La Sagrada Familia Reviews (Barcelona, Spain)

The amazing but unfinished Sagrada Familia

by missj1981

London, England, United Kingdom

July 4, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo The amazing but unfinished Sagrada FamiliaBy many called the true masterpiece of Gaudi, until today it’s still unfinished. I’m talking about the Sagrada Familia. Antoni Gaudi is a artist who truly puts his fingerprint all over the city of Barcelona ...Read more The amazing but unfinished Sagrada Familia

By many called the true masterpiece of Gaudi, until today it’s still unfinished. I’m talking about the Sagrada Familia. Antoni Gaudi is a artist who truly puts his fingerprint all over the city of Barcelona within parks, apartments and much more. When you walk around the city you won’t even realise how much has been built by this amazing artist.

Sagrada Familia is one of his masterpieces and is truly amazing. Everytime when I visit Barcelona I just have to watch this amazing building. It’s a building that is hard to miss since you can almost spot it from everywere in town. With a length of 90 metres you can imagine it’s hard to miss. While construction started over hunderd years ago, in 1882 it’s not even finished today. When Gaudi died in 1926 only ¼ was actually finished. The estimated end date is 2028 but with the Spanish people you can never tell.

The Sagrada familia is easy to reach with public transport as you can just get out the metro station called La Sagrada Familia which is on the blue line. It’s about 10 minutes from the city center. When you step outside the station you can’t miss the building since it’s right opposite the street. The first thing you probably do notice are the queues in front of the entrance.

The buidling is large as you can see on the picture and they are alway buidling. You can clearly see the new parts and the old parts with the color difference. It has the shape of a typical cathedral but you can cearly see the Gaudi influence on the buidling with it’s all towers and the way it’s constructed. Even though not that much color has been used it looks like a very colorfull building with roundlike shapes.

You can enter the building as you are willing to stand in the queue for some time. In the high season the queues can be up to one hour waiting. But i think the wait is worth it because inside the masterpiece continues and you can really appreciate the work of Gaudi. The way he builts and designs feels very natural and airy and is very unique. You have the option of going up in one of the towers with an elevator. For this you have to pay extra.

The entrance fee for La Sagrada Familia costs 16 euro’s for each person which can be steep for a familia. We were with four people so it was quiet expensive. But we really wanted to go inside and this time the queues weren’t that long.

It’s hard to really describe Sagrada Familia because you simply have to watch it yourself. The shape and designs are amazing and feel very natural. The fact that the building isn’t finished doesn’t hurt at all and I can’t wait to apreciate the buidling when it’s finished. The entrance fee might be steep but all the money goes into the construction of the building so you are helping it getting finished. For me five stars.
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From journal Barcelona Spain

La Sagrada Familia

by Joy S

Manchester, England, United Kingdom

April 25, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo I had always wanted to visit the Sagrada Familia, now having done that, I can definitely say that if you only have time to see one landmark in Barcelona, then it should be this.It was Gaudi's most ambitious project. Work started in 1882 and is ...Read more I had always wanted to visit the Sagrada Familia, now having done that, I can definitely say that if you only have time to see one landmark in Barcelona, then it should be this.

It was Gaudi's most ambitious project. Work started in 1882 and is still going on. They estimate it will be finished in 2026. It is very much a construction site, there are lots of cranes, men at work, noise and things going on, but it does not at all detract from the church and its atmosphere. Gaudi was working on this project at the time of his death in 1926 when he was run over and killed by a tram.

The building is bizarre and incredible. When we emerged from the metro station, we were all taken aback and nothing could have prepared us for our first sight of the Sagrada Familia. It is something like a combination between a melted candle and sandcastle from a distance, but when you get closer the carvings and detail on the facade is mindblowing.

We had to queue for about 20 minutes to get in. It looked a bit daunting at first, but the line moved along quickly and we got time to study the facade while we waited. It is covered in religious symbolic objects and the detail is wonderful.

The entrance cost is 12.50 euros for adults and children are free. It costs extra for an audio-guide, but I would definitely recommend getting one, it really brings the cathedral and its story to life and enhances the visit. They also do a great audio guide for children costing 3 euros. This was informative and interesting and our son enjoyed it very much. The downside though, was the queue for the audio-guides was almost worse than the line at the entrance!

Gaudi was commissioned by the Josephines - a right wing faction of the Catholic Church to build Sagrada Familia. They believed the city of Barcelona was too decadent and needed a place of atonement where the people could go and do penance for their sins. There was no budget - money was no object, no completion deadline and they gave Gaudi a free hand to design what he wanted.

