“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.” – travel quotes
If you are to visit only one church in Europe, then Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is it. It is Spain’s iconic and most visited landmark and although it is still a long way to be finished, La Sagrada Familia was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, because of its unique architecture. This was originally intended to be a church, but in 2010, it was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI as a basilica.
The first stone was set in 1882 and in 1883, Antoni Gaudi joined the project.
The exterior
Once Gaudi took over the project, he added the Gothic and Art Nouveau touch, which is completely his. However, he died at the age of 76, in 1962, when the building was only about 25% finished.
Gaudi was certain the he wouldn’t finish the project and according to him:
“There is no reason to regret that I cannot finish the church. I will grow old but others will come after me. What must always be conserved is the spirit of the work, but its life has to depend on the generations it is handed down to and with whom it lives and is incarnated.”
Gaudi planned 18 towers for the Basilica, but presently only eight has been completed. The completion of these spires will make Sagrada Familia the tallest building in the world.
The spires of Gaudi’s architectural work was inspired by turtles, seashells, fruit, trees and other natural form. These steeples have fruit motif and resembled apples, oranges, grapes, etc.
In 2013, Jordi Fauli the current head architect, claims that the basilica is already 65% finished. And according to him, this is set for completion on 2026, after 144 years of construction.
The interior
It is my and my husband’s dream, to be able to see the Sagrada Familia on its completion, hopefully in 2026. When we went there in 2016, we weren’t able to go in because the tickets sold out. We really had no plans of going in but we heard that the interior is a must see, so we tried but with no luck. My daughter went the year after and she took these photos which I want to share here with you.
So Sagrada Familia, here we come! Wait for us in 2026! Hopefully We are still alive and kicking!!!
NOTE To self: Though it is good to see the interior any time of the day, it is advised that it is way fantastic to see it during sunset.
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