Europe Visita Iglesia #6: Basilica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain

Basilica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

If there’s a church that has actually caught my fancy, it’s the La Basilica de la Sagrada Familia (The Basilica of the Holy Household) in Barcelona. Designed by the Catalan genius architect Antoni Gaudi, it’s a tour de drive of a masterpiece whose development has been ongoing for 139 years for the reason that first cornerstone was laid in 1882. Two world wars, a civil battle, and numerous different momentous occasions in Spain have handed, and but, the unfinished work continues.

The main facade of the Nativity scene at night. — The principle facade of the Nativity scene at night time.

Above, the unfinished ceiling that I shot in 2005 and below, the finished one (Credits: Smithsonian) — Above, the unfinished ceiling that I shot in 2005 and under, the completed one (Credit: Smithsonian)

Four towers framing the Facade of the Passion. — 4 towers framing the Facade of the Ardour.

It’s in contrast to every other constructing on the earth. The design itself is fairly mind-boggling, and many of the particulars solely existed in Gaudi’s thoughts whereas he tried to imitate the fantastic thing about nature via progressive development strategies that have been approach forward of his time. Each the outside facade in addition to the interiors are filled with symbolism. The towering construction has 18 spires with the tallest standing at 173 meters, representing the 12 Apostles, 4 evangelists, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus Christ.

The Facade of the Suffering Way depicts the last weeks of Jesus's life. — The Facade of the Struggling Manner depicts the final weeks of Jesus’s life.

The view of the altar with its magnificent stained glass windows. — The view of the altar with its magnificent stained glass home windows.

Cranes and scaffolding are permanent fixtures around the cathedral as work continues till 2026, when, hopefully, it finally finishes. — Cranes and scaffolding are everlasting fixtures across the cathedral as work continues until 2026, when, hopefully, it lastly finishes.

Exhibition workshop where Gaudi's works are interpreted by the current designers. Most of the design has been helped by 3D computer modeling and is pretty high-tech. — Exhibition workshop the place Gaudi’s works are interpreted by the present designers. Many of the design has been helped by 3D pc modeling and is fairly high-tech.

From afar, the Nativity Nativity facade appears like a dripping sandcastle till you understand that the sculpted figures characterize biblical scenes – the start and childhood of Christ, the conception of the Virgin Mary, Jesus preaching, and far rather more. It’s just like the tales within the bible sculpted in stone. One can spend a very long time deciphering the figures on it till you get a stiff neck!

One of the streets that pass thru the church. — One of many streets that move via the church.

Awesome ceiling mimicking a forest canopy with massive pillars representing tree trunks. (Credits: Smithsonian) — Superior ceiling mimicking a forest cover with large pillars representing tree trunks. (Credit: Smithsonian)

Souvenir stalls abound at the side streets in front of the cathedral. — Memento stalls abound on the aspect streets in entrance of the cathedral.

The walls are punctured with openings for stained glass bringing in multicolored light inside. — The partitions are punctured with openings for stained glass bringing in multicolored gentle inside.

Inside, it appears that you’ve got entered a forest. Quite a few large pillars greet you as they ascend upward to the ceiling branching out close to the highest to type an ornate cover. It was meant to evoke a naturalistic forest cowl – Gaudi, being a religious man of religion, believed that the deepest method to commune with God was to abide in nature which was, in any case, His preliminary creation.

The pediments have Eucharistic symbols such as the grapes you can see used for making wine. — The pediments have Eucharistic symbols such because the grapes you’ll be able to see used for making wine.

One of the concept designs for the columns explaining the role of nature. — One of many idea designs for the columns explaining the function of nature.

There's a small park in front with a pool. — There’s a small park in entrance with a pool.

The Tree of Life - high above the doorway is a green ceramic cypress studded with white marble doves for peace. The dove at the top represents the faithful who turn to God. — The Tree of Life – excessive above the doorway is a inexperienced ceramic cypress studded with white marble doves for peace. The dove on the high represents the devoted who flip to God.

Folks can enter the cathedral even beneath development, however you need to e-book your tickets (20 Euros) nicely upfront as a result of queues are fairly lengthy and so they promote out fairly rapidly. There are lots of nooks and crannies to discover, together with climbing the towers with an amazing view of town, making it nicely price the fee. Because the expense of constructing the Basilica depends on public donations, it is without doubt one of the explanation why development has taken a very long time. I ponder if my $100 donation helped pace it up by maybe an hour? Unlikely.

The Nativity scene's intricate details were the only facade finished during Gaudi's lifetime. — The Nativity scene’s intricate particulars have been the one facade completed throughout Gaudi’s lifetime.

It's a long queue at the ticket entrance. — It’s a protracted queue on the ticket entrance.

The pinnacles of the towers are brightly colored structures that refer to the attributes of the bishop done in Murano glass. They have cavities where lights will be placed, making them glow at night. — The pinnacles of the towers are brightly coloured buildings that discuss with the attributes of the bishop achieved in Murano glass. They’ve cavities the place lights can be positioned, making them glow at night time.

This is how the Sagrada Familia will look like once finished. — That is how the Sagrada Familia will appear to be as soon as completed.

They are saying that the Cathedral will lastly be completed and open to the world by 2026, the 100th dying anniversary of Gaudi (he was hit by a tram). When that point comes, I want to make a last pilgrimage as soon as extra after my visits in 2005 and 2014. Maybe I’ll have higher photos to mark the momentous event.

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Concerning the Writer

Al P. Manlangit is a Filipino architect based mostly in Kuwait who likes to journey and take pictures everytime he will get the possibility to take action. The genres that he explores are panorama, structure, and road images which turn out to be useful wherever he goes. He blogs at designerq8.com, specializing in fascinating locations he visited with quick tales to inform behind every body.

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