LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Sagrada Familia
built 659 days ago
In this city of Gaudí, the Sagrada Familia is the biggest project of the famous architect and artist. It can easily be called his masterpiece, because he worked over 40 years on it. The most interesting part of the story is, of course, that it has never been finished. In fact, while visiting the site, workers are busy everywhere, and you inevitably see huge cranes as if they were additional bell towers to the temple. At first, they might be disturbing to the visitor, until you realize they are an integral part of the Sagrada Familia. In fact, the project of the church has seen misfortune, first when Gaudí was overrun by a streetcar and died (he actually only saw one of the belltowers), and then in the civil war when many of his models of the Sagrada Familia were destroyed.
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When finished, the Sagrada Familia is going to be an impressive building, with eighteen towers, the tallest of which is planned to be 170 meters high. Two of the planned four facades are finished at this time; the Nativity facade was finished in 1933, and is shown in the photograph above. The Passion facade is shown below. Note that this facade is much lighter in color than the Nativity facade, due to its more recent construction. Also, there is a clear difference between the styles of the two facades; the older Nativity facade has many "organic" details, whereas the Passion facade is far more modern.
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The new section of Sagrada Familia has the feeling of a bad Gaudi imitation. Poorly designed modernism recycling Gaudi's themes. For example, the structural supports of the new interior (shown below) are modeled after the supports of Gaudi's chapel at Colonia Guell. But in this incarnation they are dead and uninteresting.
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The Sagrada Familia has a good location near to the popular church and the Metro. The staff are friendly and helpfull and rooms are clean and wellequipped. But please make sure you dont get a room next to the elevators, as they are very noisy.
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The outside of the Sagrada Familia shows the life of Jesus, while the inside is dedicated to Jerusalem, the holy city. Symbolism everywhere - the Sagrada Familia was well thought over. When entering from the South side (Facade of the Passion), you enter through the newly built side. It symbolizes grief, and is very sober. The North side (Facade of the Nativity) is authentic and older, and is decorated abundantly, expressing a vitality in an original way within the Gothic setting. It ... gives access to stairs that ultimately take you to just under the top of the bell towers.
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The Sagrada Familia is quite possibly the most incredible church in Spain. Incomplete before designer Antonio Guadi died, it remains yet another triumphant addition to this talented architect's portfolio. Construction on the church began in 1882 and was left incomplete in 1926, when Guadi met his end in a streetcar accident. He is buried in the crypt below the temple. A leader in the Art Nouveau tradition, Gaudi chose to design the church as expressionistic (much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris.)
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