Sagrada Familia is a cherished landmark in Barcelona and a monumental project with a rich and lengthy history. To put things in perspective, construction began long before the World Wars were even numbered! The dedication required to work on such a meaningful structure for more than a century is something to appretiate. After years of anticipation, this basilica is finally nearing completion. Weather you're religious, a tourist, or even just an architecture student, visiting Sagrada Familia is almost like a pilgrimage, and it certainly earns its place in global tourism. Read on to learn some interesting facts about this magnificent structure that make it a must-see destination.
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1. It was conceptualized by a bookseller’s inspiration from the Vatican
Josep Maria Bocabella, a Catalan publisher, was inspired by the Vatican during his 1872 visit to Italy. Initially, the construction began on the Barcelona Ensanche district land under the vision of bookshop owner Bocabella. However, due to disagreements with the first architect, Francisco del Villar, Bocabella handed the project to a young and relatively unknown Antoni Gaudí, who was just 31 at the time. This fateful decision set in motion the creation of the iconic Sagrada Familia.
2. Antoni Gaudí dedicated more than half of his life to this project
Antoni Gaudí, the visionary behind Sagrada Familia, dedicated 43 years of his life to the project. Gaudí's profound devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel led to his interment in the chapel within the crypt of his masterpiece when he died in 1926. At that time, only 25% of the basilica had been completed. He was extremely patient and deeply spiritual and near the end of his life he was caught saying, “My client is not in a hurry.”
3. Construction spans over a century
The construction of the Sagrada Familia, which began in 1882, is anticipated to conclude by 2026, marking 144 years of building. This far exceeds the time taken to construct the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Taj Mahal. Some estimates even suggest that it may take until 2040 to complete.
4. The Central Tower will make it the tallest religious structure in Europe
Once completed, Sagrada Familia will feature a central tower rising 170 meters, representing Jesus Christ and making it the tallest religious structure in Europe. However, it will stand one meter shorter than Barcelona’s highest point, Montjuïc hill, reflecting Gaudí's belief that human creations should not surpass the work of God in nature.
5. The Spanish Civil War caused significant setbacks
During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, anarchists from the FAI broke into Sagrada Familia’s crypt and set it on fire. This devastating act resulted in the loss of most of Gaudí's original construction drawings and materials. Despite this setback, the project continued to rely solely on private donations, which caused construction to progress slowly over the years.
6. Visual presence across Barcelona
The Sagrada Familia, now designated as a basilica, was meticulously designed to be visible from various points across Barcelona. At its highest points, the basilica features glass panes that reflect light, serving as beacons to guide seafarers back home.
7. Gaudí built a school for the workers' children
In 1909, Antoni Gaudí constructed a school within the Sagrada Familia precinct for the children of the workers building the church. Positioned at the corner of Sardenya and Mallorca streets, this small structure, known as the Sagrada Familia Parish School, was built using Catalan bricks. The school operated for nearly 50 years until the 1980s, after which it temporarily served as office space for the Sagrada Familia building committee, making its interior inaccessible to the public. The school building itself was relocated in 2002 to accommodate the church's expansion.
8. The floor plan follows a traditional Latin cross
The floor plan of the Sagrada Familia is designed in the shape of a Latin cross, a characteristic commonly found in Gothic architecture. This design was initially established by the first architect, Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano.
9. Discover the magical numbers on the Passion Façade
While admiring the Passion façade of Sagrada Familia, don’t miss the intriguing magic square. Typically, a magic square aligns numbers so the sum of each row, column, or diagonal is the same. Surprisingly, this 4x4 grid skips numbers 12 and 16 and repeats 14 and 10, resulting in the sum 33—a symbolic nod to the age of Jesus at his crucifixion. Subirachs adapted this from Albrecht Dürer’s engraving Melencolia I to craft this unique and thought-provoking feature. The number 33 consistently appears in various combinations. For example, adding the numbers in the smaller squares at the corners and the middle, or forming a cross with the end of the second column and adjacent numbers, all result in 33. Take some time to explore different arrangements!
10. Antoni Gaudi not a fan of straight lines
Antoni Gaudí famously remarked that "nothing is straight in nature." True to his philosophy, Gaudí designed the Sagrada Familia with radical curves, intricate patterns, and free-hand sculptures and pillars, embodying the natural world’s essence within its architecture.
11. Sagrada Familia’s design follows a 7.5-meter modular system
The design of Sagrada Familia is based on a 7.5-meter modular system, possibly symbolizing the balance between good and evil—7 representing good and 8 symbolizing evil in some beliefs. This module recurs throughout the basilica's layout. For example, the heights of the vaults are multiples of 7.5 meters: side nave vaults reach 30 meters (4 x 7.5), central nave vaults stand at 45 meters (6 x 7.5), the crossing vault rises to 60 meters (8 x 7.5), and the highest point of the apse soars to 75 meters (10 x 7.5).