The crypt and apse was finished before Gaudi died. He became obsessed with the project, moved into the workshop on site and lived a bit like a hermit, working all the time he could on this project. In the school building in front of the church, they have an interesting exhibition, it includes Gaudi's desk which is how he left it the day he was knocked over - very poignant and sad.

There are no straight lines in this church - everything is flowing. Inside it is light, white and dazzling. There are lots of people and noise, but it still feels like a special, sacred place. The columns are marvellous and the sense of space and light is incredible. They plan to have 4 organs installed - as yet there is only 1.

The Nativity Facade was the first one to be finished. Construction stopped in 1936 for 20 years due to the Spanish Civil War. They finished the Passion Facade in 1990. There are 18 towers representing the 12 Apostles, 4 Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and tallest of all, Jesus Christ. Everything inside and out has something symbolic about it, the building has such a story to tell.

Unfortunately during our visit the tower was shut - you can actually take a lift to the top and get a view over the city. Construction work was going on though, so I am not sure when it will open again.

You don't have to be any type of art historian or expert to see how wonderful the architecture of this church is. There is no symmetry, it is modern, unusual, has lots of handcrafted decoration and a fairy tale quality. It is a must-see. Close

From journal All Things Gaudi

La Sagrada Familia - I'm not paying that!

by Slug

Huddersfield, United Kingdom

March 4, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo I've visited what is perhaps Barcelona's most famous landmark, Gaudi's massive and unfinished cathedral 3 or 4 times, and each time am fascinated by Gaudi's mind and eye for design, and yet horrified at the entrance price (it was 16 Euros to see ...Read more I've visited what is perhaps Barcelona's most famous landmark, Gaudi's massive and unfinished cathedral 3 or 4 times, and each time am fascinated by Gaudi's mind and eye for design, and yet horrified at the entrance price (it was 16 Euros to see inside the Cathedral and to go up the towers), the crowds and the indecent haste in which the building is being thrown up to achieve completion.

This time around, for each of these reasons we simply enjoyed the cathedral from the outside rather than visit the innards. I'm not too sure what the famously humble and pious Gaudi would make of the huge charges made to visit his cathedral creation. I'm guessing he would not be too impressed.

In Gaudi's day each block of the cathedral was lovingly carved from stone and placed according to his plans. After his death in 1926, and the partial destruction of the cathedral during the Spanish Civil War, I suspect many thought his Cathedral would never be built. Indeed I remember my student house mate (an architect student) visiting the site in 1986, musing that he would never see the building completed in his lifetime.

Since those days, donations (largely from the Israel and Japanese community) saw a revitalisation of effort to complete the La Sagrada Familia. Of course, the days of cheap labour in the western world has largely disappeared, and in replacement of the original carved blocks, a fair bit of the building is now constructed with concrete; cheaper and easier to work with. The age of the original work, together with changes in pollution control and the materials used means that the different constructions viewed from the outside of the Cathedral looks quite different – new bits are concrete, older bits are blackened stone.

The main carving of the entrance ways are also interesting in their contrast – the softer statues produced by Gaudi, contrast hugely with the angular and gaunt style of the architect roped in to construct this later entrance, Josep Maria Subirachs. While it is a controversial choice, I actually prefer the work of the incomer. I'm not religious in the slightest, but it clearly shows the suffering of Christ on the cross. I don't want to see a happy, well fed Christ there. You can get a good view of both ends of the cathedral without paying the entrance fee.

Inside, the church now has a roof, and last time I visited some three years ago, I could appreciate for the first time, the tall forest feel that Gaudi was looking to achieve with the columns he built moving ever more slender and divided as they progress upwards. A few of the windows also had bold stained glass windows installed, and I'm sure that more of the interior is now closed from the elements.

The highlight inside is to climb up the towers, to get a closer view of the ornate carving (or moulding) of those fanciful spires. The climb is not for the fainthearted, as Gaudi designed holes at the outer edges of the circular stairwells, meaning that as you descend you can see to the floor. Likewise, there are a couple of arched bridges taking you from spire to spire; I remember crawling on my knees across a particularly high but low walled one in the past.

Unfortunately, each time I visit, it seems I see less of the architecture and more of the Cathedral the building is destined to become. While I appreciate others of a religious persuasion will be more excited by the progression to fully functioning place of worship, I cannot but regret those more incomplete days where you could more easily wander around the structure.

From the outside, you can cross the road to a park area with a lake to get a good view of the cathedral. Quite a few folks linger here a while with a picnic or an ice cream. As with the rest of Barcelona, keep an eye on your belongings as you wander around looking for that perfect shot.

