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Basilica of the Sagrada Familia

05/09/16 | Barcelona, Europe, Spain, Travel

Outside La Sagrada Familia

Welcome to the first post of my Spain trip! I figured why not start it off with perhaps the most famous attraction of my ten day trip – the Sagrada Familia!  The number one tourist attraction in the entire city of Barcelona is Basilica of the Sagrada Familia and my mom and I took an afternoon tour on our second day in town.  As we had already had a busy morning we arrived nearly an hour ahead of schedule and picked up lunch at a grocery store, including a much necessary Coca Cola light, and ate it in the park in front of the nativity side of the church.

After lunch and a few photos in the Plaça de Gaudí we crosses the street and passed through the heavy security onto the grounds of the Sagrada Familia.  I had booked our tour a few months ahead and am glad I did as the line for same day tickets was hours long and that was only to get in.  The guided tour in England cost 22 Euro per person to get in which is quite unheard of for a church, but not for a city’s top tourist attraction. Towards the end of the tour another guest asked our guide how the construction of this still unfinished church was being funded and he shared that with the millions of visitors per year the admission covers the funding needed. 

Our tour started outside at Nativity Facade of the Sagrada Familia and the first point that was made very clear was that this was a basilica, not a cathedral, and the name literally translates into holy family or sacred family.  After this point of clarification we began by staring up at the church and learning more about Gaudí and his vision for the church. Unlike many other cities this was our second guided tour of the day with an audio guide and earpiece decide with a microphone to control the voice of the guide so no one could leach onto the tour who didn’t pay.

Once through security there is a bronze sculpture of what the church will like when it is done and I was shocked to learn the basilica will be twice as tall as the current structure upon completion. The four current towers are actually bell towers but there will be additional 12 towers built, each representing an apostle, then four for the prophets, then one, the highest one, for Jesus himself.  Oh, and you can’t forget Mary, she will get her own, smaller tower off to the side for 18 in total. and then Mary.   The end date of the construction is aimed at 2026 to coincide with the centennial of death of Gaudí.  After learning about what it will look like when finished, be we took a look at the current church and the “drippy side” as many call it which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  My favorite part was the bright green doors and I was actually sad to learn that Gaudí’s plan called for the entire facade to be colored but since he did not do it while he was alive they can not add color,  only preserve it.
La Sagrada Familia from the Placa de GaudíWalking up to the Sagrada FamiliaNativity Facade of the Sagrada FamíliaThree Wise Men on the Nativity Facade of the Sagrada FamiliaThe Green Door of the Nativity Facade of the Sagrada FamiliaFlower Detail on the Green Door of the Nativity Facade of the Sagrada FamiliaSpider Detail on the Nativity Facade of the Sagrada FamiliaLa Sagrada Familia TicketChrist Mural on the Nativity Facade of the Sagrada Família
When we stepped inside the Sagrada Família I was a bit sure of what to think and was surprised at the stunning colors and how the afternoon light seemed to fill the entire cavernous space.   This started to make more sense when we learned that Gaudi wanted people to be happy when they went into a church and thus veered away from the idea of a traditional dark worship space with candles towards a design the emanated a ton of light with a plethora of colors but not too many decorations.

Now I have to be in honest, at this point in the tour I stopped taking notes and more than once wandered off from the rest of the group because I was just so in awe of this space.  Perhaps my favorite part was stained glass windows that on the East side were installed green and blue glass to defuse the very strong morning light and on the West side of the church were outfitted in red, orange, and yellow so as the sun sets the light is elongated.  When completed the official capacity will be 8,000 people a truly enormous church which despite seeming quite cavernous is offset by the gorgeous light and intricate designs – I especially loved the ceiling!

Windows Inside La Sagrada Familia Spider Detail on the Nativity Fac?ade of the Sagrada Fami?lia Sagrada Familia Stained Glass WindowsSagrada Familia CeilingSagrada Familia Blue Stained Glass WindowsNave Inside La Sagrada FamiliaSagrada Familia Orange Stained Glass WindowsMarc Light Inside the Sagrada FamiliaInside the Sagrada FamiliaInside La Sagrada FamiliaBack Wall of the Sagrada Familia

On the tour we entered through the Nativity Facade of the Sagrada Familia, explored the interior, and then exited through the The Passion Facade. The difference between the two sides of the church were staggering and it is very clear the influence of the great number of architects who have been tasked with completing this sacred space.

Doors of the Passion Facade of Sagrada FamiliaThe Passion Facade of the Sagrada FamiliaSagrada Familia TowersDetail on the Passion Facade of the Sagrada Familia Sagrada Familia Roof

I had an absolutely incredible experience to visit the Sagrada Familia which I had heard about for so many years – I can definitely see why it is number one on the list of things to do in Barcelona!

Have you been to Barcelona?

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Comments

  1. Roxane Mcniel says

    September 20, 2016 at 3:08 pm

    WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..more wait ..

  2. Gina says

    May 10, 2016 at 8:23 am

    Oh my….what an amazing structure. The detail is just mind blowing! I am sure it was even more impressive in person – how lucky to be able to go there!

  3. Andrea Bai says

    May 10, 2016 at 1:54 am

    I am dying over all of your pictures…..and your snaps! I have always wanted to go to Barcelona!

    Glam Hungry Mom

  4. Sierra says

    May 9, 2016 at 11:33 pm

    Wow, what an amazing church! Love that wall with the roses. I bet Spain was absolutely amazing! I’ve visited a lot of places in Europe, but not Spain!

    Sierra

  5. Esther says

    May 9, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    I was in Barcelona 3 times and I love this place!! Great photos and you look gorgeous!! Hope you have a wonderful time in Spain!

    xo, Esther

    http://bubblesther.com

  6. Daphne says

    May 9, 2016 at 5:00 pm

    Barcelona is on my bucket list of places to travel and you look darling btw! <3 Daphne

    http://tostylewithlove.com/

  7. Candace says

    May 9, 2016 at 11:59 am

    Oh my gosh my husband would be SO jealous!! He lived in Spain for 2 years and always talks about it 🙂 I’m so glad you’re having a wonderful time!! xo

  8. Anika says

    May 9, 2016 at 11:40 am

    So glad you’re enjoying your trip! Spain is beautiful.

    Anika | anikamay.co.uk

  9. Rachel says

    May 9, 2016 at 11:26 am

    That was my absolutely favorite place in Barcelone – so detailed and gorgeous. It always makes me wonder how humans have been able to create such beautiful pieces of architecture!

  10. Caroline L. says

    May 9, 2016 at 11:04 am

    When I first saw the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, my jaw literally dropped. It was an absolute spiritual experience even though I’m hardly a religious person! By far one of my favorite tourist attractions of all time.

  11. Amy says

    May 9, 2016 at 9:18 am

    Looks so amazing! So many great photos.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog.  I am a New York City girl at heart but I moved to London in the Spring of 2018!

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