoni Maria Claret-Lepant, a 10 minute walk from Sagrada Família. Get off at Ctr del Carmel-Parc Güell.
• Metro
  Get the Blue Line at Sagrada Família towards Vall D’Hebron and get off at El Coll-La Teixonera. From there it’s a 15 minute walk and the good news is that it’s downhill. You’ll also get to to enjoy a nice view of Barcelona.
• With the hop-on hop-off bus
  You can easily travel between Sagrada Família and the Park Güell on the Hop On Hop Off Bus. The Blue Line runs by both attractions and the distance is about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Taxi
  There are always enough taxis at both sides of the Sagrada that take you in about 10-20 minutes (depending on traffic) to the main entrance of Park Güell (Carrer d’Olot).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Sagrada Familia offer discounts on tickets

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Certain groups can purchase tickets at a lower rate (children, students, seniors), but there are no special discounted tickets to visit the Sagrada Familia.

Is it worth it to reserve tickets in advance?

Yes. The Sagrada Familia is the most visited tourist attraction in the entire country. If you show up without a ticket you may have to wait in line for a long time, and on certain particularly busy days you may not be able to get in.

Is is possible to visit the Sagrada Família at night?

Not specifically. There are no night tickets or tours to visit the temple, the closest you can come is choosing the last time slots of the day in winter (the Sagrada Família closes at 6 pm between November and February). That said, if you visit very late in the day you won’t get to enjoy the illuminated stained glass windows that light up the central nave.

Who designed the Sagrada Família?

Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Gaudí was a modernist architect that lived from 1852 to 1926. He designed many iconic buildings, such as the Casa Milà, the Casa Batlló, and the famous Park Güell.

How long has the Sagrada Família been under construction?

A very long time! Construction began in 1882, meaning that the building has been under construction for 136 years!

When will the Sagrada Familia be finished?

The current goal is 2026, the one-hundredth anniversary of Gaudí’s death.

What does ‘Sagrada Família’ mean?

Sagrada Família translates to “Holy Family”, and it refers to the family of Jesus Christ, and to his early followers that founded the Christian religion.

Sagrada Familia: 10 Interesting Facts

Sagrada Familia is the undoubted decoration of Barcelona. Why is the Sagrada Familia so attractive to travelers from all over the world? 10 interesting facts about the Sagrada Familia (Sagrada Familia) that you are unlikely to read in standard travel guides.

1 Sagrada Familia as a symbol of the unity of nature and man

The genius Antonio Gaudi conceived the Sagrada Familia as a symbol of the unity of nature and man, which is why the appearance of the architectural structure is so original.

In 2015, the Sagrada Familia was visited by 8.5 million people, a figure comparable to a visit to the Prado Museum, for example.

A must see attraction.

Would you like to buy tickets in advance? You can do this online at the link on the official ticket platform.

2A started something without Gaudi

At first the idea of ​​building was not associated with the name of Antonio Gaudí, but later he joined the construction of the Sagrada Familia. Gaudi built the Sagrada Familia for 30 years, until his death, but since the construction is carried out only on donations, it continues to this day.

OUR ADVICE. If you are planning to visit the Sagrada Familia and other places of interest in Barcelona, ​​check out the Barcelona City Pass to save time and money. The price of the card includes skip-the-line tickets to the main attractions of Barcelona, ​​transfers from the airport and back, a trip on the tourist bus and discounts on many museums and other places of interest in Barcelona. Detailed information for is here .

3We will build on the outskirts

The temple was conceived by the Catholic community as a place designed to beg for the sins of people mired in vice. A new place of repentance had to be created. The most deserted and unprestigious plot of land on the outskirts was chosen. It was on this piece of land where goats grazed that Antonio Gaudi began to build a masterpiece.

4Sagrada Familia is not a Cathedral

The site does not belong to the Church and the construction is carried out on donations from parishioners. Therefore, the Church does not oversee the project. It is a mistake to call the Sagrada Familia a cathedral. Barcelona has another important and venerated church, the Cathedral of Saint Eulalia in the Old City.

