How to visit the Sagrada Familia, the symbol of Barcelona

The Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia, which is the full name of the building, is the most famous and characteristic monument in Barcelona.

And that is why it has become the great symbol of Barcelona, ​​appearing on all the postcards and prints of the city.

It is also the most visited monument in Spain and that is not yet finished despite the fact that the works began in 1882.

Visit the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

The Facades of the Sagrada Familia

In the Temple of the Sagrada Familia there are 3 facades.

They are all really impressive, although the most notable is the Nativity façade, the only one that Gaudí could see.

It is dedicated to the birth of Jesus and its decoration is spectacular with everyday elements of the human life of Jesus such as animals and tools.

It consists of 3 porticos separated by 2 large columns where sculpture reigns over all the arts. Gaudí, aware that he would not finish the temple in his lifetime, wanted to dedicate himself to finishing this façade so that later architects would have an idea of ​​how he wanted the temple to be.

The other 2 facades are that of the Passion, in which it is intended to reflect the moment of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his suffering, and that of Glory, which is not yet finished and in which the path of Jesus will be represented until the glory and the sky. The Glory façade will be the main façade of the temple and through which the main nave will be accessed.

The Towers of the Sagrada Familia

Gaudí ‘s idea was for the temple to be visible from anywhere in the city and that is why he designed it with a great height and with 18 towers (dedicated to the 12 apostles, the 4 evangelists, the Virgin Mary and Jesus).

Currently there are only 8 of them finished. The towers will have different lengths and the tallest, the one dedicated to Jesus, will be 172 meters high.

Each tower will have a different decoration depending on what they represent and they will all act as a bell tower, so they will house a total of 84 bells when they are finished.

It is possible to access the upper part of some of them obtaining wonderful views of Barcelona.

The interior of the Temple of the Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is in the shape of a Latin cross with 5 naves and was completely completed in 2010 when the roof was finished and the church was consecrated.

It stands out for having a very white color, logical due to its recent construction and inside we must highlight the apse, its 36 columns and the hyperbolic vaults, as well as its stained glass windows and its central altar.

The interior has a rich decoration in which religious motifs related to Jesus are in every corner. Also not to be missed is the organ and the central dome.

The Crypt of the Holy Family

One of the most spectacular places to visit in the Sagrada Familia is the crypt. The crypt was the first part of the temple to be completed.

As its construction was already well advanced when Gaudí took charge of the project, he was only able to make a few modifications, although even so there are also characteristic elements of it.

In the crypt there are 7 chapels dedicated to the Holy Family of Jesus arranged in a roundabout.

This is also where the tomb of Gaudi is located.

If you want more information, you can do it on the official page of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.