SAGRADA FAMILIA

The  Basílica y Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia(Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family) or more popularly   known as the Sagrada Família is a very big  Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was designed by the the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. 

 Construction begun in 1882 and up to this day it is still incomplete. Though construction is still in progress   it is already listed on   the UNESCO World Heritage Site church  was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI in November 2010 and was proclaimed as a minor basilica. 

The slow construction progressed of the church is attributed mainly to funds from private donations. It was also interrupted by the Spanish civil war. Construction resumed in 1950s and passed the midpoint only in 2010. Which explains why  there are still  many cranes and construction equipments seen inside and around the church during my visit in 2009.

 The anticipated date of completion is on 2026, the centennial of Gaudi's death. He died in 1926 with only less than a quarter of the church completed. Some projection say that it  will be completed in 2028.But because of the funds coming from the church's hundreds of visitors plus computer-aided design technology, construction maybe completed  two years earlier than projected. 

model design

During the first phase of the construction, stones were carved by hands, with the help of modern technology, these stones are now shaped off site.

 

 Due to the extraordinarily long time of construction, some part were already reconstructed/renovated. The newly constructed parts are clearly visible from the old structure.

notice the colors, lighter color is for the newly constructed portion while darker is for the older part

The church's Spires original design is  a total of eighteen spires which when  completed will make the minor basilica the tallest church in the world. The said spires symbolizes in ascending order of height  the Twelve Apostles, the four Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, the tallest. As of 2010, Only  Eight spires have been representing the four apostles at the Nativity facade and four apostles at the Passion facade.

at the tower

The Evangelists' spires will be built together with the sculptures of their traditional symbols: a bull (Saint Luke), a winged man (Saint Matthew), an eagle (Saint John), and a lion (Saint Mark). The central spire of Jesus Christ is to be surmounted by a giant cross;The lower spires features a communion hosts with sheaves of wheat and chalices with bunches of grapes, representing the Eucharist.

 

 

The Church has planned  three grand facades: the Nativity facade to the East, the Passion facade to the West, and the Glory facade to the South (yet to be completed). 

The Nativity Facade was the first facade to be built among the three. The design is of the birth of Jesus. Figures of turtles and  two chameleons can be found at either side of the facade. The three porticos each represents a  theological virtue; Hope, faith and Charity. Above the door is a Tree of Life symbolizing Jesus.The four towers are dedicated to the four Saints namely: Saint Matthias the Apostle, Saint Barnabas, Saint Jude the Apostle, and Saint Simon the Zealot.

 

 

 

the Nativity Facade's four towers

  The Passion facade as the  name suggest depicts the suffering of Christ. It's design ii in contrast to the heavily decorated Nativity Facade though  both have three porticos. This facade is plain and simple. Construction began in 1954, in 1976 the four towers were completed  and  in 1987  work for the sculpting the details  of the facade commences. This entrance  that faces the setting the sun is supported by six inclined columns that resembles a sequoia trunk. The three level-sculptures depicts the Last Supper, Judas Kiss and Trial of Jesus on the lowest level followed by the Calvary on the center.The highest level is the Death, Burial and the Resurrection. Soaring above the facade are the four towers  dedicated to four Apostles: James, Thomas, Philip and Bartholomeo. At the middle of the four towers is a bridge with a bronze figure symbolizing the Ascension of Christ, it links one tower to another.

 

 

 

 The Glory facade, still under construction, will serve as the principal facade.When it will be completed it would become the largest of all the three facades. The design depicts the  Celestial Glory of Jesus, the road to God: Death, Final Judgement and Glory.

with my former classmate in  High School

The main nave was still  under construction during my visit, scaffoldings were everywhere but  you can already see how  beautiful it is. The intricately designed carved ceilings were amazingly designed.Like the fully laden symbols of the three facades, the naves are also rich of symbology. The tree-like columns resemble as palm grove complete with branches.  

 

 

 Visitors can access the Nave, Crypt, Museum, Shop, and the Passion and Nativity towers. Access to the towers is by lift(elevator) the remainder  can be reach by  walking/climbing from one tower to another over the bridge linking the towers.

inside one of the towers

the spiral stairs going down

  The descent is by a spiral staircase with no handrails and somewhat dark.( This was the situation during my visit way back in summer of 2009. I do not know if there are already changes made)

 

view of Barcelona as seen at the tower