Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, ​​Spain

The Sagrada Familia is the best known and characteristic monument of Barcelona. As the greatest exponent of the modernist architecture created by Gaudí, thousands of tourists come every day to contemplate the curious but unfinished temple.

The beginnings of the Sagrada Familia

Construction began in 1882 with a neo-Gothic style. A year later, the project was put in the hands of Gaudí, who completely rethought it. Gaudí designed an exceptional and innovative temple that was to be composed of 18 towers, although he finally only had time to create one of them before his death.

Gaudí died in 1926 leaving unfinished the project that occupied the last years of his life but, thanks to the plans that are preserved, his dream comes true little by little thanks to the work of other artists and the money obtained from donations and the visits.

Most outstanding elements

Although not yet finished, the Sagrada Familia is a lush temple full of religious symbolism. These are some of the most important points:

The towers

So far 8 of the 18 towers designed by Gaudí have been erected. The architect decided that twelve of them were dedicated to the Apostles, four to the Evangelists, one to Mary and one to Jesus. Each of them will be endowed with a different height depending on the religious hierarchy they represent.

It is possible to access to the top of some of the towers to contemplate the city from the heights and see some details of the exterior of the temple at a short distance.

The facades

The basilica has 3 symbolic facades:

Facade of Birth: Dedicated to the birth of Christ, it is a profusely decorated facade full of life.

Facade of the Passion: Something more austere and simplified than the other facades, aims to reflect the suffering of Jesus during the Crucifixion.

Facade of Glory: The main facade, much larger and monumental than the rest, will represent death, the Last Judgment, Glory and hell.

Aware that he was not going to have time to build it, Gaudí left sketches made so that his successors could finish the job.

Inside

To design the interior, Gaudí was inspired by the forms of nature, creating columns shaped like a tree trunk that turn the interior of the temple into a huge stone forest.

¿When will the construction of the temple end?

The question about when the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona will end is very common, and it is a very difficult question to answer. Since its inception in 1882 the basilica has been an atoning temple, that is, built from donations. This is why the end date of the Sagrada Familia could still be quite far.

Guided tour in Spanish

To get to know the Sagrada Familia in depth, nothing better than to hire our guided tour, you will enjoy an hour and a half of a hand in hand with a guide in love with Barcelona and you will save yourself the endless queues. You can also book the visit with the climb to the towers.

Although the building is unfinished, it is worth visiting; There are many people who enjoy the contemplation of such a huge building while it is still being built. The actuality of the Sagrada Familia makes it very special because, while so many religious buildings seek to pay tribute to the ancient architecture, the Gaudí Basilica is so special for being part of our time, and the opportunity to see how it is being built should not be left happen.

The symbol of the city

The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia has become the symbol of Barcelona and your visit is essential. Since there is always a lot of queue to visit it, you can buy tickets online so you don’t waste time.

Location
C / Marina, 41.
Schedule
From November to February: from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
March: from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
From April to September: from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
October: from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Price

Sacred Family:
Adults: € 17 (with audio guide € 25).
Students and children under 30 years: € 13.
Senior citizens: € 11.
Children under 10 years: free admission.
Holy family + towers: € 32
Sagrada Familia + Gaudí House-Museum: € 16.50.
Skip-the-line Sagrada Familia ticket € 20

Transport

Metro: Sagrada Familia, lines 2 and 5.
Bus: Temple Expiatori de La Sagrada Família, lines 19, 33, 34, 43, 44, 50, 51, B20 and B24.