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66-546: The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família , otherwise known as Sagrada Família , is a church under construction in the Eixample district of Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain . It is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), in 2005 his work on Sagrada Família was added to an existing (1984) UNESCO World Heritage Site , "Works of Antoni Gaudí". On 7 November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated

132-473: A magic square based on the magic square in the 1514 print Melencolia I . The square is rotated and one number in each row and column is reduced by one, so the rows and columns add up to 33 instead of the standard 34 for a 4x4 magic square . The largest and most striking of the façades will be the Glory Façade, on which construction began in 2002. It will be the principal façade and will offer access to

198-415: A covered passage or cloister which forms a rectangle enclosing the church and passing through the narthex of each of its three portals. With this peculiarity aside, the plan, influenced by Villar's crypt, barely hints at the complexity of Gaudí's design or its deviations from traditional church architecture. There are no exact right angles to be seen inside or outside the church, and few straight lines in

264-492: A few places on the nativity façade—a design not equated with Gaudí's ruled-surface design—where the hyperboloid appears. For example, all around the scene with the pelican, there are numerous examples (including the basket held by one of the figures). There is a hyperboloid adding structural stability to the cypress tree (by connecting it to the bridge). Finally, the "bishop's mitre" spires are capped with hyperboloid structures. In his later designs, ruled surfaces are prominent in

330-421: A garden; the streets were narrower; only one of the two diagonal avenues was carried out; the inhabitants were of a higher class than the mixed composition dreamed of by Cerdà. The important needs of the inhabitants were incorporated into his plan, which called for markets, schools, hospitals every so many blocks. Today, most of the markets remain open in the spots they have been from the beginning. Some parts of

396-399: A pedalboard. To overcome the unique acoustical challenges posed by the church's architecture and vast size, several additional organs will be installed at various points within the building. These instruments will be playable separately (from their own individual consoles) and simultaneously (from a single mobile console), yielding an organ of some 8,000 pipes when completed. The steeples on

462-483: A skeleton. Dedicated to the Passion of Christ, the suffering of Jesus during his crucifixion , the façade was intended to portray the sins of man. Construction began in 1954, following the drawings and instructions left by Gaudí for future architects and sculptors. The steeples were completed in 1976, and in 1987 a team of sculptors, headed by Josep Maria Subirachs , began work sculpting the various scenes and details of

528-559: A total of over 500 buildings in the city (not all of them in the Eixample). The Casa Terrades, better known as Casa de les Punxes and replete with medieval allusions, stands at the junction of Av. Diagonal with Carrer Rosselló. It was built in 1903–1905 by the Modernista architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, who used Nordic Gothic and Spanish Plateresque resources side by side, along with traditional Catalan motifs. The Casa Batlló

594-565: A total seven doors representing the sacraments : In September 2008, the doors of the Glory façade, by Subirachs, were installed. These central doors bear the text of the Our Father prayer in Catalan in high relief, accompanied with the words "Our Father" and "Give us this day our daily bread" inscribed in fifty different languages. The handles of the door are the letters "A" and "G," forming

660-540: A winged bull ( Saint Luke ), a winged man ( Saint Matthew ), an eagle ( Saint John ), and a winged lion ( Saint Mark ). The central spire of Jesus Christ is to be surmounted by a giant cross ; its total height (172.5 metres (565.9 ft)) will be less than that of Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, as Gaudí believed that his creation should not surpass God's. The lower spires are surmounted by communion hosts with sheaves of wheat and chalices with bunches of grapes, representing

726-491: Is a Japanese library in Eixample that opened in 1992. Most of the patrons are Japanese, though locals may also use the facilities. The library is located inside a flat. Dom%C3%A8nec Sugra%C3%B1es i Gras Domènec Sugrañes i Gras ( Catalan pronunciation: [duˈmɛnək suˈɣɾaɲəz i ˈɣɾas] ; 12 December 1878 – 9 August 1938) was a Catalan modernist architect and disciple of Antoni Gaudí . He succeeded him at