I will no doubt pay to enter the interior at some point in future as the development progresses further; not least, I am interested to see how the interior is dressed as time goes on. However for now I got a reasonable impression of how the Cathedral has progressed since my last visit and I regret that those innocent days when the place really was nothing more than a huge building site are gone forever.
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From journal A Tour of Barcelona

Gaudi's Masterpiece

by dkm1981

Blackburn, England, United Kingdom

September 27, 2011

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Best of IgoUgo La Sagrada Familia (or Holy Church of the Family in English) is one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks, if not the most famous. It was mainly designed and built by Antoni Gaudi and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, even though it is not ...Read more La Sagrada Familia (or Holy Church of the Family in English) is one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks, if not the most famous. It was mainly designed and built by Antoni Gaudi and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, even though it is not finished.

It has an interesting history because it has taken so long to get to its current state. Work began on it in 1882 after a Catalan bookseller was inspired by a visit to the Vatican City. Gaudi himself took over a year later, although he was in no hurry to complete the job, proclaiming that ‘my client is not in a hurry’. Even after his death work continued, although regularly interrupted by such things as the Spanish Civil War. Its current design is based on the once lost original designs of Gaudi.

The church is a train ride away from the city centre. Getting an underground train from the top of La Ramblas is easy, quick and cheap at just one Euro. The church’s nearest station is right outside the entrance and you will immediately find yourself amongst the many thousands of people who visit it each year. It is impossible to look up at it from ground level and not be wowed.

We didn’t actually go inside the church because the queues were absolutely ridiculous, snaking around the side of the monstrous building even first thing in the morning. Under the baking heat of the August sun, we decided to skip the wait and instead walked around the edge. This is absolutely worth doing for a number of reasons. Firstly, as the church is famously unfinished, the front of it is perpetually covered in scaffolding and cranes. Not so around the back, where the work seems to be mainly finished. Secondly, far fewer people wander around here so it is much quieter and far easier to get a good picture. I actually much preferred the back of the church as it seems to have much more of Gaudi’s stamp on it, with the spires and steeples looking a lot more fantastical and cake like. That is the best way I can describe Gaudi’s unique style – it looks like a cake that has been frosted from a child’s imagination. Rather than having straight edges and sharp points, the features have smoother and rounded sides, a bit like icing sliding down the side. It is a fantastic sight and really showcases Gaudi’s extravagant and eye watering vision.

If you do venture inside, you’ll see that it is very much like the outside in that Gaudi’s stamp is splashed all over it. It’ll cost you though because ticket sales are the main contributor to its continued construction – the church is not funded by Government or religious groups. The church is open to visitors 9am until 8pm in summer and from 9am until 6pm in winter. Entrance will cost 12 Euros fifty, although it is free for friends of the church, children under ten and those with what the website describes as 65% disability.

Over the years, there has been much debate and controversy about whether or not Gaudi’s masterpiece should be completed and work has stopped and started again on a regular basis. The latest proclamation is that it will be finished in 2026 – the centenary of Gaudi’s death. I personally hope it is never completed as that is one of the things that makes it such an interesting and unique building – it is as much about the history as the place itself.
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From journal My Barcelona Top Five

A Truely Spectacular Building

by hunts1874

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

August 30, 2011

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Best of IgoUgo La Sagrada Familia is a large Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona, Spain. Work commenced on the building in 1882 and 129 years later the church is yet to be finished. Sagrada Familia dominates the sky line and some of the best views of the church can ...Read more

Symbol of a city

by jipp05

CA1 1LA, England, United Kingdom

November 21, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo La Sagrada Familia has to be the most famous site in Barcelona and is a real must see on any visit to the City. It is the unfinished masterpiece from the famous architect Antonio Gaudi and although work started on it in 1882 it remains unfinished ...Read more La Sagrada Familia has to be the most famous site in Barcelona and is a real must see on any visit to the City.
It is the unfinished masterpiece from the famous architect Antonio Gaudi and although work started on it in 1882 it remains unfinished and in a country where manana manana is an art form it remains to be seen when it will finally be completed to Gaudi's specifications.

The first time you lay eyes on La Sagrada Familia is an awe inspiring moment and although I am not religious I can honestly say it was breathtaking.
You will probably either come to it by way of metro or the open topped buses but either way the first time you glimpse it you will be impressed as it is absolutely immense and coming out of the escalators the first time you will crane your neck trying to see it all.

The enterance takes a little time to find as it is on the other side to where you come up by metro but just follow the crowds and there will be lot's of them as this is a very popular place to visit.
Expect to queue but surprisingly on my visit this didn't take all that long as the site is so large they can let in everyone and it is just more or less a queue to take the entrance fee. The fee to enter is quite steep at 12 Euros just to enter the church and then an extra 4 for an audio guide and the you have to pay again to be able to enter the lifts that take you to the tops of the towers.

