Sagrada
Familia - The Sagrada Familia is renowned
arquitect Antonio Gaudi´s dream. The Sagrada
Familia is the only cathedral in the world which is
still under construction. It is only funded by churchgoers
and devotees, and through ticket revenue from visitors.
Gaudi devoted much of his life to this project. At
the time of his death in 1926, only one of the towers
had been completed. The continuation of Gaudi´s
project has become an unmistakeable symbol of Barcelona,
not only because of it´s spectacular size, but
because it also reveals the spirit of a city which
has always been committed to builing it´s future.
Gaudí wanted to create a "20th
Century Cathedral", a synthesis of all
his architectural knowledge with a complex system
of symbolisms and a visual explication of the mysteries
of faith. There would be facades representing the
birth, death, and resurrection of Christ with eighteen
towers symbolizing the twelve Apostles, the four Evangelists,
and the Virgin Mary and Christ. This latter, the tallest,
would stand 170 meters high.
Gaudí became obsessed with the church to the
point that not only did he focus all of his creative
energies into it, but he set up residence in his on-site
study as well. On June 7, 1926, Gaudi was hit by a
street car while crossing the Gran Vía at Gerona.
Three days later not having regained consciousness,
Gaudí died at the age of 74.
The Temple of the Sagrada Família
shows an integral concept of architecture,
where plastics, shapes, nature, symbolism and color
constitute a unique and genuine mosaic. And this mosaic
will remind the name of his master, Gaudí,
from here to eternity.
“The Temple grows slowly, but this has always
been the case with everything destined to have a long
life. Hundred-year-old oak trees take many years to
grow tall; on the other hand, reeds grow quickly,
but in autumn the wind knocks them down and there
is no more to be said"
The openning hours are:
October – March: 9.00am to 6.00pm
April to September: 9.00am to 8.00pm
Directions: Metro L2 and L5, stop Sagrada Familia.
Other Attractions:
Barcelona
Las Ramblas
Sagrada
Familia
The
Poble Espanyol
Plaza
Espanya