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792-581: Is buried in the church's crypt. At the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Relying solely on private donations, Sagrada Família's construction progressed slowly and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War . In July 1936, anarchists from the FAI set fire to the crypt and broke their way into the workshop, partially destroying Gaudí's original plans. In 1939, Francesc de Paula Quintana took over site management, which

858-453: Is capped by a hyperboloid vault reaching seventy-five metres (246 ft). Gaudí intended that a visitor standing at the main entrance be able to see the vaults of the nave, crossing, and apse, thus the graduated increase in vault loft. There are gaps in the floor of the apse, providing a view into the crypt below. The columns of the interior are a unique Gaudí design. Besides branching to support their load, their ever-changing surfaces are

924-496: Is divided into five neighborhoods. These are, in addition to the areas already mentioned, Sant Antoni , Sagrada Família and Fort Pienc , also known as Fort Pius . The latter has recently become notable for the number of Asian , chiefly Chinese residents and the proliferation of Asian shops. Some parts of Eixample are rather wealthy neighborhoods, especially around the central areas such as Passeig de Gràcia , Rambla de Catalunya , pedestrian streets such as Carrer de Girona and

990-668: Is not the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Barcelona ; that title belongs to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia ( Barcelona Cathedral ). Sagrada Família was inspired by a bookseller, José María Bocabella  [ es ] , founder of Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José (Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph). After a visit to the Vatican in 1872, Bocabella returned from Italy with

1056-593: Is open to the public (until the church is full). Occasionally, Mass is celebrated at other times, where attendance requires an invitation. When masses are scheduled, instructions to obtain an invitation are posted on the basilica's website. In addition, visitors may pray in the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament and Penitence. The stone initially used in its construction came from the Montserrat mountain , but it became clear that as quarrying there went deeper,

1122-494: Is part of a block called the Illa de la Discòrdia , along with two other notable Modernista works, Lluís Domènech i Montaner 's Casa Lleó Morera and Josep Puig i Cadafalch's Casa Amatller . The block is so named due to the visual clash between the buildings; its Spanish name, Manzana de la Discordia , is also a pun on Eris 's Apple of Discord – manzana means both "apple" and "city block". The square architecture of Eixample

1188-477: Is short in comparison to its width, and has a great complexity of parts, which include double aisles, an ambulatory with a chevet of seven apsidal chapels, a multitude of steeples and three portals, each widely different in structure as well as ornament. Where it is common for cathedrals in Spain to be surrounded by numerous chapels and ecclesiastical buildings, the layout of Sagrada Família has an unusual feature:

1254-547: The COVID-19 pandemic in Spain , construction temporarily stopped and the basilica was closed. This was the first time the construction had been halted since the Spanish Civil War . The Gaudí House Museum in Park Güell was also closed. The basilica reopened, initially to key workers, on 4 July 2020. Local residents have concerns about plans to build a large stairway leading up to the basilica's main entrance, unfinished at

1320-526: The Eucharist . Plans call for tubular bells to be placed within the spires, driven by the force of the wind, and driving sound down into the interior of the church. Gaudí performed acoustic studies to achieve the appropriate acoustic results inside the temple. However, only one bell is currently in place. The completion of the Jesus Christ spire will make Sagrada Família the tallest church building in

1386-543: The theological virtues , though in a much different light. The scenes sculpted into the façade may be divided into three levels, which ascend in an S form and reproduce the stations of the cross ( Via Crucis of Christ). The lowest level depicts scenes from Jesus' last night before the crucifixion, including the Last Supper , Kiss of Judas , Ecce homo , and the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus . The middle level portrays

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1452-466: The 20th century the stone was carved by hand. In 2008, some renowned Catalan architects advocated halting construction to respect Gaudí's original designs, which, although they were not exhaustive and were partially destroyed, have been partially reconstructed in recent years. Since 2013, AVE high-speed trains have passed near Sagrada Família through a tunnel that runs beneath the centre of Barcelona. The tunnel's construction, which began on 26 March 2010,

