Basílica de la Sagrada Familia
October is a great time to visit Spain. Before going on our Mediterranean Cruise we rented an apartment in Barcelona to see this beautiful city
While there, I was anxious to venture out and admire all the Gaudi’s architecture, including the famous Basílica de la Sagrada Familia, the Casa Milá, and Casa Batlló
Designed by the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), his work on Sagrada Família is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This cathedral is currently the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world.
Construction of the Sagrada Família began under Francisco de Paula del Villar on 19 March 1882. A year later, after architect Villar resigned, Gaudí took over as chief architect, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style. He combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms
Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project. After he died in 1926, he was buried in the Cathedral’s crypt. By that time only less than a quarter of the project was complete.
The Sagrada Família’s construction progressed very slow, relying solely on private donations. It was also slowed down by the Spanish Civil War.
In 1936, anarchists set fire to the crypt and partially destroying Gaudí’s original plans, drawings and plaster models, which delayed the work for 16 years to piece together the fragments of the master model.
Construction progressed somewhat in the 1950s. Advancements in technologies such as computer aided design have since enabled faster progress, construction was at the midpoint in 2010.But some of the project’s greatest challenges remain, including the construction of ten more spires, each symbolising an important Biblical figures.
After viewing the other Gaudi buildings, including Casa Milá, and Casa Batlló, and the Park Güell driving by with the Hop-on-off bus, we concluded our 3 day whirlwind stay in Barcelona. We definitely need to come back.
Below you see Gaudi Buildings: Casa Batlló (left) and Casa Batlló (right) in Barcelona
