Barcelona Weekend Break

Sagrada Familia

Where ever you go in Barcelona you are bound to encounter a building or design by Gaudi, but his greatest work is without doubt the unfinished Sagrada Familia. It is the most visited and photographed building in Barcelona.

Gaudi started work on this astonishing building in 1882, well over one hundred years ago, and current estimates for its completion anticipate that the year 2022 will see the building finalized.

The Sagrada Familia became Gaudi’s obsession and, from the age of 30 onwards, he dedicated the greater part of his life to its design and construction.

The design that Gaudi conceived was grand in both scale and concept and he envisioned the building as a cathedral for the forth coming twentieth century. Not only is the scale and detail of the Sagrada Familia monumental, but it has great and carefully contemplated symbolism too.

Gaudi conceived the building with a series of towers and elevations that would represent important features from the Christian faith.

Eighteen towers would dominate the design. The largest of these towers would be 170 metres high and represent Jesus Christ, whilst the others would symbolize the Virgin Mary, the twelve Apostles and the four Evangelists.

Each of the cathedral’s main facades would also have significance, with connections to the birth, death and resurrection of Christ.

The project was a massive one and Gaudi was all too aware that his labour of love would not be completed during his lifetime. His commitment was however absolute and he ultimately lived and worked from an office on the site.

Gaudi’s untimely death, along with the loss of many of his detailed plans during the Spanish civil war, have interfered with the buildings progress. Even so it is intended that the cathedral will be completed by 2022.

Visiting the Sagrada Familia

Visitors to the Sagrada Familia can take a lift (elevator), or climb up some of the cathedral’s towers.

The building holds a museum including scale models of the finalized project and there are a number of sculptures by eminent international artists included in the building’s elevations.

Tourist information

The Sagrada Familia is open to visitors between the hours of 9.00am and 9.00pm (6.00pm out of season) every day.