5To build or not to build? That is the question

In 2008, the question of stopping construction was raised. Many well-known figures of culture and art believe that Gaudi’s masterpiece is already hopelessly damaged. According to opponents of the construction, the Sagrada Familia is being built to please the tourism industry, and not according to the plan and drawings of Antonio Gaudi.

6Why does it take so long to build

Completion of construction is hampered by the difficulty of making stone blocks that form the eccentric forms of the structure. There is a computer model that fits each block individually.

7And when the Sagrada Familia will finally be completed

The Spanish government announces the year 2026, in which, perhaps, the construction will be completed. Previously, apparently, this will not happen.

8Visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the Sagrada Familia

On November 7, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated an amazingly beautiful church. Now the Sagrada Familia may well become the venue for the service.

9 Beauty is in the details

The Art Nouveau style in the architecture of the Sagrada Familia can be seen in everything. For example, the crucifix above the entrance demonstrates an unusual image of Christ, take a closer look.

10Inspired by the masterpieces of Gaudí

Church of the 26 Martyrs in Nagasaki

There are always many representatives from the Land of the Rising Sun in the Sagrada Familia. Being fans of the work of Antonio Gaudi, they attack all the creations of the great architect. And all because 50 years ago, Japanese architect Kenji Imai visited Barcelona. Inspired by what he saw, he creates something similar in Nagasaki – the Church of the 26 Martyrs. The Japanese were impressed, and since then Barcelona has been their place of pilgrimage.

Seeing this amazing temple with your own eyes, you will be able to personally touch the incredibly interesting and delightfully beautiful monument of Catalan culture.

Would you like to see Sagrada Familia and other works of Gaudí? Embark on a full day tour of Barcelona. You can buy a ticket at the link on the official ticket platform.

• How to avoid queues at Barcelona attractions. Tickets for Sagrada Familia and Park Güell skip the line.
• How not to be deceived by local taxi drivers. Order a taxi in advance with fixed rates online. The most reliable service for ordering a taxi is KiwiTaxi .
• Excursions in Barcelona with locals will help you get to know this city for real. The best way to get comfortable in an unfamiliar city is to walk around it with a person who has lived here for many years.
• We advise you to take out travel insurance so that there are no unpleasant surprises while traveling to Barcelona.

• Barcelona City Pass is a one-stop card that makes organizing your holiday in Barcelona easier and saves a lot of time and money.
• Barcelona hotels: are our selections and recommendations.
• Bus Turistic is a tourist bus and a great way to get to all the necessary monuments of Barcelona quickly, with a breeze and comfort.
• Drimsim is a universal international SIM card and a free travel application. Best prices, fast internet and worldwide calls.

• TAGS
• Sagrada Familia
• Antoni Gaudí Works

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2 VIEW 000 the most remarkable place in the world

Sagrada Familia is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. Considered the greatest work of renowned Catalan architect Antonio Gaudí, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed basilica was recently selected as the World’s Remarkable Venue Awards winner of “Most Remarkable Site” by over 6,000 culture lovers. world.

To find out more about this amazing piece of architecture and give you an exclusive view of Sagrada Familia, we spoke to Javier Martinez, Managing Director of Sagrada Familia.

Thank you for contacting us! Tell us a little more about your role in the Sagrada Familia – what do you like most about your job?

It’s hard to choose. The Sagrada Família is a vibrant, dynamic and ever-changing organization. In my job, no two days are the same, and this is what I like most about my position. Of course, when I wake up, I have an agenda ahead of me, but there are no two days in a row.

This makes the work very interesting and allows me to deal with many different topics. I wouldn’t be able to single out one particular aspect as my favourite, but I will stick to this dynamic reality as what I enjoy most about my work.

Why the Sagrada Familia is so special

Congratulations on winning the RVA international competition in the Most Remarkable Place category! What do you think makes Sagrada Familia such a wonderful place?

Sagrada Familia is the essence of Antoni Gaudí. Our origins come directly from Gaudí and that is what makes the Sagrada Familia so special. Antoni Gaudí was a great architect; his work remains as innovative today as it was during his lifetime.