1518-514: The Apostle , and Simon the Zealot ). Originally, Gaudí intended for this façade to be polychromed , for each archivolt to be painted with a wide array of colours. He wanted every statue and figure to be painted. In this way the figures of humans would appear as much alive as the figures of plants and animals. Gaudí chose this façade to embody the structure and decoration of the whole church. He

1584-487: The Art Nouveau style far beyond its usual application as a surface decoration. While never a cathedral , Sagrada Família was planned from the outset to be a large building, comparable in size to a cathedral. Its ground-plan has obvious links to earlier Spanish cathedrals such as Burgos Cathedral , León Cathedral and Seville Cathedral . In common with Catalan and many other European Gothic cathedrals, Sagrada Família

1650-542: The Avinguda Gaudi and vicinity of the Sagrada Familia . Passeig de Gràcia connects the central Plaça Catalunya to the old town of Gràcia , while Avinguda Diagonal cuts across the grid diagonally and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes runs across the entire city from southwest to northeast. Other wide avenues in the area include Carrer d'Aragó , Carrer de Balmes and Passeig de Sant Joan . There

1716-707: The Calvary, or Golgotha, of Christ, and includes The Three Marys , Saint Longinus , Saint Veronica , and a hollow-face illusion of Christ on the Veil of Veronica . In the third and final level the Death, Burial and the Resurrection of Christ can be seen. A bronze figure situated on a bridge creating a link between the steeples of Saint Bartholomew and Saint Thomas represents the Ascension of Jesus . The façade contains

1782-519: The Coast) led a campaign against this route for the AVE, without success. In October 2010, the tunnel boring machine reached the church underground under the location of the building's principal façade. Service through the tunnel was inaugurated on 8 January 2013. Track in the tunnel makes use of a system by Edilon Sedra in which the rails are embedded in an elastic material to dampen vibrations. The main nave

1848-757: The Eixample were influenced by Modernista architects, chief among whom was Antoni Gaudí . His work in the Eixample includes the Casa Milà (nicknamed La Pedrera ) and the Casa Batlló , both of which are on the wide Passeig de Gràcia , as well as the Sagrada Família . Other architects who made highly significant, and certainly more numerous, contributions to giving the Eixample its characteristic appearance include Josep Puig i Cadafalch , Josep Domènech i Estapà , Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas and perhaps above all Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia , responsible for

1914-661: The Nativity Façade, people would have withdrawn at the sight of it. Some of the statues were destroyed in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, and subsequently were reconstructed by the Japanese artist Etsuro Sotoo . In contrast to the highly decorated Nativity Façade, the Passion Façade is austere, plain and simple, with ample bare stone, and is carved with harsh straight lines to resemble the bones of

1980-498: The Nativity façade are crowned with geometrically shaped tops that are reminiscent of Cubism (they were finished around 1930), and the intricate decoration is contemporary to the style of Art Nouveau , but Gaudí's unique style drew primarily from nature, not other artists or architects, and resists categorization. Gaudí used hyperboloid structures in later designs for Sagrada Família (more obviously after 1914). However, there are

2046-422: The building would be completed by 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death, but this schedule was threatened by work slowdowns caused by the 2020–2021 depths of the COVID-19 pandemic . In March 2024, an updated forecast reconfirmed a likely completion of the building in 2026, though the announcement stated that work on sculptures, decorative details and a controversial proposed stairway leading to what will eventually be

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2112-414: The centennial of Gaudí's death; as of a 2017 estimate, decorative elements should be complete by 2030 or 2032. Visitor entrance fees of €15 to €20 finance the annual construction budget of €25   million. Completion of the structure will use post-tensioned stone . Starting on 9 July 2017, an international mass is celebrated at the basilica every Sunday and holy day of obligation , at 9   a.m., and

2178-512: The central nave . Dedicated to the Celestial Glory of Jesus, it represents the road to God: Death, Final Judgment, and Glory, while Hell is left for those who deviate from God's will. Aware that he would not live long enough to see this façade completed, Gaudí made a model which was demolished in 1936, whose original fragments were used as the basis for the development of the design for the façade. The completion of this façade may require

