Architecture. Art. Historic. Unique. There are certain words that will pique my interest quicker than a turkey gobbling in the neighbor’s yard will grab my dog George’s attention. One artful, historic, unique architectural wonder that’s always been on my mental “must see” list is Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain. It’s a one of a kind church designed by Antoni Gaudí that simply can’t be compared to anything else and is certainly unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Officially called Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, or Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family, Sagrada Família is, simply put, a Roman Catholic church. When it’s considered more closely, it’s a must see tourist destination. While the building of the church began in 1882, and the Catalan architect Gaudí became involved in 1883, it has yet to be completed. (That ought to make the people in charge of the new Berlin airport feel a little better…) The current goal is to finish the church in 2026 or 2028.
But have you seen this thing? The mixture and interplay of Gothic and more modern whimsical influences have created a stone structure that rises right out of the ground with confidence and no signs of stopping. The church’s spires reach straight up to touch the sun, the moon and the stars. Once completed, those spires will be the world’s tallest on a church. According to the church’s website, “when the church is finished it will have 18 towers: 12 dedicated to the apostles, 4 to the evangelists, one to Jesus and another to Mary.” While most Gothic churches are covered in gargoyles and similar creatures, Sagrada Família has three facades. Each facade tells a different biblical story, such as the nativity. Within the walls of the church, the columns holding up the beautifully vaulted ceilings are made to resemble trees and branches.
Everything and everyone is awfully modern these days so, naturally, the church has a YouTube account. Below is a stunning 5 minute time lapse video of Sagrada Família to let you get a glimpse of just how special it is. It’s no wonder it’s on my must see list!
Photos from the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família Facebook page.