Everyone has a place in the Sagrada Familia. Every person finds in the Sagrada Familia what he is looking for, both from a spiritual point of view and from the point of view of aesthetic beauty, art, architecture … That is why we are regarded as a world monument and we can communicate with people from all over the world.

Antoni Gaudí once said that people from all over the world would come to visit the Sagrada Familia, and he was right: more than 4.5 million people from 120 different countries visit us every year.

We are very happy and proud to receive this worldwide recognition from Tiqets users.

“Gaudi did something very destructive: he brought out what churches usually have inside. All altarpieces, images and other things that are usually found inside the basilica; Gaudí transferred them to the facades and created the Bible carved in stone. ”

The exterior of the Sagrada Familia is for many the most symbolic image of Barcelona. Can you tell us about the unique features of the building’s exterior, such as the different facades, or why it looks the way it does?

Once again, what makes the exterior special is Antoni Gaudí’s pioneering spirit. Gaudí did something very destructive: he brought out what is usually inside churches. All altarpieces, images and other things that are usually found inside the basilica; Gaudi transferred them to the facades and created the Bible carved in stone.

The three main façades symbolize the three main aspects of the life of Jesus Christ: His coming into the world on the Nativity façade, his death and resurrection on the Passion façade, and his journey to eternal life on the Glory façade, which has yet to be built. . So anyone who passes outside the Sagrada Família can visualize these aspects of the life of Jesus Christ without entering it, and it was something truly devastating.

Gaudí also conceived a temple for unbelievers so that everyone could learn about the life of Jesus Christ. And this is a very innovative way of conveying the life of Jesus Christ at different stages of his life, up to his death. This innovation is one of the keys to Sagrada Familia’s success.

Take a look inside the Sagrada Familia

Many Tiqeteers employees in our Amsterdam office have been to the Basilica and said visiting the Sagrada Familia is an incredible experience. What is so special about the interior of the building that makes this experience so meaningful to people?

The first entrance to Sagrada Familia is something special. Sagrada Familia is like nothing you’ve ever seen. No matter how many people explain and tell this, until you come, see and feel for yourself, you will not be able to understand what it means. We saw many visitors who, having entered inside, are touched and even cry.

As I said, the Sagrada Familia is so special that everyone finds what they want in it. Obviously, there are many people with spiritual motives, and in this case they find the ideal conditions for living this spiritual relationship. But many people come with other motives, which can be cultural, artistic, architectural, related to beauty, light … and they all find what they are looking for.

Upon entering the Sagrada Familia one finds an interesting and revealing aspect. And, of course, grandeur: the height of the naves, the light… everything that makes the moment you enter the Sagrada Familia something special and unforgettable. And this is what makes the interior of the temple so unique.

There is a lot of symbolism in the interior. Could you share some of the symbolic features that people can find in the Sagrada Familia?

As I mentioned earlier, there is a lot of religious symbolism on the facades. However, there are some very interesting moments in the interior.

I would like to highlight three in particular:

Eternal Father

This triangular symbol can be found on the large hyperboloid above the presbytery. This can be seen from the entrance to Gloria. It was designed by architectural director Jordi Bonet and has been a great success. This is a golden triangle, which looks very beautiful framed by this huge hyperboloid, symbolizing the Eternal Father.

Stained glass

The light that comes in from outside has a very clear symbolism. Sunrise-oriented windows are painted in cold colors, blue and green, coinciding with the first hours of the day, which are also colder. Then, as the sun approaches, the windows through which the light enters are colored red and orange, and become warmer as the day progresses. This gives a very symbolic span of time that changes throughout the day and is a very beautiful experience indeed.

Door of Glory

It was designed by the sculptor Josep María Subirax and the door is inscribed with the Lord’s Prayer in more than 50 languages. It also has great symbolism. It turns out that where you put your hand to open the door, the letters “A” and “G”, as in A ntoni G audí, match. It’s very cute, and it’s also a great coincidence. When the door was being designed, the Lord’s Prayer was randomly placed in different languages, and it so happened that the letters “A” and “G” fell in the place where the door opens.

