The Basilica de la Sagrada Família also known as the Sagrada Família, is a large unfinished Roman Catholic minor basilica in the Exiample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Designed by Spanish/Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi (1852 -1926 ), his work on the building is a part of a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. On 7th November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica.
History:-
The Basilica de la Sagrada Família was the inspiration of a book seller, Joseph Maria Bocabella. After a visit to the Vatican in 1872, Bocabella returned from Italy with the intention of building a church, funded by donations, was begun 19th March 1882, on the festival of St.Joseph, to the design of the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, whose plan was for a Gothic revival church of a standard form. The apse crypt was completed before Villar’s resignation on 18th 1883, when Antoni Gaudí assumed responsibility for it’s design, which he changed radically. Gaudi began work on the church in 1883 but was not appointed Architect Director until 1884.
Visitors’ Access:-
Visitors can access the Nave, Crypt, Museum, shop and Nativity steeples. Entrance to either of steeples requires a reservation and advance purchase of a ticket. Access is possible only by lift and a short walk up the remainder of the steeples to the bridge between the steeples. Descent is via a very narrow spiral staircase of over 300 steps.
International masses: The Archdiocese of Barcelona holds an international mass at the Basillica of Sagrada Família every Sunday and on holy days of obligation.
- Date and time: every Sunday and on holy days of obligation at 9 am.
- There is no charge for attending mass but capacity is limited.
- Visitors are asked to dress appropriately and behave respectfully.
Appraisal: The art historian Nikolaus Pevsner writing in the 1960s, referred to Gaudi’s buildings as growing “like sugar loaves and anthills” and describes the ornamenting of buildings with shards of broken pottery as possibly “bad taste” but handled with vitality and “ruthless audacity”. Inspite of all such adverse remarks, the building’s distinctive silhouette has nevertheless become symbolic of Barcelona itself, drawing 3 million visitors annually.
World Heritage status: Together with other Gaudi buildings in Barcelona, part of la Sagrada Família is a UNESCO WORLD Heritage Site, as testifying “to Gaudi’s” exceptional creative contribution to the development of architecture and building technology, having represented el Modernisme of Catalonia and anticipated and influenced many of the forms and techniques that were relevant to the development of modern construction in 20 th century. The inscriptions only includes the Crypt and the Nativity Facade.
So, my friends keep your bags ready! When this pandemic situation is over, enjoy this beautiful architectural experience.
