⛪

Sagrada Família

✨ The stone forest

The Sagrada Família is a basilica in Barcelona, Spain, whose construction began in 1882. The first project was designed by architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, but Antoni Gaudí took over in 1883 and gradually transformed the building into a much more ambitious work. He drew inspiration from Gothic architecture, natural forms and geometry, creating structures in which curves, branching columns and carefully calculated shapes work together.

The building is a Catholic temple, and its decoration is filled with references to the life of Jesus, the Bible and Christian symbolism. Gaudí worked almost exclusively on the project from 1914 until his death in 1926, but he saw only part of his plan completed. After his death, other architects continued the work using his surviving drawings, models and ideas. In 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, the workshop was damaged, models were destroyed and many documents were lost, making the continuation of the project more difficult.

The basilica is organized around several groups of towers and three major façades, each with a distinct theme. The Nativity façade celebrates the birth of Jesus, while the Passion façade presents scenes associated with his suffering and death. The Glory façade, still being developed, is intended to represent the path toward God. Gaudí also designed the interior so that columns resemble trees, dividing as they rise and creating a structure inspired by a forest.

In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the building as a basilica and opened it for worship. Construction has continued thanks largely to visitor income and donations. In February 2026, the exterior of the central Tower of Jesus Christ reached its planned height of 172.5 metres with the installation of its cross. Interior work and other parts of the project still remain, so the Sagrada Família is not yet completely finished. The monument therefore remains both a historic work of Gaudí and an active construction project.

💡 Did you know?

Did you know that inside the church, the columns look like giant tree trunks rising toward the ceiling? At the top, they branch out, just like in a real forest. Thanks to the colored stained-glass windows, sunlight creates magnificent colors everywhere, changing depending on the time of day, like a magical walk in the woods.

Gaudí loved his project so much that he lived inside the church during his final years! He knew he would never see the end of construction in his lifetime, so he left models and detailed plans so other architects could continue his dream. Once finished, it will be the world's tallest church.

Nothing is straight in the Sagrada Família! Gaudí hated straight lines because they do not exist in nature. Everything is curved, wavy, or spiraled. On the towers, you can even see sculptures of giant fruits like apples or grapes! It is architecture that seems alive and organic.