These are the three aspects that I would like to highlight when it comes to the symbolism inside the Sagrada Familia.

“It is impossible to choose a favorite element in the Sagrada Familia, it is really very unfair! It’s like being asked which of your children you love the most.”

We apologize for this very unfair question: if you had to choose your favorite part of the Sagrada Familia, which would you choose? Is there any particular window, façade, tower, view, or feature that comes to mind?

It is impossible to choose a favorite element in the Sagrada Familia, this is really very unfair! It’s like being asked which of your children you love the most.

More than a physical or material aspect, I am left with emotions, what I felt and what the Sagrada Familia has given me in the 19 years that I have been part of this project. Perhaps the most memorable for me was November 2010, when Pope Benedict XVI came to consecrate the Sagrada Familia.

This religious ceremony opened the Sagrada Familia to the world. Over 4,000 people could be seen in the naves in a very beautiful ceremony. I think I’m more interested in this moment than the choice of the material aspect. It is a beautiful memory, and even today I close my eyes and see it in my mind’s eye. Not only because of what the ceremony involved in the transformation of a civil building into a church meant, but also because it was something much more. The fact that the Pope himself wanted to come to Barcelona at the invitation of Cardinal Martínez Sistach gave this event much more significance. It was a ceremony that was broadcast live and attended by over 300,000,000 people around the world.

It was a unique day that opened the basilica to the world and a wonderful moment that has stayed with me ever since.

What advice would you give to those visiting Sagrada Familia for the first time? Is there anything they should pay attention to or focus on? Is there anything they might accidentally miss if they didn’t know about it?

There are two important points of the first visit. There are many people who don’t really know what they want to see. They may have seen some pictures, but they don’t have a complete idea of ​​what they are going to find in the Sagrada Familia.

The first moment is when they get off the subway, look up, see it rise in the center of the city, and say: “Oh my God, what is this… I have not seen this.” It looks huge in the middle of the city.

And then the second moment comes when you think that nothing else will impress you, because you have already experienced the first emotion. This moment happens when you enter the building. When people enter the Sagrada Família, everyone looks up and marvels at the height of the nave, the grandeur, the columns, the hyperboloids… This great beauty that is inside is truly incredible.

These are two great moments that I would recommend for people to remember and enjoy.

Sagrada Familia construction process

Do you have any interesting stories related to the construction of Sagrada Familia? Is there anything you particularly enjoyed about the process?

There are many anecdotes to choose from, but I will focus on the one related to the above story about the 2010 dedication of the basilica. Imagine how we workers felt at that moment. We have reached our great goal: to cover the naves so that the Pope will come to consecrate the basilica. It was a moment of great excitement and strong emotions. It was then that we put the famous question on the table: “When will the construction of the Sagrada Familia be completed?”

Before that, since 1882, we lived with the urban legend that the Sagrada Familia would never be completed. But for the first time we dared to answer the question. We said: 2026 will be a great moment, coinciding with the centenary of Gaudí’s death and giving us enough time to finish the job.

The task was huge in two senses. On the one hand, the practicality of construction. We had to guarantee safety. 16,000 people can enter the Sagrada Familia per day. This is something very peculiar, unique in the world, because the building can be visited by thousands of people while it is still under construction.

On the other hand, financing: how could we take over the financing of the construction in such a short period of time. To give you an idea, as we mark 2026 as the date of completion (2019), we have completed two thirds of the basilica. It took 139 years, and we had 7 years to build the last third. Imagine the constructive and financial effort that meant!

Faced with this problem, we had to act differently. If we continue like this, we will end not in 2026, but in 2067. We had to reinvent ourselves in order to effectively complete the work during this seven year period. This is where values ​​such as the innovation that we inherited from Antonio Gaudí came into play; we have developed a new construction method based on three elements: innovation, stone and steel.

