Tribute to God: La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Last Updated on June 3, 2023 by Ellen

Oh. My. Heavens. La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, is a fascinating, earthly tribute to God.

La Sagrada Familia is a Catholic church that will take 100 years, at least, to construct. The chief architect was Antoni Gaudi, a brilliant man who died in 1926. If all goes as planned, Gaudi’s dream for this church will be realized 100 years after his death. His grave is in the crypt.

The symbolism is dramatic.

Gaudi’s vision is seen on every part of of the church – inside and outside. The architect worked to free Gothic structures of their defects, and La Sagrada Familia is his visionary effort to push Christian church construction towards organic modernism.

For example, look at the photos below. The Passion Facade (lighter color) is influenced by earthly life. It’s bare and somewhat stark compared to the ornate, Gothic-influenced Nativity Facade. The bright, odd-shaped columns over the crucifixion scene on the Passion side are like human ribs; the stretched-looking strands around the scene are like tendons.

Another example of Gaudi’s modern organic approach: the columns inside the church are topped with branches, like trees. This also has the double effect of letting in more natural light.

Brilliant, in every sense.

The stained glass is positioned so morning and afternoon sunlight bathe this tribute to God in glorious color. I recommend you go in the afternoon when the sunlight comes through the side windows. The picture below was taken at 3:12 p.m. on March 28, and of course best times will vary monthly.

Not only was this tour and visit fantastic, but I was lucky enough to get to go to Easter mass a few days later. I’m not Catholic, yet I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being with other people on their holy day, inside a structure that is a remarkable tribute to God.

A word about security at La Sagrada Familia.

Visitors must go through metal detectors and place bags under the X-ray machines for inspection. I have never experienced this before in a church. Sadly, investigators believe it is a target for terrorists.

Strangely enough, on Good Friday, the church opened up the crypt for visitors, and we did not have to go through security to go under the church. I don’t know if the security protocol for crypt openings will change in the future. (The crypt is not always open.) Gaudi’s grave is in the crypt. If the crypt is closed, you can also see his grave from the back of the museum, looking down on it.

Don’t skip the museum on your visit.

It features amazing facts about the church’s design and about its chief architect. A ‘work room’ is on display, where design plans continue today for the ongoing construction. And by the way, construction is financed solely through visitor entrance fees and private donations. There is no government or church funding for this construction.

I highly, strongly, urgently recommend you buy the tower climb and audio tour. I would not have appreciated the design and history as much during my visit. Sure, you can research the facts before you arrive and then simply look at things: that’s often what we do. But La Sagrada Familia is worth a splurge for budget travelers.

The topside reveals beautiful views of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea, and you can walk down cool spire stairwells with more views on the way down (an elevator takes you up).

The top walk and audio tour cost $36. It is so worth it!

Get your tickets from the official English-version website here.

The last picture I want you to see I took from the balcony of my sister-in-law’s rental unit. She came to Barcelona with her daughter for a spring vacation and rented on a great apartment with the gorgeous view pictured below. It’s impossible to get this kind of shot from the street.