Barcelona 2

Our favorite attraction in Barcelona had to be the Sagrada Família Basilica. This church was designed by Antoni Gaudi whose work on the building is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

Construction of Sagrada Família commenced in 1882 by architect Francisco Paula de Villar with Gaudí becoming involved in 1883 after Francisco resigned as the head architect. Gaudí devoted his last years to the project, and at the time of his death at age 73 in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.

The project resumed with intermittent progress in the 1950s. Construction passed the midpoint in 2010 with some of the project’s greatest challenges remaining and an anticipated completion date of 2026, the centenary of Gaudí’s death. In November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated and proclaimed it a minor basilica, as distinct from a cathedral, which must be the seat of a bishop.

The architecture, especially that of the interior, is an impressive mixture of design and color and loaded with symbolism. The sheer immensity of the interior is breathtaking.

The colorful stained glass windows were in a class of their own!

And here is a glimpse of the crypt.

Enjoy life!