Barcelona!! The Catalan capital has been the inspiration to artists worldwide, and a trip to Barcelona is incomplete without admiring the city’s most renowned and celebrated piece of architecture – Basílica de la Sagrada Família, also known as Sagrada Familia. In this guide, I will share a few tips for visiting Sagrada Familia, along with some interesting facts about this masterpiece.
As much as Barcelona is about tapas, cava, football fever, and the most charming atmosphere, it is also about architect Antoni Gaudi’s quirky architectural pieces. And Sagrada Familia is one such shining jewel in Barcelona’s crown.
Regardless of being unfinished, this Spanish landmark is a sight to behold. Every year, it attracts close to 3 million visitors and is Barcelona’s most popular tourist destination.
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A) About Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia, the Roman Catholic minor basilica in Barcelona, has famously been under construction since 1882. It was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. However, initial blueprints were not created by Gaudi.
When I visited Sagrada Familia and posted some photos on social media, a few people asked if I liked it or not. Because apparently, those people found it unimpressive!!! Also, none of them had visited the interiors of the Church.
And that’s the catch and uniqueness of Sagrada Familia!
While the exterior might seem to be unimpressive to some visitors (which I wonder why!), the interiors are unbelievably gorgeous and colorful.
The Sagrada Familia is the most unique church I have ever visited – both from the exteriors and the interiors. No wonder it has astounded visitors through its ornate symbolism and distinct layout since ages.
Despite its immense popularity from an architectural point of view, La Sagrada Família is still very much a place of worship—so much so that Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the Church in 2010.
Facades of Sagrada Familia
A facade, front of a building is a view created by two or more towers of a building.
Sagrada Familia has 3 iconic facades:
a) The Nativity façade to the East
The Nativity Façade was completed under the supervision of Gaudi. The nativity of Jesus or birth of Jesus as described in the gospels is depicted on the Nativity facade.
There are four towers that make up this part of Sagrada and they meet in a point to provide a crown-like shape. The towers in Nativity facade are accessible via ‘tower access’ tickets.
This façade has been declared WORLD HERITAGE by the UNESCO.
b) The Passion façade to the West
The Passion façade is the most recently built. It represents the passion and the death of Jesus.
c) The Glory façade to the South (yet to be completed).
The construction of Glory Façade began in 2002.
The Glory Facade represents Christ’s eternal glory and features scenes of Christ’s rise to heaven and eternal bliss.
Did you know?
In several articles, Sagrada Familia is termed as a Cathedral. It is not correct!
Sagrada Familia is a Basilica. A Basilica is a church with certain privileges conferred on it by the Pope, whereas a cathedral is a church that contains the ‘seat’ of a bishop.
The primary difference between Basilica and Cathedral is that a Basilica is considered as the higher Church authority.
B) Top 6 Tips for Visiting La Sagrada Familia
The most important tip for visiting La Sagrada Familia and enjoying its uniqueness is to be well-prepared for a visit.
Read up on Gaudi’s architecture a bit and about Sagrada Familia in general. That will set the stage for the experience as you visit this Basilica. And here’s how you can plan your visit to Sagrada Familia and make it the most memorable experience
1) Book your tickets in advance for visiting Sagrada Familia
Whether you have ample time in hand or not, it is essential to book Sagrada Familia tickets well in advance. It is one of the most visited places in Europe, and the queues are usually insane.
Online booking of Sagrada Familia Tickets comes with an audio guide which is a must to provide more context to this fantastic architectural gem that makes the visit meaningful.
And don’t be disheartened if you can’t manage to get tickets to Sagrada Familia. There are several guided tours available that provide the skip-the-line facility.
2) Explore the inside of Sagrada Familia
While the exterior of Sagrada is unique, depicting Jesus’s life before and after his crucifixion with an unbelievable amount of detailing, don’t miss the interiors.
In the words of Antony Gaudi himself: “Nothing is art if it does not come from nature.” And that is the reason why he had made nature’s presence felt in the church interiors.
It is spectacular in a word.
Every window, column, and spire have meaning and have been designed purposefully. The 360-degree view of the Church gives you the feeling as if you are amidst a forest with tall trees around.
The windows are a focal point of this Church, and they are designed to draw the eye upwards. And the ceiling looks like a kaleidoscope! The Basilica’s interior pillars resemble trees, and they seem to warp in shape depending on what angle you view them from!
Take a moment to admire this beauty as you would have never seen a church interior like this before!
3) Use the Audio Guide to its full potential
Sagrada Familia is a highly complex structure, and I cannot further emphasize the importance of getting the audio guide and using it to its full potential.
Currently, when you buy tickets for Sagrada Familia’s website, you will be provided with the official app that provides a downloadable audio guide.
