Basílica de la Sagrada Família

Basílica de la Sagrada Família rises in Barcelona as a Catholic basilica shaped by Antoni Gaudí’s imagination. Its stone surfaces combine Gothic structure with the flowing forms of Catalan Modernisme. Almost no straight lines or right angles interrupt the architecture. Three principal portals lead into a church with double aisles, chapels and a cloister surrounding the building.

Construction began in 1882, and Gaudí took charge in 1883, transforming the original project into his distinctive vision. He worked here for the rest of his life and lies beneath the basilica in its apse crypt. The Spanish Civil War destroyed many plans and models, yet later architects reconstructed the designs from surviving fragments and photographs. Computer design and CNC machinery have since helped continue the work, while sculptures by Josep Maria Subirachs and Etsuro Sotoo shape the façades.

The interior received consecration in 2010, allowing regular Catholic services despite the continuing construction. Montserrat supplied the early stone, while Withnell Quarry in England later provided more. Look upward for the soaring spires, whose symbols include a winged bull for Saint Luke and a winged lion for Saint Mark. A school designed by Gaudí for construction workers’ children still adds another layer to this remarkable site.