2244-412: The church and proclaimed it a minor basilica . On 19 March 1882, construction of Sagrada Família began under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar . In 1883, when Villar resigned, Gaudí took over as chief architect, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project, and he

2310-438: The church in 1883 but was not appointed Architect Director until 1884. On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked: "My client is not in a hurry." When Gaudí died in 1926, the basilica was between 15 and 25 percent complete. After Gaudí's death, work continued under the direction of his main disciple Domènec Sugrañes i Gras until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Parts of

2376-466: The columns of the apse , resting on del Villar's foundation, do not adhere to the grid, requiring a section of columns of the ambulatory to transition to the grid thus creating a horseshoe pattern to the layout of those columns. The crossing rests on the four central columns of porphyry supporting a great hyperboloid surrounded by two rings of twelve hyperboloids (currently under construction). The central vault reaches sixty metres (200 ft). The apse

2442-440: The death of Christ, the Passion Façade is supported by six large and inclined columns, designed to resemble strained muscles. Above there is a pyramidal pediment , made up of eighteen bone-shaped columns, which culminate in a large cross with a crown of thorns. Each of the four steeples is dedicated to an apostle ( James , Thomas , Philip , and Bartholomew ) and, like the Nativity Façade, there are three porticos, each representing

2508-493: The design that Gaudi created in 1917. The construction began in 1954, and the steeples, built over the elliptical plan, were finished in 1976. It is especially striking for its spare, gaunt, tormented characters, including emaciated figures of Christ being scourged at the pillar; and Christ on the Cross . These controversial designs are the work of Josep Maria Subirachs . The Glory façade, on which construction began in 2002, will be

2574-727: The design. Gaudí's original design calls for a total of eighteen spires, representing in ascending order of height the Twelve Apostles , the four Evangelists , the Virgin Mary , and, tallest of all, Jesus Christ . Thirteen spires had been completed as of 2023, corresponding to four apostles at the Nativity façade, four apostles at the Passion façade, the four Evangelists , and the Virgin Mary. The Evangelists' spires are surmounted by sculptures of their traditional symbols:

2640-407: The façade and are symbolic of change. The façade faces the rising sun to the northeast, a symbol for the birth of Christ. It is divided into three porticos, each of which represents a theological virtue (Hope, Faith and Charity). The Tree of Life rises above the door of Jesus in the portico of Charity. Four steeples complete the façade and are each dedicated to a Saint ( Matthias , Barnabas , Jude

2706-405: The façade. They aimed to give a rigid, angular form to provoke a dramatic effect. Gaudí intended for this façade to strike fear into the onlooker. He wanted to "break" arcs and "cut" columns, and to use the effect of chiaroscuro (dark angular shadows contrasted by harsh rigid light) to further show the severity and brutality of Christ's sacrifice. Facing the setting sun, indicative and symbolic of

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2772-505: The head of the works of the church of the Sagrada Família and finished the façade of the Nativity . Sugrañes held this charge during 10 years, from Gaudí's death in 1926 until 20 July 1936. Gaudí met Sugrañes in 1905 during his last year at the school of architecture. Since then, he participated in most of Gaudí's works. In collaboration with Gaudí, Sugrañes decorated the Bellesguard house with seating banks in mosaic (1917). He made

2838-406: The initials of Antoni Gaudí, within the phrase no permeteu que c a i g uem en la temptació ("lead us not into temptation"). The church plan is that of a Latin cross with five aisles. The central nave vaults reach forty-five metres (148 feet) while the side nave vaults reach thirty metres (98 feet). The transept has three aisles. The columns are on a 7.5 metres (25 ft) grid. However,

2904-490: The intention of building a church inspired by the basilica at Loreto . The apse crypt of the church, funded by donations, was begun 19 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 18 March 1883, when Antoni Gaudí assumed responsibility for its design, which he changed radically. Gaudi began work on

