La Sagrada Família

Date: August 15, 2018
Location: Barcelona, Spain

On August 15, 2018 Brian and I went to La Sagrada Família. If you plan to go to La Sagrada Família, make sure to buy your tickets online at least a few days in advance as tickets can sell out even days before when it is really busy.

It was my first time in Barcelona, but Brian was in Barcelona and visited La Sagrada Família 8 years ago.

As you can see Sagrada Família is still being built.

Antoni Gaudí was not the original architect of La Sagrada Família as Francisco de Paula dell Villar y Lozano laid the first stone on March 19, 1882 and started the design. After disagreements and the first architect resigned, Gaudí became the project lead in 1883.

After receiving a large anonymous donation, Gaudí changed the design to make it grander. Gaudí worked on other projects at the same time. You can see some of those in the Palau Güell and Park Güell and La Pedrera and Casa Batlló posts.

In 1914 Gaudí worked exclusively on La Sagrada Família, even moving from his house in Park Güell to his workshop at La Sagrada Família in 1925.

Gaudí changed the design of the roof over the years, and in 1923, he produced the final design.

After Antoni Gaudí was hit by a tram on his morning walk he died on June 10, 1926. He is buried in the crypt of La Sagrada Família. Gaudí worked for 43 years on La Sagrada Família and work has continued.

After Gaudí’s death, his close collaborator Domènec Sugrañes took over managing the construction until his death in 1938.

In July 1936 after the Spanish Civil War started, a fire was set to Gaudí’s workshop and original plans and drawings were lost and many models were broken. Work has continued according to Gaudí’s original concept.

The current expected completion date is 2026. We would like to make a trip to see the completed La Sagrada Família.

The inside is complete and it is grand.

The columns are like trees with branches going off for support – one of the many changes that Gaudí made from the original Gothic design.

One side has shades of orange and red stained glass windows.

The other side has shades of green and blue stained glass windows.

The staircase in the corner is unlike others we have seen in cathedrals.

So much detail everywhere.

The outside is just as elaborate as the inside.

Similar to Gaudí’s other works, there are mosaics on the roof.

La Sagrada Família is more impressive than I expected.

So, how much progress has been made since 2009?

Since Brian was last at La Sagrada Família in 2009, there have been significant additions and progress to both the inside and outside. Below are pictures that Brian took in 2009 alongside the photos from our visit in 2018.

Outside Progress – Construction on the Passion Façade

2009 – note the construction above the Passion Façade is just beginning

2018 – note the white/blue construction above the Passion Façade is now complete!

Outside Progress – Towers

2009 – Other than the towers on the two facades, not much else is constructed in the middle yet.

2018 – taken from a distance, you can see a lot of progress on the outside, too!

Inside Progress – Much More Color and Light!

2009 – Note: no color stained glass yet, the pillars have empty circles where they branch out, and the ceiling has black holes and is unfinished.

2018: and now – the color and light! Including the lit features in the pillars that were previously empty.

2018 – as well as the much more well-lit and detailed ceiling!