La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

May 1, 2023 | Building, Historical Building, Religion, Spain

Describing the Sagrada Família, art critic Rainer Zerbst said “it is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art”

La Sagrada Familia: C/ de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona, Spain

On 19 March 1882, construction of the Sagrada Família began under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. In 1883, when Villar resigned, Gaudí took over as chief architect, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project, and he is buried in the church’s crypt. At the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.

Walking to the church

The Passion front, facing west, is dedicated to Christ’s Passion/death/resurrection.

Tourists entrance is in the Nativity front, facing east, is the oldest among the three, and is dedicated to the birth of Jesus.  So I walked to that side.

The Nativity front

Inside the church by the Nativity entrance facing the Passion entrance

Looking at the ceiling

Looking at the Passion entrance

Turned left, looking at the north side

Turned right and walked to the south side

A window shows another level down below where tourists were not allowed

Turned around and walked toward the north side.

Reached back the Nativity entrance where I entered from.

Keep walking toward north side

Looking toward the center

The west side windows are colored orange

Looking at the altar (the south side) from the back of the church

Looking at the back side (north side) of the church

A panoramic view of the church from the back

The east side windows are colored blue, green, and orange

Looking at the altar and the east side

The entrance from the Passion side

The Passion side of the church