The inside of church is quite plain and a little dissapointing but the real joy here for me anyway is being able to get up close to the facade which is amazing. There are exhibitions on the time line of work and the expected completion which to be honest keeps changing.
Once you have had a wonder around and taken it all in you can then join the queue to take the lift to the towers.
Although again there is a fee for this and the queue took nearly an hour it is definately worth it and I would recommend everyone going up to be able to see the stunning work a little closer than you can from the outside.

Once up in the towers there are walkways and the views over Barcelona are absolutely amazing. You get to see the strange brightly coloured fruit which is part of the decoration up close and this is something I enjoyed immensly. This definately isn't like any other church you have ever seen.
Once you have finished you can then climb the tower back down to the ground. Be warned that the spiral starway down the tower is very steep and also very long and you will need to be both fit and at least a little bit brave doing it.
Once a the bottom my legs were shaking as it took ages to make it down and because it is so steep I needed to keep my legs tense to stop me from stumbling.

Once back at the bottom you can again sit and stare at the facade a little more before going to look round the little museum which is interesting if a little bland.
Once you have done this there is not a lot more to see or do to be honest. You can leave through the gates and have lunch in a one of the restaurants next to the site and enjoy your lunch whilst staring up at it.

At night La Sagrada Familia is lit up and looks even more beautiful and haunting than it does in the day time and trip here just to have a look at it during it's most beautiful is really something you should try to do at least once during your visit to the city.

La Sagrada Familia is already an amazing place to see and visit and I can only imagine how spectacular it will be when complete and I only hope that I am still alive to be able to see it.
Yes it is a little on the expensive side to visit but the money get's plowed straight back into the building work so in a way you are helping to fund the building of this masterpiece. Close

From journal Beautiful Barcelona

Iconic Creation

by MikeInTown

Leesburg, Virginia

October 13, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo The first stop on our sightseeing outing was the Sagrada Familia, one of Barcelona's most famous attractions. Antoni Gaudi began construction of this huge church in 1882. He worked on it until his death in 1926. This tall pointed building really ...Read more The first stop on our sightseeing outing was the Sagrada Familia, one of Barcelona's most famous attractions. Antoni Gaudi began construction of this huge church in 1882. He worked on it until his death in 1926. This tall pointed building really stands out against its surroundings. A close-up look reveals hundreds of religious figurines sculpted into the facades. One facade tells the story of Jesus' birth (Nativity Facade) and the other of His death (Passion Facade). The detail of the sculptures is stunning. The cathedral is still not completed. It is under constant construction by artisans carrying on the artistic styles of Gaudi. Admission to the Sagrada Familia funds the project.

There are several options at the admission booth. We bought the combined ticket that included admission to the Sagrada Familia and to the Gaudi House Museum. The thing to note here is that the Gaudi House Museum is not located on the grounds of the Sagrada Familia. It is located in Park Guell which is not within walking distance. We were aware of this when we bought the ticket but due to our limited time in Barcelona, we decided not to wait in the long line the next day to enter the Gaudi House. Whatever option you choose, make sure you have cash. Credit cards are not accepted. I found out that many of the tourist attractions in the area do not accept credit cards. The ones that do accept them also require some form of identification.

We took a look at the cathedral's interior. There was no altar or pews - just a lot of construction equipment. It was fascinating to look at the height of the very high ceiling in the sanctuary and the split columns supporting it.

We had a look around at some of the items in the museum at the bottom of the church. It contained mostly information about construction material and how nature influenced Gaudi's artistic style.

One of the more interesting things we did during our visit to the Sagrada Familia was take an elevator to the spires. We heard that people sometimes wait in line for hours to ride this small elevator but on the evening we were there, the line was short. We did not wait more than 15 minutes. The top gave way to great views of the city. There are walkways connecting other spires of the church. These walkways and staircases are narrow. This led to the occasional ‘traffic jam’ resulting from people yielding to others traveling in the opposite direction. This was not a big deal on the evening we were there but I image this could become an annoyance during busier times. We spent about 30 minutes exploring the pathways and admiring the views before making our way on foot down one of the long, dark spiral staircases. We had a great time.
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From journal Pre-Cruise Weekend in Barcelona

Sagrada Familia

by Dana G

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

August 25, 2010

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If you come to Barcelona and don´t visit the Sagrada Familia then you haven´t really been to Barcelona. It is one of the must-see sights, and with good reason! The building itself is fascinating, and many a tourist has been known to spend hours ...Read more