At this point, we had a clear idea of ​​the construction method, but we didn’t know how to implement it. We had to go abroad to get acquainted with the best international practices in order to adapt them to the Sagrada Familia. For example, we were inspired by large skyscrapers that were built in a short time. How do they do it? If we could do the same with stone and steel, we would achieve our goal. In collaboration with construction and architecture firms around the world, we were able to define a model that would allow us to do this.

The steel we use is very special. It is called duplex steel and has very important characteristics of hardness and durability. It is very difficult to work with, and it is not widely used – very few people know how to use it. In fact, we did not find anyone in Spain who knew how to use it. I had to go to Germany, the Nordic countries, England and study abroad. We ourselves have become experts and, if not for the pandemic, we would have reached our goal in 2026. Now it will be impossible. But I’m getting ahead of myself, we’ll talk about that later!

“This is a great message of hope we want to send to the world: we have overcome the pandemic and now it’s time to step out of the darkness and move forward with this new light.”

Upcoming projects and ongoing work

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected Sagrada Familia? Are there any new projects currently being worked on?

The pandemic hit us hard. This misfortune did not leave us indifferent. We had to close our doors on March 13, 2020. We temporarily opened in July and August of the same year. But we had to close again due to the effects of the third wave of the pandemic.

Our main source of income is tourism, that is, visitors who contribute to the construction of the temple with their entrance tickets. And the second source of donations, which also contribute to the design. But the difference is significant. Tourism brings in more than 90% of the income, and when we lost visitors, we had to stop construction. Sagrada Familia is like a big ocean liner. When he hits the brakes, it takes him many nautical miles to stop. The same thing happens when we start moving forward again and try to pick up the speed we had before the pandemic.

We are currently going through a valley moment in which we had to stop work and it will be very difficult for us to return to the 2019 construction rhythm. It is not possible to finish Sagrada Familia in 2026. This is the main impact of Covid-19 on the church. We are currently unable to determine a new date. We will only be able to do this when we reach pre-pandemic construction levels and can make an accurate estimate.

But the board of trustees not only did not fall into despondency and despondency, but also decided that in 2021 we should make great efforts to build one of the most symbolic towers of the Sagrada Familia – the tower of the Virgin Mary.

This was decided for two reasons. Firstly, for more than 100 years of construction, the Sagrada Familia has experienced many difficulties: wars, famines, hardships… But different patronages have always supported the construction and have always done something, even the smallest. The current Board of Trustees believes that, just as efforts were made in difficult times (even more difficult than the current ones), it is appropriate to do it again now.

And secondly, we think that now, when we are coming out of the pandemic and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, it would be good to complete the construction of the tower, which is destined to be the crown of a big luminous star. In December 2021, we will light a star and send a message of hope and brightness to the world to welcome 2022. We want to combine these two moments: the end of the pandemic and the completion of the construction of the tower of Mary.

This is a great message of hope we want to send to the world: we have overcome the pandemic and now it is time to step out of the darkness and move forward with this new light.

Tips for those thinking of visiting Barcelona

If someone is visiting Barcelona for the first time, Sagrada Familia should obviously be at the top of their list – but do you have any additional recommendations for visitors to the city? Are there other things not to be missed nearby?

Barcelona is a cozy, attractive, cosmopolitan city. It has a lot of good things: good weather, sea, culture, shows, good food, joy… there is a lot of everything. I don’t know whether to tell you that the best thing is architecture, or in particular modernism. Someone prefers to visit museums, someone prefers the Barça stadium! Barcelona offers a range of experiences that make it very attractive and comparable to other major European capitals. That is why it is positioned as one of the places not to be missed in Europe and all over the world and why people come to Barcelona.

I don’t recommend anything specific, but I encourage everyone to come and experience the city in their own way.

In fact, we can say that in this sense, Barcelona is similar to the Sagrada Familia. It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for or where you’re from: one way or another, Barcelona, ​​like Sagrada Familia, will be able to connect with you and offer you what you’ve been looking for.

Would you like to visit the beautiful Basilica of Barcelona? Every Sagrada Familia ticket sold helps fund the ongoing construction of this incredible building.