Stunning Sagrada Família

February 4^th, 2026

My ticket reservation to visit Sagrada Família was for 9:45 am, which meant I had to get up at 7:15 am to make sure I had time to catch my train.  Boy, this travelling can feel like a real job at times!

 

I popped out at the Sagrada Família (Sacred Family) metro station and was instantly gobsmacked by the imposing towers of the unfinished basilica.  It’s actually the largest unfinished church in the world and construction began in 1882 under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar but he resigned just a year later (talk about dedication!).  He had designed a stereotypical Neo-Gothic design but the project was then passed on to Antoni Gaudi who altered the project with his architectural and engineering style which combined the gothic with curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. 

My "gobsmacked" face.

This is one of the newer sides of the building, not the side that Gaudi built.  I would later learn that this is the Passion Façade, that depicts the suffering of Christ during his crucifixion.  It is austere, plain and simple, with ample bare stone, and is carved with harsh straight lines to resemble the bones of a skeleton.

My first views of this stunner.

Knowing that the project would not be complete in his lifetime, Gaudí decided to finish one side of the church so that future architects would have a blueprint to go on.  His was the Nativity Façade, depicting the birth of Christ.

The darker part is the Nativity Façade built by Gaudi.

The progress by 1905.  Gaudí worked over 40 years of his life working on Sagrada Família along with other project but the last 11 years of his life were solely dedicated to this project.

Sadly, in 1926, Gaudí was struck by a tram on his daily walk to the Sant Felip Neri church for his habitual prayer and confession.  Assumed to be a beggar, the unconscious Gaudí did not receive immediate aid. Eventually passers-by transported him in a taxi to the hospital, where he received rudimentary care.  By the time that the chaplain of the Sagrada Família recognised him on the following day, Gaudí's condition had deteriorated too severely to benefit from additional treatment.

 

Gaudí died on 10 June 1926 at age 73.  At this time, the basilica was between 15 and 25 percent complete.  I can’t help but find it a bit ironic that the man building one of the largest religious buildings in the world was struck by a tram on his way to a church to pray…kinda sad.

Relying solely on private donations, Sagrada Família's construction progressed slowly and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War. In July 1936, anarchists from the FAI set fire to the crypt and broke their way into the workshop, partially destroying Gaudí's original plans.   Luckily, future architects were able to go on with the material that was saved from Gaudí's workshop and that was reconstructed from published plans and photographs.

On October 30th last year, Sagrada Família became the world's tallest church when a part of its central tower was lifted into place and reached 162.91 m, surpassing Ulm Minster in Germany. The tower is intended to reach 172 m when completed, expected later this year.

 

You can see the unfinished central tower...although it's almost done.

So I'm complaining in the video that I can't believe it's taken over 140 years to build this, but when I walked inside, my mind was changed to "it's been worth the wait"!

But then again, c'mon, the chocolate shop across the road got theirs finished already!

It's a challenging building to take a selfie...and I'm not sure what's going on at the bottom of the pic with the whiteness.  Perhaps it's just my angelic aura.

Gaudi's Nativity Façade.  Yup, it's pretty intricate.

In the middle is the Star of Bethlehem.

One of the angel's is playing a harp and on this side an angel's playing an oboe...hold on, oboes weren't created until the 1700s...I think we have a bit of an issue here.

A doorway coming out of a cloister.

Getting blown away walking inside...

Nice nave!  The columns split like branches of a tree as they go up higher to support the roof and towers.  It did feel a bit like being in a massive forest.  The columns do away with the need for any flying buttresses on the outside.

Wowsers!  And no, I'm not rocking out to music...it's the audioguide.

The stained glass windows were exquisite.  Mostly blues and greens on the east, morning side, and more yellows, oranges and reads on the west, evening side.

Looking up to the stellar ceiling.

Looking towards the altar area.

The back of the church, behind the altar.

The photos and videos just don't do it justice...I really did feel like I was in a concrete forest for giants.

It kinda looks like Jesus is under a big parasol...but there is some symbolism with bunches of grapes (for wine) and wheat (for bread) hanging around the rim.

The ceiling above the main entrance.  It isn't the main entrance yet, but will eventually be once the church is completed.  That side of the church will be the Glory Façade.

The inside of the main doors (to be used in the future).  It has the Lord's Prayer in numerous languages carved into the doors.

Looking towards the front of the nave from the entrance.

The "evening side".

Some canned organ music started to play, which really added to the sacred environment.

Off to one side was a little exhibition area.  This is a fluted church bell.  There are numerous louvers on the towers where the bells are housed as Gaudi wanted the building to act like a musical instrument.

The colours from the the stained glass on the ceiling was stunning.  This is the evening side.

Schubert's Ave Maria was played...it was magical (apart from people talking even though there are numerous signs stating to be quiet).

I kept thinking that I'd taken all the photos I could take...but then feel like I had to snap some more.

Since I only have a crappy old iPhone for taking photographs, here are a few amazing photos that I found online that show off the place better.  It is the type of place though, that you really have to see with your own eyes.

Underneath the church is a museum.  I thought this was interesting.  Apart from making many models of the structure before building it, Gaudi also used sandbags and string of the building upside down to figure out shapes and angles. 

Today they 3D print the models.

A closer look at the Passion Façade before I leave the complex.  There is definitely a stark contrast to the other side of the building's Nativity Façade.  I feel like the sculptors had an easier job over here...less detail to worry about.

Goodbye Sagrada Família.  I was thoroughly impressed.

What it should look like when it's completely finished.

After three hours of wandering around Sagrada Família, I hopped on the metro to see the Arc de Triomf and visit the Parc de la Ciutadella.

Barcelona has a great metro system.

The arc is 29.8 meters tall, compared to France's 49.54 meter Arc de Triomphe.  I can see why Donald Trump wants to build one though...it is nice!

The boulevard heading towards Parc de la Ciutedella.

Looking back at the arc.

This is a common, pretty harmless ploy to get money from tourists.  The people have birdseed and feed the birds who hop on their arms and then ask you if you would like some seeds...and then I assume ask you for tip.

A green bird likes a green apple.

Looking back, at the end of the boulevard.

Now entering the park.

Not sure what this contraption used to do...now it's a piece of art.

The Font de la Cascada (waterfall fountain).

Some cool bass music to accompany the waterfall fountain.

Not sure what the connection to the mastodon is...I mean the zoo is nearby, but still.

Some Catalan government building.

I poked my head in the railway station...

...as I do like trains.

Walking towards the beach in the area called Barceloneta.

Just to the left of the tanker is a fireboat spraying water, probably an exercise.

I imagine this place is packed in the summertime.

The tiny speck at the bottom right of that tower is a gondola.  Looks like a good tourist trap.

Some fancy toys...

This yacht is called Renaissance.  I looked it up later.  It can host 32 guests and only costs $3,000,000/week to charter!

I took the metro back to Plaça de Catalunya but had to walk from one metro station to a different one to catch my train, so one last look at the pigeons.

Someone's got something good!

That was a second full day in Barcelona.  I have to say it is a cool city and there’s a lot more to discover but I feel like I packed enough in for now.  Adios Barcelona!