Fabulous Even If Still Not Completed

by rufusni

Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

July 21, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo We decided on our first morning in Barcelona to head to this famed sight – but the fellas were hungry and wanted something more than a quick cup of coffee to get them going – and so when we arrived there was no queue, but having sat and enjoyed ...Read more We decided on our first morning in Barcelona to head to this famed sight – but the fellas were hungry and wanted something more than a quick cup of coffee to get them going – and so when we arrived there was no queue, but having sat and enjoyed coffee while the boys ate we watched as the queue grew exponentially, and curved around the corner. So before it got any longer, we rushed to join the end – but it moved reasonably briskly.
Sagrada Familia was a church started by Gaudi, but is still not completed and will not be some time – it was started in 1826 and the completion date is estimated to be at least 2026. It is still very much a work in progress – cranes loom over the spires, workers in hard hats wander about, there is constant noise going on. Gaudi died in 1926, having spent many years working exclusively on this building- but leaving much to do, and many architects have followed in the footsteps of Gaudi in working to complete this masterpiece. As a result of the long period of construction, several different influences can be seen in the detailed work.
The entrance is at the western end of the building – and displays one of the three facades that Gaudi intended, the three being the nativity, the passion and the glory. The nativity, which is the closest to Gaudi’s intentions and is on the east facade – and shows some very intricate and elaborate designs. The western facade were you enter is the Passion, and is of a very different style, - with definite lines, an almost austere feel to it. I suppose in fact it is fitting, the Nativity facade is softer, more fitting with how we view Christmas, but the Passion facade does reveal the pain and suffering of Christ’s last days leading up to his crucifixion. In one sense you need to have a little understanding of Christ’s passion to make sense of the story told by the series of angular sculptures as they are all clustered around the central point of the crucifixion. Some I found moving – the flagellation of Jesus – his face was so expressive, and other parts I was amazed at the detail – the cock that crowed three times to match Peter’s denial of Jesus, the magic square of numbers that add up to 33 the age of Jesus at his death. The doors on the western facade are magnificent with words from the Bible in several different languages, with a few highlighted by different colours, such as Jesus. While the nativity may be closer to Gaudi’s ideals, and is beautiful and fascinating in its own right, I found the passion one more of a spiritual experience. The third facade has only just been started, and it will be many years before completion.
On entrying, having seen the completed passion facade, you realise this is still a work in progress, with much to be done. But inside is still amazing even with all the noise and workers in hard hats. With huge pillars curving up towards the roof. But one of the problems with visiting this building, is that Gaudi had so much symbolism, some more cryptic than others. But even in the nave - the main part of the church, the pillars are just pillars but are actually intended to be trees, with branches coming out at the top to create a canopy – a cathedral of man’s design to match the cathedral of God’s design in nature. We were lucky to see a display about some of the design, which attempted to explore some of this – but most tourists skipped this.
There are several options to go up one of the towers – being cheap and a time conscious we picked the shorter queue – which took us up by lift but meant then climbing down through one of the towers. It was great to get a little closer to those amazing spires and bright pinnacles, but also to see the inside of one as we climbed down was revealing because even here – there was attention to detail.
Walking around this unfinished ‘cathedral’, one is reminded of how long and how much craftsmanship went into many of the other great European cathedrals which took centuries to build. This may not officially be a cathedral, but it is of that grandeur, quality and creativity. It uses the skills and creativity of humans to reflect on the glory of God. You can see how not only Gaudi poured his life into this place, but also many others. To see this place completed will be great, but to see the dedication and hard graft that created this place is something else.
It is worth going early in the morning as the crowds quickly arrive, and though not empty when we arrived by the time we left it was so buzzing with people that it had lost some of its specialness, and we felt we were fighting for some space to get clear views which we hadn’t earlier. There is a pretty decent shop on sight as you are leaving – and some okay toilets just before the exit. Having spent most of the morning there, and the temperature was rising, we went on the hunt for something cool to eat or drink – and given this is a major tourist attraction there are plenty of cafes about (and usefully in my case a bank, and my sunburn-prone friend found a chemist shop for suncream).
Sagrada Familia may not fully be Gaudi’s design or work, but it is a huge project, that even he never expected to complete in his lifetime. It is well-worth a visit!
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From journal Bright Barcelona

Just Sagrada Familia

by Zhebiton

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

July 19, 2010

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Best of IgoUgo And my first impression of the Sagrada Familia - a facade Stastey Christ. I think that this is not chronologically correct, but it is absolutely correct from an emotional point of view - the facade of the Nativity, the facade of hope, love and joy I ...Read more

From journal catalonia dreams

IgoUgo

La Sagrada Familia

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