Basilica De La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Spain
I visited Basilica De La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona Spain when I was a child with my family. Now as an adult, I could not wait to see it again. My mother was a huge art lover and adored the work of Antoni Gaudí. She passed on her love of art to me. When we visited Barcelona nearly 45 years ago, the Sagrada Familia was still under construction. To my surprise, the iconic attraction is still being built today. It has an interesting history – stay tuned for that article.
La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Spain
When I was a child, I remember my Dad heading out to the Sagrada Familia to spend time inside the historic cathedral. He was a devout Catholic, but also an avid photographer. We met him later that day, outside the Sagrada Familia for family photos. I remember my mom showing us scenes from the bible which appeared to be carved into the structure. Knowing how much she loved the art of Gaudí, I knew it meant so much for her to be there. My dad, on the other hand, was clearly frustrated that they were still building it. He always wanted to return to see its completion, photograph it and pray inside.
Now, nearly 45 years later, they still haven’t finished it. My husband, like my father, felt disappointed. Richard kept saying things like, “This will be the greatest architectural masterpiece in the world when it’s finally finished. I don’t understand why they haven’t completed it yet.” He photographed massive cranes, which can be removed with computer software, but he refuses to do that. He is determined to return when they finally complete it. Most locals believe they will never finish it. They say the ongoing construction is “big business” for Barcelona. Whatever the case, we shall see.
Last Minute trip Changes
Our rearranged trip (due to the flooding in Valencia) now had us spending a lot more time in Barcelona than originally planned. Richard booked us into a time share type hotel a block from the Sagrada Familia. It was not luxurious, but the balcony had an awe inspiring view of the historic church. We could also walk there in 5 minutes. So, this was our first stop. See below a link to a review.
As you can imagine, the crowds were out and about swirling around the popular attraction. I was stupefied by its magnitude. I guess I had assumed that as an adult it would not look as enormous as I remembered it from my childhood. However, it was truly massive, eccentric and commanding. I immediately noticed the biblical scenes, that my Mom had pointed out so long ago. These meticulously created tableaus, recreating history could not go unnoticed. The sculptured figures recreating scenes I had a read about in the Bible brought so many memories back for me.
The Art of Gaudí
Bearing witness once again to the genius of Gaudí and his Gothic inspired architecture, this tribute to his faith was awe inspiring. The grandiose design of the basilica’s towers added a great deal to the exquisite feat of design. All but the central spire have now been completed. It is said that once the central Jesus Christ Tower is finished, it will make the church the tallest in the world.
In addition to Gothic influences, Gaudí pulls from Catalan Modernism by including curved lines and arches. The Art Nouveau styles brings an additional element (stylized versions for flowers and leaves) creating a one-of-a-kind work of art. Richard still cannot believe an artists with such innovative ideas was entrusted to design the Sagrada Familia.
After enjoying the attractions for nearly an hour, I was ready for some paella. We were scheduled to enter the inner sanctum the following day, and I knew Rich would need even more time to photograph outside. So, off I went, leaving him behind. He eventually met up with me for dinner, as I enjoyed my second glass of wine.
Childhood Memories
The next day, as we approached the line to enter the temple, there was a sense of excitement. It had been so many years since I was last here. I wondered if I would remember anything. As soon as I walked in, I stopped in my tracks. Other tourists flooding by me. I was awe-struck again. My husband asked if I was ok? I told him yes and sent him off to photograph this sacred place. Memories flooded back. I remembered the stained glass and how it changed the color of the sunlight as it danced across the stone of the sanctuary – more glimpses of childhood memories came back to me.
The massive columns throughout the church brought my eyes up to the vaulted ceiling. Colored lights and star shaped dimples adored the brilliant canopy. I have heard it described as forest-like and I could see why. Those gorgeous columns were reminiscent of large tree trunks. The light streamed through the basilica in a god-like way. I could feel my mother near me. It has been nearly 25 years since she left this earth. Tears welled up in my eyes as time stood still. I sat in a pew and continued to take it all in, allowing the memories to flood back to me.
Best Experience
It was quite an experience. If you are planning a trip to Barcelona, you cannot miss visiting the Sagrada Familia – the art of Antoni Gaudí is simply breathtaking, and the basilica is only one of his many creations in Barcelona. Park Guell and Casa Batllo are two other amazing Gaudí creations; The Sagrada Familia, 6401 Rugby Ave, Huntington Park, CA 90255; https://sagradafamilia.org
ETG wants to encourage our readers to visit official tourism websites for Barcelona as well as Spain – https://www.barcelonaturisme.com; https://www.spain.info/
