Description
(Local Name: Barcelona - Sagrada Família) The Sagrada Família church (its official name being "Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família", the Holy Family Church of the Atonement), is the most famous sight in Barcelona and also one of Europe's most unconventional churches. Dominating its surroundings, it stands in the northern part of the city.

When Antoni Gaudí was put in charge of constructing the church in 1883 plans had already been drawn up and some work done on building the crypt of what was to be a purely Neo-Gothic church. Gaudí decided to change the plans completely but - as in the case of most of his other works - had no firm ideas in mind, preferring to alter and add to the plans as work progressed. Of course, this meant that there was no question of getting it built quickly, although Gaudí had originally forecast between ten and fifteen years; there were also financial limitations, as the cost was to be met solely from alms and public subscription. As a result the "Church of the Poor", the main work by the most important Catalan architect of modern times, remains just a shell, and nobody knows whether and when it will ever be completed. The church is planned to have a total length of 110m/354ft and a height of 45m/148ft, with a principal dome of 160m/525ft and towers up to 115m/378ft. So far, however, only the four- towered east doorway (the "Nativity Front"), the outer walls of the apse, the crypt in which Antoni Gaudí was buried in 1926 (not open to the public), parts of the west doorway (the "Passion Doorway") and the nave walls have been built.

From an artistic point of view the Templo de la Sagrada Família is an extremely unconventional mixture of established styles and new ideas. The ground- plan, the way the area is divided up and the firm lines strongly reflect Gothic and mid-19th C. Neo-Gothic, but are combined with the flowing, herbaceous ornamentation so typical of the Art Nouveau style.
Attractions within Sacred Family

Museum of the Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family

The museum contains the sketches and photographs illustrating Gaudí buildings and of the ancient ones on which they are modeled. In separate departments can be seen plaster mock-ups of the
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Sagrada Familia Church

The first doorway, the west or Passion Doorway, has been added to in recent years. There is a striking difference in styles between the sculpture forms (by José Maria Subirach) used here and the
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Sagrada Familia View

The towers of the right side doorway (Nativity Doorway) can be climbed, but the open, narrow winding staircase makes it a rather unattractive proposition for anybody prone to giddiness. Nearby is
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Address
Sagrada Família
Carrer de Mallorca 401
E-08013 Barcelona
Spain
Hours
October 1 to February 28
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:009:009:009:009:009:009:00
Closed18:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
March 1 to September 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:009:009:009:009:009:009:00
Closed20:0020:0020:0020:0020:0020:0020:00
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Epiphany (3 Kings' Day ) - Christian (January 6)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Cost
Adult8.00 Euros
Group discounts5.00 Euros
Students5.00 Euros
Tips
Closed in the afternoon on December 25th, 26th and January 1st and 6th.
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Facilities
Gift shop
Transit
Metro: Sagrada Família; Bus: 19, 34, 43, 50, 51, 54.
Attractions Near Sacred Family, Barcelona