Segrada Familia

The Sagrada Família is open daily 10am to 6pm (8pm April to September). Entry costs €8, students €5. Additional €2 for a lift ride up the Passion or Nativity façade

Construction of the Sagrada Família, namely the Temple of the Holy Family, has been on-going  for over a hundred years. It started in 1882 and the latest estimates say it will not be complete until 2030. To make matters worse, the original plans and parts of of the unfinished church were destroyed by Catalan anarchists during civil war in the 1930’s. The design is now based on reconstructed versions of the lost plans and on modern adaptations. The main architect was the famous Antoni Gaudí, but he was run over by a tram in 1926 and new architects were not appointed until the 1940’s. Lack of funds over the years slowed construction to a snails pace. But despite all these setbacks, this magnificent gothic church continues to rise up to the heavens and draws over a million visitors every year.

Tops of the Towers

Statue at the Top

Construction of this Catholic Church was commissioned by local authorities as part of a plan to turn Barcelona’s increasingly lax citizens back to God. In 1884, Antoni Gaudí took over the project and dedicated the rest of his life to the building. Gaudí took most of his inspiration from nature and designed a twisty building, relatively free of straight lines. His plans continually changed but featured no-less than 17 towers – each 330-feet high (100-metres). 12 of the towers would represent the Apostles and the remaining 5 symbolize the Virgin Mary and 4 Evangelists. A central tower soaring above the other 17, would represent Christ and would be 560-feet high (170-metres), slightly less than the height of nearby Montjuïc, as Gaudí believed that his work should not surpass that of God. Gaudí designed the church with 3 grand façades which would represent Nativity, Passion and the Glory of Christ.

The Segrada Familia

The Nativity façade was the only façade completed during Gaudí’s lifetime. It depicts the joyous celebration of Christ’s birth  in sculpture, decoration and its 4 towers. These are symbols of the bishop, a cross, ring, miter and crosier. Starting the Nativity story, the left door is decorated with sculptures recounting the wedding of Jospeph to Mary, the trip to Egypt and Herod’s slaughter of first born sons. Above the door you can see the figures of the nativity scene, flanked by sheperds and above them are angels announcing the birth of Christ. This is all mixed with over 100 different animal and floral decorations, including palms and turtles!

The slaughter of the innocent

Mary and Joseph

Baby Jesus is born

Themes throughout the decoration include words from the liturgy. The towers are decorated with words such as "Hosanna", "Excelsis", and "Sanctus"; the great doors of the Passion façade reproduce words from the Bible in various languages including Catalan; and the Glory façade is to be decorated with the words from the Apostles' Creed.

By contrast, the Passion façade at the other end of the church, is a bleak account of the last 2 days of Christ’s life. It was not completed until 2002 and mainly undertaken by the sculpter Josep Subirachs. The story is told in a giant “S” snaking its way from the bottom left – the last supper – ending at the top right – Christ’s burial. Along the way, stark sculpture tells the story of Judas, Christ before Pilate, Peter’s denial and eventually Christ crucified. Notice the bronze doors, carved with 8,000 letters from a page of the Gospels.

Scenes of betrayal on the Passion Facade

Modern Figures on the Passion Facade

The cryptogram on the Passion façade shows a grid of numbers. There are 310 combinations to arrive at a total of 33 – Christ’s age when he died.

The Cryptogram

Inside, the church is equally impressive. The main roof was not properly installed until 2000, but now covers the gigantic nave and is a real testiment to the genius of Gaudí. Modern computer simulations were used by engineers to test the original design and confirm that the unique pattern of tree-like columns and branches spreading out across the ceiling, would actually support the massive stone ceiling. Most of the interior is a busy building site, but for an exciting experience, stairs, elevators and lifts allow you to travel to the top of the towers for spectacular views across the city.

Inside the Sagrada Familia

Steps up the Towers

The great view over Barcelona to the sea

Recently, the Spanish Ministry of Public Works has announced the construction of a high speed train tunnel exactly under the principal façade of the church. Although the ministry states that the project poses no risk to the building, the engineers and architects of the temple disagree.

Learn more about Antoni Gaudi

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