The untold story of La Sagrada Familia, the unfinished church of Barcelona
The most iconic churches of the world aren't just places of worship. They bear testimony to the art and architecture of a civilisation and era too! What names do you recall while your think of a world-renowned church? Starting from Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City of Rome to Notre-Dame de Paris in France, there are many that come to your mind, right? But today, we are going to introduce you to an unfinished church. We are talking about the La Sagrada Familia, an unfinished church in Barcelona, Spain. It is devoted to the Holy Family (consisting of Baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph). Despite having been in existence for more than 140 years, the church is still being built! Nonetheless, it is the most iconic symbol of Barcelona and the most visited monument in Spain. In 2019, 4.7 million people visited it, making it one of Spain's most popular landmarks! Let us learn more about the unfinished construction of La Sagrada Familia.
History of La Sagrada Familia
Bocabella, a Spanish philanthropist, was inspired to create a church dedicated to the Holy Family after visiting the Vatican in 1872. He first assigned the construction of the church to the Spanish architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, who planned a neo-Gothic structure. It is a type of architecture influenced by old-fashioned mediaeval churches and other religious buildings. The construction of the church began in 1882. However, a year later, the job was handed over to the Spanish-Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, who created a ground-breaking design that broke down all preconceived notions of architectural style!
His main objective was to construct a church with facades (face of a building) that emphasised the Nativity (birth), Passion and Glory of Jesus. The architect intended to use organic symbolism (a style of architectural design where structures are inspired by their natural surroundings) in the buildings. He used stained glass and architectural elements to highlight certain significant biblical events and narrate the story of Jesus. Unfortunately, Gaudi died in 1926, leaving his most significant project unfinished.
Most magnificent structures
Gaudi left several sketches and architectural blueprints for his successors to complete the project. As a result, his designs are still being used by notable architects today! Let's have a look at the most significant structures of La Sagrada Familia.
The Towers of La Sagrada Familia: Today, eight of the eighteen towers in the original design are completely built. What is the significance of all these 18 towers? Gaudi intended to build 12 towers in memory of the 12 disciples, four in honour of the Evangelists (preachers) and one each in honour of Mary and Jesus. The height of each tower was determined by the religious authority represented by each of these individuals! If you want an up-close look at the exterior architecture of the building, you can climb to the top of two of the church's towers, one on each side of the church!
The Facades of La Sagrada Familia: The church has three iconic facades. Here’s a look at them.
The Nativity Facade: This facade is vibrant and wonderfully designed. It symbolises the birth of Christ.
The Passion Facade: This facade is plainer when compared to the other facades. It symbolises the pain experienced by Jesus at his crucifixion.
The Glory Facade: This is the primary facade, the biggest and most magnificent of the three facades. It represents the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus; it also depicts his existing and future glory.
The Inside of La Sagrada Familia: Gaudi used organic symbolism in his architectural style because he was greatly inspired by nature. The pillars inside the church resembled beautiful and slender tree trunks, giving the impression of a concrete forest!
When will the construction be completed?
The La Sagrada Familia was expected to be completed by 2026. However, COVID-19 has extended that date. Although construction has commenced, a new completion date has not yet been announced! Even with modern technology, it is difficult for trained architects and engineers to understand and create the unique geometric designs that Gaudi left behind. However, if they succeed, the La Sagrada Familia will become the tallest church in the world with a height of 172.5m! The funds for the building are raised from the numerous visitors who come to see this amazing site and from other individual donations.