Barcelona is home to one of the greatest and most amazing architectural works of the famous Antoni Gaudí - the Sagrada Familia (Temple of the Sagrada Familia). This delightful building can be confidently called the hallmark of the whole of Catalonia.
CONSTRUCTION HISTORY
The long history of the Sagrada Familia begins in 1866, when Jose Maria Boca Bella y Verdaguer decided to create an association whose activities were aimed at strengthening the Catholic Church. In 1874, the association encouraged the construction of a Temple dedicated to the Holy Family: the Virgin Mary, Joseph the Betrothed and Jesus Christ. Thanks to donations and contributions from many thousands of people, the association acquired a piece of land in Calle Mallorca. Construction began on the feast of St. Joseph in 1882.
The first architect of the Sagrada Familia was forced to abandon the project due to conflicts with customers. A year later, the order passed into the hands of Antoni Gaudi, who began to develop a completely new project, gradually moving away from the neo-Gothic, inspired by religious ideas and nature. He understood that during his lifetime he would not see the completion of his work. That is why he decides to develop the most detailed plaster model so that after his death the construction site will not be abandoned.
Gaudí saw only the facade of the Nativity almost completed, since in June 1926 he was knocked to death by a tram. The architect's remains rest in the Sagrada Familia, where he was buried 2 days after the tragedy. Gaudi's closest aide, Domenech Sugranes, takes matters into his own hands.
The construction of the temple was interrupted during the civil war - from 1936 to 1939. In 1939-1940, Francesc de Paula Quintana Vidal was involved in the reconstruction of damaged sections of the building and the destroyed plaster models of the project in order to continue construction in accordance with the original idea. Further, many Spanish architects are engaged in the construction, and since 2012, Jordi Fauli y Oller has been responsible for the construction of the cathedral.
In 2005, the Nativity Facade and the crypt of the Sagrada Familia became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with such works by Gaudí as Vives House, Park Guell, Mila House and others. The global temple project includes the construction of 18 towers, the highest of which (172.5 meters) will become a symbol of Christ. The construction of the greatest temple in Spain is planned to be completed by 2026 - the year of the centenary of the death of the brilliant architect Antoni Gaudi.
DESCRIPTION
All elements on the facade of the main attraction of Catalonia symbolically convey the texts of the Gospel and the life of Christ. The completed temple will have three facades: the Nativity (the eastern part, already completed), the Passion of the Lord and the Ascension of Christ. Every detail outside and inside the temple is permeated with Christian symbolism and the architect's love for his work. The central and highest tower will be dedicated to Jesus Christ, four towers around represent the books of the Gospel, a tower crowned with a star - Mary, and twelve towers around - the apostles, the closest disciples of Christ.
Inside the building, Gaudi created a sophisticated and sophisticated lighting system. Through the stained glass windows, located at different levels, streaming light penetrates, filling the temple with a variety of iridescent colors. The columns inside the Temple are not only the main load-bearing elements, but also amazing treasures of world architecture.
TOURS
To visit the temple, you can purchase an individual ticket with an audio guide, as well as tickets for a group of 10 people, including the accompaniment of a guide. During the excursion, the history of construction work, the main ideas and ideas of Antoni Gaudi, the main architectural techniques will be described. For a surcharge, you can climb to the top of the tower. You can always find up-to-date information and the schedule of excursions on the official website of the Temple of the Sagrada Familia. Ticket sales end 30 minutes before closing time.
At the entrance before the excursion, bags are checked and tickets are checked. It is important to remember that the territory of the Temple cannot be smoked or eaten, clothes for visiting also meet the requirements - knees and shoulders must be covered. The route is adapted for people with reduced mobility.
How to get there
The expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia is located at: Carrer de Mallorca, 401, Barcelona, España. The Temple can be reached by metro on the lilac line (L2) or blue line (L5). The station is called Sagrada Familia. A metro map with a subway schedule can be borrowed for free at any ticket office. In addition, a number of city buses travel to the Sagrada Familia: No 19, 33, 34, 43, 44, 50, 51, B20 and B24. Using the taxi service, you can simply tell the taxi driver the name of the temple or say the name of the street: Mallorca 401.
