La Sagrada Familia
Basilica I Temple de la Sagrada Familia, commonly known as Sagrada Familia is worth a visit simply to discover why it divides Cataluña’s civilians so greatly.
Combing Gothic, Curvilinear and Art Nouveau forms it is a large Roman Catholic Church with ambitious structural columns and arches.
Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi this remarkable structure is still incomplete, and a visit to the heavily scaffold building may have you questioning its necessity considering the city’s other major cathedral.
Completion of the project has been a slow burner.
Gaudi became involved in 1883, taking over and immediately imposed his architectural and engineering style on the development. The artist devoted his last years to the project and at the time of his death in 1926 just a quarter of the structure was complete.
The Spanish Civil war further interrupted the church’s progress, and since the 1950’s construction has heavily relied on private donations. Gaudi’s work is expected to be finished in 2026, the centennial of Gaudi’s death.
The basilica still plenty to be done to it, particularly to its exterior, and in 2010 with the construction passing it’s mid-point, some of the most difficult challenges remain including the possibility that an underground tunnel of Spain’s high speed train could disturb it’s stability.
Described by Oscar Wilde as “the most hideous structure I have ever seen”, visitors are likely to pitch for an adjective such as “original” or “unusual” to describe the cathedral’s look complete with towering spires.
Visitors to the church have full access to the nave, crypt, museum, and whilst these show off the features of La Sagrada Familia, no experience is truly completed without scaling the ‘passion’ or ‘nativity’ towers. Access is possible by lift (at an additional fee) or by the stairs.
The interior of the structure continues the Gaudi theme whilst also attempting to pitch for a slightly traditional layout. Using his familiar approach of attention to detail, Gaudi’s inspirational look lifts Sagrada into the same category as Westminster Abbey in London or Notre Dame in Paris.
Gaudi’s intended for his cathedral to have a subtle slope so that a visitor standing at the main entrance would be able to see the nave and the apse just as easily as those in the front row. Additionally none of the interior surfaces are flat and there is heavy use of abstract shapes which combine smooth curves with jagged points to ensure a truly unique look.
Sagrada Familia can be accessed via the Barcelona City Metro, and handily the closest stop is named after the cathedral. Other transport links can also be used to visit including taxis, and busses which stop at all four corners of the church’s location.
Surrounding Sagrada Familia are a large amount of souvenir shops in which pretty much every item imaginable can be purchased.
Guided tours around the cathedral’s ground floors are available in multiple languages including English. To enter the structure costs €12 and an additional fee is charged to access the towers using the lift.
Queues to enter both the building and to use the lift are likely, but with opening times between 9am and 6pm in winter and 9am and 8pm in the summer there is plenty of time to view the interior and exterior of this innovative place of worship.
Combing Gothic, Curvilinear and Art Nouveau forms it is a large Roman Catholic Church with ambitious structural columns and arches.
Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi this remarkable structure is still incomplete, and a visit to the heavily scaffold building may have you questioning its necessity considering the city’s other major cathedral.
Completion of the project has been a slow burner.
Gaudi became involved in 1883, taking over and immediately imposed his architectural and engineering style on the development. The artist devoted his last years to the project and at the time of his death in 1926 just a quarter of the structure was complete.
The Spanish Civil war further interrupted the church’s progress, and since the 1950’s construction has heavily relied on private donations. Gaudi’s work is expected to be finished in 2026, the centennial of Gaudi’s death.
The basilica still plenty to be done to it, particularly to its exterior, and in 2010 with the construction passing it’s mid-point, some of the most difficult challenges remain including the possibility that an underground tunnel of Spain’s high speed train could disturb it’s stability.
Described by Oscar Wilde as “the most hideous structure I have ever seen”, visitors are likely to pitch for an adjective such as “original” or “unusual” to describe the cathedral’s look complete with towering spires.
Visitors to the church have full access to the nave, crypt, museum, and whilst these show off the features of La Sagrada Familia, no experience is truly completed without scaling the ‘passion’ or ‘nativity’ towers. Access is possible by lift (at an additional fee) or by the stairs.
The interior of the structure continues the Gaudi theme whilst also attempting to pitch for a slightly traditional layout. Using his familiar approach of attention to detail, Gaudi’s inspirational look lifts Sagrada into the same category as Westminster Abbey in London or Notre Dame in Paris.
Gaudi’s intended for his cathedral to have a subtle slope so that a visitor standing at the main entrance would be able to see the nave and the apse just as easily as those in the front row. Additionally none of the interior surfaces are flat and there is heavy use of abstract shapes which combine smooth curves with jagged points to ensure a truly unique look.
Sagrada Familia can be accessed via the Barcelona City Metro, and handily the closest stop is named after the cathedral. Other transport links can also be used to visit including taxis, and busses which stop at all four corners of the church’s location.
Surrounding Sagrada Familia are a large amount of souvenir shops in which pretty much every item imaginable can be purchased.
Guided tours around the cathedral’s ground floors are available in multiple languages including English. To enter the structure costs €12 and an additional fee is charged to access the towers using the lift.
Queues to enter both the building and to use the lift are likely, but with opening times between 9am and 6pm in winter and 9am and 8pm in the summer there is plenty of time to view the interior and exterior of this innovative place of worship.