2970-523: The interior surfaces are flat; the ornamentation is comprehensive and rich, consisting in large part of abstract shapes which combine smooth curves and jagged points. Even detail-level work such as the iron railings for balconies and stairways are full of curvaceous elaboration. In 2010 an organ was installed in the chancel by the Blancafort Orgueners de Montserrat organ builders. The instrument has 26 stops (1,492 pipes) on two manuals and

3036-474: The largest and most monumental of the three and will represent one's ascension to God. It will also depict various scenes such as Hell, Purgatory, and will include elements such as the seven deadly sins and the seven heavenly virtues . Constructed between 1893 and 1936, the Nativity façade was the first façade to be completed. Dedicated to the birth of Jesus, it is decorated with scenes reminiscent of elements of life. Characteristic of Gaudí's naturalistic style,

3102-475: The latter using tombs along the ground. The portico will have seven large columns dedicated to gifts of the Holy Spirit . At the base of the columns there will be representations of the seven deadly sins , and at the top, the seven heavenly virtues . This façade will have five doors corresponding to the five naves of the temple, with the central one having a triple entrance, that will give the Glory Façade

3168-468: The main entrance is expected to continue until 2034. Describing Sagrada Família, art critic Rainer Zerbst said "it is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art", and Paul Goldberger describes it as "the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages". Though sometimes described as a cathedral, the basilica

3234-526: The main structure; using this method has significant structural and operational benefits . The church is designed to have three grand façades: the Nativity façade to the east, the Passion façade to the west, and the Glory façade to the south (incomplete). The Nativity façade was built before work was interrupted in 1935 and bears the most direct Gaudí influence. The Passion façade was built according to

3300-541: The nave's vaults and windows and the surfaces of the Passion Façade. Eixample The Eixample is characterized by long straight streets, a strict grid pattern crossed by wide avenues, and square blocks with chamfered corners (named illes in Catalan, manzanas in Spanish). This was a visionary, pioneering design by Ildefons Cerdà , who considered traffic and transport along with sunlight and ventilation in coming up with his characteristic octagonal blocks, where

3366-657: The partial demolition of the block with buildings across the Carrer de Mallorca. The decision was expected to be proposed in May 2023. To reach the Glory Portico, the large staircase will lead over the underground passage built over Carrer de Mallorca with the decoration representing Hell and vice. On other projects, Carrer de Mallorca will have to go underground. It will be decorated with demons, idols, false gods, heresy and schisms, etc. Purgatory and death will also be depicted,

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3432-514: The project. Mark Burry of New Zealand serves as Executive Architect and Researcher. Sculptures by J. Busquets , Etsuro Sotoo and the controversial Josep Maria Subirachs decorate the fantastical façades. Chief architect Jordi Faulí announced in October 2015 that construction was 70 percent complete and had entered its final phase of raising six immense steeples. The steeples and most of the church's structure were planned to be completed by 2026,

3498-421: The result of the intersection of various geometric forms. The simplest example is that of a square base evolving into an octagon as the column rises, then a sixteen-sided form, and eventually to a circle. This effect is the result of a three-dimensional intersection of helicoidal columns (for example a square cross-section column twisting clockwise and a similar one twisting counterclockwise). Essentially none of

3564-471: The sculptures are ornately arranged and decorated with scenes and images from nature, each a symbol in its own manner. For instance, the three porticos are separated by two large columns, and at the base of each lies a turtle or a tortoise (one to represent the land and the other the sea; each are symbols of time as something set in stone and unchangeable). In contrast to the figures of turtles and their symbolism, two chameleons can be found at either side of

3630-582: The stone was increasingly fragile and an alternative source had to be found. Since 2018 stone of the type needed to complete the construction has been sourced from the Withnell Quarry in Brinscall , near Chorley , England . On 19 April 2011, an arsonist started a small fire in the sacristy which forced the evacuation of tourists and construction workers. The sacristy was damaged, and the fire took 45 minutes to contain. On 11 March 2020, during

