Barcelona, Spain
Sagrada Família
Gaudí's unfinished basilica, where the whole Gospel is carved into stone and the columns are engineered as a forest.
Biblical significance
Gaudí took over in 1883 and worked on it for 43 years, the last twelve exclusively. He is buried in the crypt. The Nativity façade he completed himself; the Passion façade is Subirachs' austere counterpoint. The interior columns branch like trees to carry the vaults, a structural solution he derived from hanging-chain models. Completion of the central Tower of Jesus Christ is projected for the mid-2020s.
Scripture
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Best time to go
First slot of the morning, for the east light through the Nativity glass.
Visitor notes
Timed tickets, essential to book online. Tower access is a separate add-on.
Coordinates
41.4036, 2.1744
On the map
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