Please note that the Sagrada Familia Regulations state that children under 11 years old will not get a receiver to listen to the guide. So, it is recommended to bring extra pairs of receivers for the little ones below 11 years so that they also get the perspective.
Also read : 50+ Barcelona Quotes for Instagram Captions
4) Do not skip the towers while visiting Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia has 18 towers, each dedicated to important biblical figures – 12 of them represent the apostles, four of them the evangelists, one for the Virgin Mary, and the last one for Jesus Christ (the highest, most central one).
Currently, only 8 of them are completed.
The Towers on the Nativity and Passion façade are open to the public and are accessible if you have got the tickets with Tower access option. Note that to go up to the Towers, you will use an elevator, but to go down you will need to use the stairs. People with mobility issues would find it difficult.
The best view at Sagrada Familia is from the Nativity façade tower. The vantage point here is around 65 meters, and the views of Barcelona cityscape, the mountains, and a little bit of the ocean are a treat to the eyes.
Now the bad news! This tip is relevant only when the Towers are accessible again to visitors. Currently the towers are closed as it is not possible to guarantee social distancing there. We are in a post-pandemic world.
5) Follow the dress code while visiting Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia is a Catholic church, and you should dress appropriately when visiting the Basilica. The official website has details of the dos and don’ts.
6) Visit during sunset time
The interiors of Sagrada Familia look beyond beautiful during sunset time with golden light reflecting from the stained-glass windows. Go at sunset if you can, and it’s the most amazing sight!
Do not forget the camera, although some beauties are best captured naked eye!
C) Getting to La Sagrada Familia
The closest Metro Stop is Sagrada Familia.
D) 10 Interesting Facts about Sagrada Familia
How about some amazing facts that will inspire visiting Sagrada Familia even more!
1) Sagrada Familia’s design has no straight lines
This is the uniqueness of Gaudi’s architecture. He was immensely inspired by nature and said, “In nature, nothing is straight.” Once you step inside the Basilica, you can find that there are curves in pillars, sculptures, etc.
2) It has taken longer to complete than the Egyptian Pyramids.
Construction is still in progress and the completion is scheduled for 2026—a century after Gaudí’s death!
The recent pandemic has delayed it further owing to halt in construction work.
3) Gaudi changed the designs after he took over
Francisco Paula del Villar, the first architect of this Church, wanted to build a standard Gothic revival church. Gaudi changed the plans after he joined as the principal architect.
4) Gaudi is buried at the Sagrada Familia
The crypt of the Sagrada Familia is located between the Portal of Birth and the Portal of the Suffering of Christ and Antoni Gaudi is buried here.
5) Once complete, it will be the tallest Basilica in the world.
As per Wikipedia, “The completion of the spires will make Sagrada Família the tallest church building in the world—11 meters taller than the current record-holder, Ulm Minster, which is 161.5 metres (530 ft) at its highest point.”
Isn’t that amazing!
6) The construction of the Basilica has been funded by donations and alms.
During the earliest stage of its building, it was funded by private patrons. Today, money from the tickets and also some private donations keep the construction work in progress.
7) The Sagrada Familia doubles as a Lighthouse
The design of the mosaic on the roof of the Sagrada Familia was made to reflect the moonlight and guide anyone on the nearby Barcelona waters home.
8) Sagrada Familia is one meter shorter than Barcelona’s highest point
Gaudi believed in the fact that human creation should never attempt to exceed the work of God. And hence, he designed the tallest, central tower to reach one meter shorter than the Montjuic Hill (Barcelona’s highest point) that looks over Barcelona.
9) Not everyone finds the basilica beautiful
George Orwell, the famous English novelist of the 20th century, said that the Church is “one of the most hideous buildings in the world” and rather hoped it would be destroyed during the Spanish Civil War!
10) It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Nativity façade and Crypt of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
E) Frequently Asked Questions about Sagrada Familia
There are 18 Towers in Sagrada Familia. However, only the towers in Nativity and Passion Façade are accessible to the public. Amongst them, The Nativity Tower provides the best view of the Barcelona cityscape.
Well, no! The ticket prices begin from 26 Euros.
The stone material used in the construction includes various sandstones and granite, as well as reinforced concrete for the naves
Yes, cameras are allowed inside the Basilica, and you sure will need one with you to capture the intricate architecture and the beautiful stained glass work of the church interiors. We took pictures everywhere with no problem.
F) Closing Thoughts on Tips for Visiting La Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia is a distinctly unique architectural gem of Spain that deserves to be widely-acclaimed. It will be a miss if you restrict yourself only to exploring it from the outside. These tips for visiting Sagrada Familia and related facts should prep you for your visit, whenever it is 🙂
Have you visited Sagrada Familia already? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Helpful tips.