The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

We visited the famous uncompleted cathedral, the magnum opus of genius architect Antoni Gaudi, celebrated native son of Barcelona, while in town attending the Love and Hope Film Festival.

Signs at the site project completion for the cathedral – for which construction begun in 1882 – to come as early as next year (or at least the final, tallest tower should be completed by then).

At this time visitors can only enter the cathedral from the Nativity side.

All the sculptural and decorative details on this facade reflect the Nativity story.

A model of the completed cathedral. The main tower – representing Jesus – will be the final major element to be completed. The second highest tower represents Mary, the next four represent the Evangelists, then there are 12 more spires for the apostles.

Let’s go inside now.

Eucharist Door leading to the Glory facade, not currently viewable outside.

Visitors can book trips up the Nativity or the Passion tower. We chose the Nativity tower, because that includes a bridge to walk across at the top. The map below describes the route the next set of photos will document.

After many, many steps back down, we are back inside the cathedral.

We exit to the Passion facade, dedicated to the story of the crucifixion (the largest facade, the Glory facade, is not yet completed/accessible to visitors).

Note the markedly different sculptural style from the Nativity facade.