All you need to know about the Sagrada Familia towers

Antoni Gaudí envisioned the Sagrada Familia with 18 monumental spires, symbolizing various biblical figures. Twelve spires are dedicated to the Apostles and are placed across the three magnificent façades of the. Of the remaining six spires, four honor the Evangelists—each adorned with their respective sculptural symbols: Matthew with an angel, Mark with a lion, Luke with an ox, and John with an eagle. The final two spires are dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. Currently, eight of these spires are completed, corresponding to the Apostles of the Nativity and Passion façades. The central spire dedicated to Jesus Christ will be surmounted by a 17-meter-high giant cross and, once finished, will reach an awe-inspiring 172.5 meters, making it the tallest of all the towers and accentuating the Sagrada Familia’s majestic presence in the Barcelona skyline.

Know before you go up the Sagrada Familia Towers

• Access to the Towers are not included in the standard admission ticket and need to be bought separately.
• Since the Nativity and the Passion Façades are not joined, the access points to these spires are different.
• The top of these towers can only be accessed via an elevator, one for each façade.
• You can choose to go up the spire on the Nativity Façade and get sea views over the east of Barcelona, or the tower of the Passion Façade that face the city centre.
• Visitors must take the stairs down from the towers, both on the Passion Façade and the Nativity Façade.

Many tourists wonder if visiting the Sagrada Familia Towers is worth it due to long ticket lines, additional costs, and constant crowds. Our answer is straightforward: absolutely! Here are three compelling reasons why you should experience the Sagrada Familia Towers for yourself.

• Visiting the Sagrada Towers does not take too long and neither does it cost too much

You can have a sedate tour of the Tower in an hour’s time. During crowded hours and days, it may take slightly longer, but not more than 1.5 hours. As for the cost, there is just about a 14 Euro difference between the ordinary admission tickets Tower Tickets. We think the Sagrada Towers do complete justice to those 14 euros, the view, the history seeped walls and the intricate details . See the reviews by others who have gone up and you’ll know that a majority find going up the Sagrada Towers worth it.

• Going up the Sagrada Towers is effortless and coming down is an experience by itself

To reach the top, simply take the elevator which will swiftly whisk you up without any effort. However, be prepared for potential lines, as the elevators can only accommodate six people at a time, leading to possible wait times, especially during peak hours. Descending is a different experience; you'll navigate spiral stairs without railings. Although it may sound daunting, there have been no accidents, and it is entirely safe. Nevertheless, children under the age of six are not permitted entry to the Towers due to this descent.

• The Sagrada Familia Experience is incomplete without climbing the Towers

We say this because the Towers were an integral part of Gaudi’s design as he had 18 towers planned, out of which only 8 are complete. The very reason the Sagrada Familia is taking so long to near completion is the complex design of the Towers, so you can rightly call the Towers the highlight of his design. Moreover, Gaudi himself built the 4 Towers of the Nativity Facade, so visiting these come close to experiencing Gaudi’s Sagrada.

View from Nativity Tower vs View from the Passion Tower

As mentioned earlier, there is no definitive "best" view, as the perspectives from the Nativity Tower and Passion Tower each offer unique and stunning vistas. The Nativity Tower provides sweeping views of Barcelona City and the surrounding mountains, while the Passion Tower offers a breathtaking look at the blue Mediterranean Sea. Your choice depends on your preference for either cityscapes or ocean views. Both perspectives are magnificent and, as the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Many people are sceptical about going up the Sagrada Familia Towers due to the mere thought of coming down winding stairs. The stairs coil around the tightly closed walls and they are railing free. There are 504 stairs and though climbing them might seem like a task, it is entirely safe and not physically tiring. These spiral stairs resemble a snail, in sync with Gaudi's meld of architecture and nature. However, children below the age of 6 are not allowed to access the Towers as it not considered safe for them. Also, those who suffer from physical disabilities, claustrophobia and heart conditions are requested to refrain from accessing the Towers as it can be a strain for them and others alighting.