On our first day exploring Barcelona, the legendary Sagrada Familia was at the top of our list. Eager to witness Gaudi’s masterpiece, we set out on foot from our hotel. Despite my lingering jet lag urging me to sleep in, the anticipation of seeing this iconic church fueled my steps. Having seen glimpses of its towering spires from the airplane, I imagined it dominating the cityscape, a central beacon visible from every corner. However, Barcelona’s charming, leafy streets kept the surprise hidden. It wasn’t until we turned onto the plaza where it resides that the breathtaking Barcelona Church Sagrada Familia finally revealed itself, a stunning structure amidst the bustle of construction cranes and excited tourists.
For those unfamiliar, the Sagrada Familia stands as the world’s largest unfinished Catholic church, a testament to the genius of Antoni Gaudí, a Catalan architect celebrated for his modernist style. Gaudí’s signature—sinuous curves, intricate rococo details, and vibrant mosaics—are gloriously showcased in this architectural marvel. Construction of this Barcelona church began over a century ago, a journey marked by interruptions from wars and pandemics. Yet, it’s now approaching its final stages, with completion anticipated within the next decade. The pace of progress in recent years has been remarkable. My memory of visiting Sagrada Familia as a child two decades prior was of a somber, gray space, overshadowed by scaffolding and construction materials. The church that greeted me this April was a world apart.
The walk to Sagrada Familia had been bathed in the glorious Spanish spring sunshine, a welcome contrast to the tail end of winter we’d left behind in Chicago. After navigating the security checks alongside throngs of fellow visitors and a brief moment of disorientation finding the correct entrance, we stepped through an enormous doorway. Suddenly, we were enveloped in a space filled with light, the interior of the Barcelona Church Sagrada Familia unfolding in breathtaking splendor.
