Sagrada Família

After visiting Eixample and the Gaudi buildings, we walked a couple of blocks to the east and reached Gaudi´s main masterpiece.
Sagrada Familia is situated a bit outside the city center. The sight was amazing!

Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família. This Gaudí cathedral is the most building and symbol of Barcelona. The latest years of his life, Gaudi dedicated his life completely to the work of Sagrada Familia. As you can see, the cathedral is still under construction. Despite the first stone was laid in 1882(Gaudí became the main architect one year after), but because of economical reasons, the whole cathedral will not be completed until 2030!

The passion façade symbolises Jesus suffering and death. The artist Josep Maria Subirach created the whole work of the passion façade between 1978 and 2002. As through the whole cathedral, there are much text and inscriptions. The top of the spires are about 130 m tall and the observation decks are at 65m and 90m, but in the future there will be a 170m tall main tower. However, the staff of Sagrada Familia told me it was 90m to the top of the spires, something I believe is wrong, as it looks much higher.


Between 1987 and 1990, Subirach also completes the façade´s sculptures with its controversial, rugged shapes. They are big contrasts to Gaudi's curvy style.


The nave was not completed until year 2000.


The façade of the birth of Christ.

Pictures taken from the interior of the cathedral:


When coming inside the cathedral(after a short que), I was very surprised. The whole place was like a huge construction site!
The walls were not even closed towards the open air. Although I knew that it is still u/c, I expected more like a (completed)
traditional cathedral interior, but after all this is Gaudí!




The interior of the nave is "already" very beautiful.


Details of some unique tile decorations that will be parts of the building in the future!


This picture, I took while waiting in a long line for the elevator to get to the top of the spires.


When the elevators has reached the spires, there is still a way to go to get on top -many stairs! This is how it looks up in the spires.


Looking up to the outside of the spires. Sagrada Familia is a great place to get views over Barcelona.

These are the views from the high observation deck of the southwest spire, 90m above sea level:


The east spires. To work on that crane, you can't be afraid of heights!


Looking towards the sea. Note the text "Hosianna".

Barri Gotic. From the left: WTC, Torre Jaumei, luxury cruiser, Edificio Colon and Torre Urquinaona.


This is a skyline! The brand new Diagonal Mar cluster to the left and Torre Agbar at Placa de les Glories Catalanes to the right. I wish it was sharper…



The same view, but with more of Montjüic.


Barri Gotic at a lower level.


The sea with Torre Mapfre and Hotel Arts. Torre Mare Nostrum is u/c to the far right.


Hazy views towards the skyscrapers at Placa d'Espana in the west.


Place de Sagrada Familia, just below the cathedral.


The narrow stairs that we walked down have no banisters towards the floor that is at most 90m down!