La Sagrada Família

Historical narrative

A stay in Barcelona would hardly be complete without visiting La Sagrada Família, Barcelona’s most famous architectural landmark and the masterpiece of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Construction began in 1882 under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, but Gaudí took over in 1883 and transformed the project into an extraordinary synthesis of religion, nature, geometry, and architecture. He devoted the final years of his life almost entirely to the basilica, which remained unfinished when he died in 1926. Located on Carrer de Mallorca in Barcelona’s Eixample District, La Sagrada Família is renowned for its soaring towers, elaborate sculptural façades, organic forms, colorful stained glass, and extraordinary interior columns that branch like trees, creating the impression of a stone forest. Its three principal façades—the Nativity, Passion, and Glory—present different aspects of Christian belief. The crypt and Nativity façade became part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. In February 2026, installation of the upper arm of the cross brought the central Tower of Jesus Christ to its planned height of 172.5 metres (about 566 feet) and completed the tower’s exterior, marking another major milestone in Gaudí’s remarkable vision.

Oil

© Stephen B. Hales — All Rights Reserved