I took these photos years back when visiting Barcelona (Spain). I am admiring Antoni Gaudí’s works and I hope to visit all his works in Spain. It’s an ambitious plan but worth to consider as most of his buildings are photogenic.

The church Sagrada Família is perhaps his most significant work that has to be completed. The construction began in 1882 led by architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. He abandoned the project due to some disagreements that later in 1883, the project was handed over to Antonio Gaudí. It became his lifetime project. The church was also called as the Cathedral of the Poor and financed entirely by donations. Gaudí himself said: “The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is made by the people and is mirrored in them.”

At my first sight the church looked alike a huge cave with lava materials with its outer walls decorated by hand-crafted sculptures of religious figures and scenes. There were four façades in Sagrada Familia: the Nativity façade, the Passion façade, the Glory façade and the Apse façade.  The Nativity façade covered the story of the birth of Jesus. The religious scenes like  the Three Wise Men, or the baby Jesus, Maria and Joseph, are crafted in details.  Stunning imagination inspired by the Bible. This part was aimed to celebrate the early life of Jesus.

There were several sculptures that representing the scenes of crucifixion of Jesus. This area was called as the Passion façade. The façade dealt with the last few days of the life of Jesus. I was told there were 100 figures for this façade alone. The rest of the façades is to be completed.

Judas Kiss

Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

The Sagrada Família is truly a magnificent building. It is visited by more than 2.5 millions people every year, and it is anticipated to complete by 2026. I hope to visit it again to see how it looks like after my last visit.

Official website of the Sagrada Família 

Buy ticket online to avoid queues – online ticket website

Opening hours:
October – March: 09:00 – 18:00
April – September: 09:00 – 20:00;
25 and 26 December, 01 January and 06 January: 09:00 – 14:00.