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Sagrada Familia: The Colorful Forest of Columns

I am an admirer to Antoni Gaudí’s architecture design that mostly inspired by the nature surrounding us. Despite criticism that the Sagrada Familia is no longer Gaudí’s or critics by George Orwell, as mentioned in “Homage to Catalonia,” who called it as one of a hideous buildings in the world;  Gaudí was the visionary person behind the idea of the Sagrada Familia to exist. He was not in a rush to finish his last lavish project that he wished to be the last great sanctuary of Christendom. He once stated, “My client can wait.”

Sagrada Familia

The forest of columns is “protecting” the altar (Sagrada Familia)

On my first visit to Sagrada Familia, the interior inside of the Sagrada Familia was under construction, and it was difficult to imagine what it would be like when it’s finished. Finally, on my second visit, I saw the changes and it was astonishing. It turned to be the most colorful church interior I have ever seen. It was surrounded by the magnificent forest of columns and glittered by bright lights of the intensely colorful stained glass windows. I could stay inside for hours admiring each detail of the design, and take images of the design from many angles. Sagrada Familia is a photographer’s wonderland.

As you entered inside of the Sagrada Familia, these incredible views would greet you. The stairs as pictured in the first image was to reach the towers, but the towers can be accessed using a lift – which was better to avoid being dizzy after climbing 400 steps of spiral staircase!

The walls have windows with colors of stained glasses; they bring spectacular colors through inside the Sagrada Familia.

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

National Geographic mentioned Sagrada Familia as an unfinished world wonder. I wonder if it will be a world wonder after its completion. It is on its way to being completed in 2026, marking a century of Antoni Gaudí’s death. It will not be the first worship place to get acknowledged as a world’s wonder, just name it: Angkor Wat, Borobudur, Saint Basil’s Cathedral and few more as listed by many worlds’s wonder organizations.

Compared to the first visit, Sagrada Familia on my second visit was much more crowded. I guess Sagrada Familia is getting more popular. If you are going to visit Sagrada Familia, please do book your ticket online (with specific entrance time) to avoid the long queue. I read the queue could take hours, so I booked the ticket online. It took me less than a minute to enter while I saw the long queue on the other side. Additionally, if you are planning to take pictures inside, do bring a tripod as some area could be very dark.

My Travel Monkey

151 Comments »

  1. Thanks so much Indah for taking us inside this world wonder. Absolutely delightful! I love all the color coming in. I’m glad you went back and got to see it and share it without the construction. Great post. 😀

    • It is my pleasure Jet 🙂 The interior was way better than the first time I saw it but the crowds was worsen! Thank you for your kind comment 🙂

  2. Nice pics Indahs. La Sagrada Familia is an incredible cathedral, and one of the highlights of Europe for me! Shame that it probably won’t be finished being built for ages though.

  3. Oh My! These pictures are stunning. I love the blue-green hue streaming through the one section of stained glass. Wow, I could not imagine standing before such a glorious image. Thanks so much for sharing.

  4. Wow! I saw it 15 years ago and it has changed so much. Beautiful then, even more beautiful now! 🙂 Love, love, love all of his work.

  5. I have visited here and posted about it too! It is an amazing place! Even if you don’t like the architecture one can’t argue that it isn’t impressive. Personally, I think the architecture is a masterpiece. Two of my favorite things about it other that the tree columns you already mentioned are the figures carved on the outside many of which are in contemplation and the bright rainbow colors of the stained glass on the inside. It is like Gaudi took everything we know about churches and turned it upside down while still being extremely respectful. It is also amazing to watch it being built. So often we visit old churches that were finished many years ago. Once can visit Barcelona every three months and see something new with the church. I would love to go and see it again when it is finished.

    Your photographs are lovely as always. Shooting this church is what photographers dream of, isn’t it?

    Did you make it to any other Gaudi locations while in Barcelona? Park Guell is also very interesting, strange, and wonderful all at the same time.

    • Thank you so much Jenny! I agree with you – and I always love taking pictures of (old) church and cathedral, they hold many mysteries and their architectures are stunning! I wish I could visit Barcelona more often, if it is only 1 hour drive from Rotterdam, I am sure I will visit it every three months 🙂
      I did visit other Gaudi’s locations. Park Guell is also my favorite but this year, I skipped it because it was too crowded and I did not find it comfortable when seeing the number of tourists there – but I did visit the park couple years ago.

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