Sagrada Família facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Basílica de la Sagrada Família |
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Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família
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The Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| District | Barcelona |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Minor basilica |
| Leadership | Juan José Cardinal Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona |
| Year consecrated | 7 November 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI |
| Status | Under construction |
| Location | |
| Location | Barcelona, Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Antoni Gaudí and Francisco de Paula del Villar |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival, Art Nouveau, and Modernista |
| General contractor | Construction Board of La Sagrada Família Foundation |
| Groundbreaking | 19 March 1882 |
| Completed | 2026 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | Southeast |
| Capacity | 9,000 |
| Length | 90 m (300 ft) |
| Width | 60 m (200 ft) |
| Width (nave) | 45 m (150 ft) |
| Spire(s) | 18 (13 already built) |
| Spire height | 172.5 m (570 ft) (planned) |
| Materials | The main material used is stone. |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | Nativity Façade and Crypt of the Basílica de la Sagrada Família |
| Part of | Works of Antoni Gaudí |
| Criteria | Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv) |
| Inscription | 1984 (8th Session) |
| Extensions | 2005 (29th session: addition of items 320-004 to 320-007) |
| Type: | Non-movable |
| Criteria: | Monument |
| Designated: | 24 July 1969 |
| Reference #: | RI-51-0003813 |
The Sagrada Família is a huge, famous church in Barcelona, Spain, that is still being built. It is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. The brilliant architect Antoni Gaudí designed it. His work on the church is so special that it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
On November 7, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI officially declared it a holy place, called a minor basilica. Even though it's a basilica, it's not the main cathedral of Barcelona. That title belongs to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia.
Construction started way back on March 19, 1882. A year later, Gaudí took over the project. He completely changed the design to match his unique style, which mixes ideas from nature with grand Gothic shapes. Gaudí worked on the church for the rest of his life and is even buried in its crypt. When he died in 1926, the church was less than a quarter finished.
The building work has been slow because it is paid for only by private donations and ticket sales. The Spanish Civil War stopped construction, and some of Gaudí's original plans and models were destroyed in a fire. Work started again in the 1950s. Today, with the help of computers, construction is much faster. The main building is expected to be finished by 2026, which is 100 years after Gaudí's death. However, decorations and a large stairway might take until 2034 to complete.
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History of the Sagrada Família
The idea for the church came from a bookseller named José María Bocabella. After a trip to Italy in 1872, he wanted to build a church inspired by one he saw there. The first stone was laid on March 19, 1882. The original architect, Francisco de Paula del Villar, planned a traditional Gothic-style church.
When Villar left the project in 1883, Antoni Gaudí took his place. He had a much more imaginative vision and changed the design completely.
A Century of Construction
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Gaudí knew the church would take a very long time to build. He once joked, "My client is not in a hurry." After he died in 1926, his main assistant, Domènec Sugrañes i Gras, continued the work.
However, the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s stopped everything. During the war, Gaudí's workshop was damaged, and many of his plaster models and drawings were lost. Architects who came later had to put the plans back together using old photos and saved pieces.
Since the 1980s, computers have helped designers and builders understand Gaudí's complex ideas. This has made construction move much faster.
Progress in the 21st Century
The main roof of the church was finished in 2000. Since then, work has focused on the massive central towers. A school that Gaudí designed in 1909 for the construction workers' children was moved to a new spot on the site.
In 2010, a high-speed train tunnel was built under the ground near the church. Some people were worried it could damage the building's foundation, but special materials were used to absorb vibrations from the trains.
The church was officially consecrated by the Pope in 2010. This meant it could be used for religious services even while construction continued. The architect in charge, Jordi Faulí i Oller, announced in 2015 that the project was 70 percent complete and was entering its final stage: building the six tallest towers.
Historical Photos
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1905
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1915
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1930. An aerial photo of the church.
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The base of the main Jesus Christ tower under construction in 2009.
