Sagrada Família is a Roman Catholic church found in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and still unfinished. The original inspiration for the church is by the Catalan bookseller, Josep Maria Bocabella. After that architect Antoni Gaudí began working on the project in 1883. On 18 March 1883, Villar retired from the project, and Gaudí took over the design adding so many changes to it. The construction period was so long and it could not be finished fully when Gaudi died in 1926. After his death, responsibility for the church construction came under Domènec Sugrañes i Gras until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936.Some parts were destroyed by Catalan anarchists and the present design is a mixture of modern and old. Modern technology was involved to accelerate the construction process.
Sagrada Familia shows the design mixture of Spanish Late Gothic, Catalan Modernism and Art Nouveau or Catalan Noucentisme. Although initially it was planned to be a cathedral sized building, later it became one as it depicts various parts of usual cathedrals with vast modifications, for example like the ground plan, double isles, an ambulatory with a chevet of seven apsidal chapels, a multitude of towers and three portals. The building consists of three grand façades: the Nativity façade to the East, the Passion façade to the West, and the Glory façade to the South which is yet to be finished.
Nativity façade was the first façade to be completed which was built between 1894 and 1930. It is also decorated with scenes reminiscent of elements of life. Passion Façade is seen as a contrast to the earlier in other words more simple and plain. This is dedicated to the passion of Christ, suffering of Jesus during his crucifixion, and the façade was to portray the sins of man. The largest and most beautiful of all is the Glory Façade whose construction began in 2002. This is dedicated to the Celestial Glory of Jesus; it represents the road to God: Death, Final Judgment, and Glory, while Hell is left for those who deviate from God's will.
As earlier mentioned, Gaudi made drastic changes in the original plan so that basically the church will be able to accommodate 13,000 people and the completed structure will have 18 towers. Four on each three facades is to represent the 12 apostles while another four is to represent the the 4 evangelists. They will surround the largest which will be dedicated to Jesus Christ and the last tower is for Virgin Mary, which will be built over the apse.
Travellers’ Guide
If you are planning to visit Sagrada Familia, don’t hesitate thinking that it’s yet to be finished. Sagrada Familia is full of fascination. You can visit the crypt where Gaudí is buried and the towers.
Hotels near Sagrada Familia
Castro Exclusive Residences
Provenza, 414, Eixample, Barcelona (0.1 km from Sagrada Familia)
Apartaments Restaurant Hispanos 7 Suiza
Sicilia, 255, Eixample, Barcelona (0.2 km from Sagrada Familia)
Apartments Hostemplo Suites
Mallorca, 362, Eixample, Barcelona(0.2 km from Sagrada Familia)
Dailyflats Rosselló
Rosselló, 380-382, Eixample, Barcelona(0.3 km from Sagrada Familia)
Ayre Hotel Rosellón
Roselló, 390, Eixample, Barcelona (0.3 km from Sagrada Familia)
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