Barcelona Travel Guide

Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia

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Antoni Gaudi's creations give Barcelona a look and feel that is unique among the world's cities.  If you do not take a day and examine the architecture that Gaudi gifted us with, we are certain that you will regret it the future.

• Antoni Gaudi's works in Barcelona can be grouped into three settings for planning your visit.
  • The most stunning and acclaimed of his creations is La Sagrada Familia, a whimsical cathedral to which Gaudi devoted much of his life. 

  • Several  Casas (houses) scattered through the Eixample section of Barcelona are the second leg of the circuit.

  • Finally, the delightful Parc Güell provides for yet another amazing collection of designs.     

Gaudi was a religious man who spent the last portion of his life designing and building the La Sagrada Familia (the Sacred Family), a basilica that has been under construction now for over a century.  The construction, which started in 1882 continues today, funded by donations.  The Basilica is scheduled to be completed in 2026, the centennial of Guidi's death, and its final form remains true to Gaudi's original design.  However, since the funding for the site is based on donations, it is possible that the Sagrada Familia may not be finished by the centennial.

When  finished, the complex will have 18 spires (towers) whose heights differ depending on the Basilica's representational hierarchy and five naves.  Twelve of the towers symbolize the apostles, four the evangelists and one for the Blessed Virgin and one for Christ.  In addition, the central spire will top out at over 550 feet making this the tallest church in the world.  The Basilica was christened by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

The site is officially named the Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família.  See its official website  for more details on visiting.

The Temple continues to evolve as time progresses and it, in our opinion, is a stunning  but unusual edifice.  The location is a popular one with tourists for it is unlikely that you will ever see a cathedral quite like this (see detail photos at right). The cathedral's grounds are  large, but the majesty of the Temple dominates this section of Barcelona.  You will want to take time for a tour here, or enough time to gaze at the incredible detail of this edifice (you will need binoculars to see all of the details that enrich the Basilica).

Gaudi devoted  the last sixteen  years of his life to building La Sagrada Familia.  During that time he abandoned his other work and was so focused that he lived at the construction site and spent most of his spare time designing, redesigning or working on the project. He was often asked why the cathedral was taking so long to build and is reported to have responded "My client is in no hurry."

Gaudi's life was cut short when he was run over by a streetcar while on his way to the Temple. It is thought that he was so occupied with planning the construction of the Temple that he did not notice he had wandered into harm's way.

• Continue to Gaudi's Casas

• Gaudi's Parc Güell

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The Statuary encased within the spires of the Temple contain incredible detail.

Continue to Gaudi's Casas

Gaudi's Parc Güell

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