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2019
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The Amazing Design of the Church
The style of the Sagrada Família is often called Art Nouveau or Catalan Modernism. But Gaudí had his own unique style inspired by nature. He once said he carried the Art Nouveau style far beyond how other artists used it.
Plan of the Building
The church is designed to be as large as a cathedral. Its floor plan is shaped like a Latin cross. Unlike many churches, it has no sharp right angles or perfectly straight lines. Gaudí wanted the inside to feel like a forest, with columns that look like tree trunks branching out at the top. A covered walkway, or cloister, will wrap around the outside of the church.
The Eighteen Spires
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Gaudí's full design includes eighteen spires, or towers. Each one represents an important religious figure:
- Twelve spires for the Twelve Apostles.
- Four spires for the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
- One taller spire for the Virgin Mary.
- The tallest, central spire for Jesus Christ.
As of late 2024, thirteen spires are complete. The Evangelists' towers are topped with their traditional symbols: a winged man, a winged lion, a winged bull, and an eagle. The central Jesus Christ spire will have a giant cross on top. When finished, it will make the Sagrada Família the tallest church building in the world. Gaudí made sure its final height of 172.5 meters would be just shorter than Montjuïc, a nearby hill, because he believed his work should not be taller than God's creation.
The Three Grand Façades
The church has three huge entrances, called façades. Each one tells a different part of the story of Jesus.
Nativity Façade
This façade, facing the sunrise, celebrates the birth of Jesus. It was the first one to be built and has the most of Gaudí's direct influence. It is covered in detailed sculptures of people, plants, and animals. At the base of two large columns, there is a tortoise and a turtle, symbols of how time is permanent. In contrast, two chameleons are on the sides, representing change.
Passion Façade
Facing the sunset, this façade represents the suffering and death of Jesus. Its style is the opposite of the Nativity Façade. It is stark and simple, with sharp, angular lines that look like bones. The sculptor, Josep Maria Subirachs, created figures that show the pain of the crucifixion. Gaudí wanted this façade to make people think about the seriousness of Christ's sacrifice. It also contains a magic square where the numbers in each row and column add up to 33, the age of Jesus when he died.
Glory Façade
This will be the main entrance and the largest of the three façades. Construction began in 2002. It represents the road to heaven and glory. It will show scenes of Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. The entrance will have seven large doors representing the seven holy sacraments. The main doors, created by Subirachs, are already installed. They feature the Our Father prayer in the Catalan language, with parts of the prayer written in 50 other languages.
A Forest of Columns Inside
- Inside the Sagrada Família
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Looking toward the northeast from the center of the church.
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The ceiling looks like a forest canopy. Gaudí designed the columns to look like trees with branches.
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The main hall, or nave, of the church.
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The ceiling of the apse, before the stained-glass windows were installed.
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The columns and ceiling of the main hall.
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The inside of the church is just as amazing as the outside. The columns that hold up the ceiling are designed to look like trees. They branch out near the top to support the roof, making you feel like you are standing in a magical stone forest.
The stained-glass windows fill the space with colored light. Gaudí designed the windows to create a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. None of the surfaces inside are flat. Everything is covered in rich details with smooth curves and sharp points.
How to Visit the Sagrada Família
Millions of people visit the Sagrada Família every year, making it one of Spain's most popular attractions. Visitors can explore the main part of the church (the nave), the crypt where Gaudí is buried, a museum, and a shop.
You can also go up into the towers on the Nativity and Passion façades for an incredible view of Barcelona. You need to buy a ticket in advance for the towers. An elevator takes you most of the way up, but you have to walk down a narrow spiral staircase with over 300 steps.
World Heritage Status
In 1984, UNESCO declared several of Gaudí's buildings a World Heritage Site. In 2005, this was expanded to include the Crypt and the Nativity Façade of the Sagrada Família. UNESCO recognized Gaudí's "exceptional creative contribution" to architecture and his influence on modern building techniques.
