The most famous work by the renowned architect Gaudí is the Basilica of the Sagrada Família, or La Sagrada Família, a monumental building regarded as the city’s most iconic landmark.

Construction began in 1882 and continues to this day.

Gaudí, who devoted his life to this very basilica, spent more than 40 years working on the building. At the time of his unexpected death, only one of the eighteen planned towers, the Neo-Gothic crypt and the eastern façade had been completed, which represents roughly one-tenth of his plans.

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Gaudí’s project for the centuries to come

Work on the construction of the Sagrada Família began in 1883 under the then relatively unknown architect Antonio Gaudí; originally, it was merely a plan for a small parish church on the outskirts of Barcelona, but later this modest project grew into an endeavour to build the greatest sanctuary of Christianity.

Gaudí was influenced by many architectural styles, ranging from Art Nouveau through Secession, Neo-Gothic and Cubism to modern architecture, and the Sagrada Família reflects this – it is an incredible and beautiful blend of all these styles.

When Gaudí died in 1926, there was debate as to whether this demanding and grandiose project should continue. Construction has, in the end, continued to this day, with every effort made to adhere to Antoni Gaudí’s wishes and ideas, although it is believed that at the very least the colours of the façade and exteriors were intended to be much more vibrant.

The roof structure, for example, was not completed until 2010, when Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the cathedral.

When will the Sagrada Família be completed?

Apart from the complexity of the construction, the reason for its protracted duration is simple. All funding comes solely from donations and admission fees.

No private companies, public funds or the government are involved in the funding in any way. It is expected that the cathedral could be completed in 2026, marking the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death.

From the very beginning, Gaudí worked with the symbolism of the Holy Family and adapted the cathedral’s final design accordingly. It is set to feature a total of18 towerssymbolising the 12 Apostles, the 4 Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. The tower dedicated to Jesus Christ, at 170 metres high, is set to be the tallest church tower in the world.

Opulent and striking interiors

The cathedral has a very unusual appearance from the outside, but you will be all the more captivated by its interior.

Inside, you can admire the highly unusual shapes of the ceilings, with their regular yet unconventional lines, the massive columns and the truly lavishly decorated stained-glass windows, which create a play of light throughout the day.

A visit to the cathedral is bound to leave a lasting impression even on travellers who are not usually particularly interested in architecture.

Admission and opening hours

Admission is usually divided into a ticket for the cathedral only and a ticket allowing access to the lifts to the north and south towers. However, access to the towers is currently not possible due to building works.

We recommend buying your ticket online via the official website.

The price is the same as at the ticket office, and the downside is that you are allocated a specific time slot for your visit; however, this allows you to avoid queues of up to two hours, which are particularly common in summer and at weekends.

• Adults – 26 eur
• Young people aged 11–30 – 24 eur
• Senior citizens aged 65 and over – 21 eur
• Children under 11 –free

Opendaily from9.00 amto 6.00 pm.

Admission to Mass, which takes place at 9.00 every day, is of course free, but please note that most Masses are held in the small basement chapel, so you will not be able to see the main part of the cathedral.

• Official information is available on the websitesagradafamilia.org.

Location and transport

The Sagrada Família is situated roughly in the centre of Barcelona, about 2 km from the historic centre and the sea. As well as walking, it is, of course, very easily accessible by public transport.

• Metro:Sagrada Famíliastation,approx.20 metres away – lines L2, L5
• Bus:Mallorca - Marinastop,approx.20 metres away – routes 19, 33, 34, B24, D50, H10

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