3696-428: The streets broaden at every intersection making for greater visibility, better ventilation and (today) some short-term parking areas. It also provided an area for horse-drawn wagons and carriages to easily turn around. The grid pattern remains as a hallmark of Barcelona, but many of his other provisions were ignored: the four sides of the blocks and the inner space were built instead of the planned two or three sides around

3762-455: The time, which could require the demolition of three city blocks: the homes to 1,000 people as well as some businesses. The style of Sagrada Família is variously likened to Spanish Late Gothic , Catalan Modernism or Art Nouveau . While the style falls within the Art Nouveau period, Nikolaus Pevsner points out that, along with Charles Rennie Mackintosh in Glasgow, Scotland, Gaudí carried

3828-426: The unfinished basilica and Gaudí's models and workshop were destroyed during the war. The present design is based on reconstructed versions of the plans that were burned in a fire as well as on modern adaptations. Since 1940, the architects Francesc Quintana, Isidre Puig Boada , Lluís Bonet i Garí and Francesc Cardoner have carried on the work. The illumination was designed by Carles Buïgas . The director until 2012

3894-437: The world —11 metres (36.1 ft) taller than the current record-holder, Ulm Minster , which is 161.5 metres (529.9 ft) at its highest point. On 29 November 2021, a 7 m (23 ft) twelve-pointed illuminated crystal star was installed on one of the main towers of the basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The construction makes use of post-tensioned stone panels, which are pre-assembled before incorporation into

3960-415: Was able to go on with the material that was saved from Gaudí's workshop and that was reconstructed from published plans and photographs. Construction resumed to intermittent progress in the 1950s. Advancements in technologies such as computer-aided design and computerised numerical control (CNC) have since enabled faster progress and construction passed the midpoint in 2010. In 2014, it was anticipated that

4026-478: Was controversial. The Ministry of Public Works of Spain ( Ministerio de Fomento ) claimed the project posed no risk to the church. Sagrada Família engineers and architects disagreed, saying there was no guarantee that the tunnel would not affect the stability of the building. The Board of the Sagrada Família ( Patronat de la Sagrada Família ) and the neighborhood association AVE pel Litoral (AVE by

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4092-493: Was covered and an organ installed in mid-2010, allowing the still-unfinished building to be used for liturgies. The church was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI on 7 November 2010 in front of a congregation of 6,500   people. A further 50,000 people followed the consecration Mass from outside the basilica, where more than 100   bishops and 300   priests were on hand to distribute Holy Communion . In 2012, Barcelona-born Jordi Faulí i Oller took over as architect of

4158-403: Was originally designed by Gaudí in 1909 for the children of the construction workers. As of 2006, work concentrated on the crossing and supporting structure for the main steeple of Jesus Christ as well as the southern enclosure of the central nave, which will become the Glory façade. Computer-aided design technology has allowed stone to be shaped off-site by a CNC milling machine, whereas in

4224-426: Was the main inspiration for the controversial jersey checkerboard design introduced by FC Barcelona in 2019 instead of the traditional stripes, and used until the following year. There are six administrative neighborhoods: The district is often divided for practical purposes in two: Esquerra de l'Eixample and Dreta de l'Eixample (left and right sides of Eixample, respectively). Traditionally and officially, it

4290-532: Was the son of Lluís Bonet, Jordi Bonet i Armengol. Armengol began introducing computers into the design and construction process in the 1980s. The central nave vaulting was completed in 2000 and the main tasks since then have been the construction of the transept vaults and apse . In 2002, the Sagrada Família Schools building was relocated from the eastern corner of the site to the southern corner, and began housing an exhibition. The school

4356-434: Was well aware that he would not finish the church and that he would need to set an artistic and architectural example for others to follow. He also chose for this façade to be the first on which to begin construction and for it to be, in his opinion, the most attractive and accessible to the public. He believed that if he had begun construction with the Passion Façade, one that would be hard and bare (as if made of bones), before

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