The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is full of symbols which have been inspired by nature. It is a work of immense proportions and is reserved by the World of Architecture as one of the most original and ambitious modern buildings.
The basilica has three facades, each with three porches. The Facada of the Nativity was completed first. The three porches of this facade are related to the Christian themes of faith, hope and charity. Today eight towers have been completed. At the time of Gaudí his death only four of them were finished. These towers rise to more than 100 meters and symbolize the twelve apostles. The names and the statues of the apostles appear on the towers.
High up on the Nativity facade stands a cypress tree which symbolizes the Tree of Life. At the top of the tree stands the letter T which stands for God. It is red with diagonal bars crossing it, forming an X, representing Christ’s name. A dove on top of the tree represents the Holy Spirit. Gaudi spent the last years of his life on this creation. Gaudi lived on-site for 16 years and is buried in the crypt below the cathedral. This master work of Gaudi is not expected to be completed until 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death. The Sagrada Familia was Gaudi’s last work.
The Sagrada Familia, located in Eixample Derecha, is a Roman Catholic basilica and is the most visited tourist attraction in Barcelona. The formal title of the basilica is the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia or Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family. This impressive cathedral is the work of Antonio Gaudi.
In 1883, a year after they started building it as a neogothic church, Gaudi was asked to finish the construction, and ended up drastically changing the design. Get an apartment in Barcelona near the Sagrada Familia |