5 Things You Didn’t Know About La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia, the famous Gaudí church in Barcelona, is one of the most-visited tourist attractions in central Barcelona. It was designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi between 1885 and 1914, with construction finally completed on December 21, 20th century. The church houses numerous features like a 136-bell carillon and an astronomical clock built over 30 years ago. It’s also 88m tall, and the spire is still under construction. There are many destinations you can take tours likes Sagrada Familia Tour, Park Guell tour, Guided tours, and much more to explore
1. The Name
La Sagrada Familia means Holy Family in Spanish, and it was named after Francesc Eiximenis’ book, “Vida de Jesucrist” (Life of Jesus Christ). Gaudi intended the church to be a celebration of life; to serve this purpose, he gave it a name that reflected that sentiment.
2. The Church, Even Before It Was Built
In his last years, Gaudi became obsessed with the idea of building a church in Barcelona. The city has played a significant role in both his and the artistic history of Spain; it’s where he began his architectural studies, and the world’s first museum dedicated to modernism (Modernism) was built.
3. The Tallest Tower
Construction on the spire has been delayed for over a decade; originally, it was supposed to be finished in 2008, but construction ran into problems. A semi-circular walkway at the top of the tower provides views of the city and can be accessed by visitors.
4. The Bells
The bell carillon is one of the featured aspects of La Sagrada Familia; it comprises 136 bells and is initially made by German craftsmen. For over 30 years, the bells have been operated by four clockmakers; the carillonists have to memorize the order in which they are played, so that when they’re playing at different times, they can sing a particular song.
5. It’s an observatory
The church’s astronomical clock was made by Tarradellas and Co. of Barcelona and is considered to be the most important astronomical clock in Europe. It was built between 1908 and 1921.
Gaudi intended to accurately portray the solar system’s evolution, with the clock showing how day follows night, month follows month, and year follows year. The clock is one of the main attractions in Barcelona and has been used for various movies and records.
6. It’s Taller Than You Think!
When it was first constructed, La Sagrada Familia was not only Barcelona’s tallest building but, in fact, the tallest building in Europe. The original plans called for a 160-meter spire to top the tower; however, there’s still no completion date in sight, as construction of the church hasn’t resumed after being halted due to lack of funds.
7. The Architecture Is Complex
La Sagrada Familia is a prime example of Gaudi’s unique style of architecture. His work was based on nature and is known as “art nouveau.” Its designs are characterized by curves and natural shapes, as opposed to classical or traditional historical forms.
8. The Tower Is Still Under Construction
Gaudi passed away before La Sagrada Familia was completed, and since then, the church has been under construction by many architects and architecture firms. The original plans were for the tower to reach a height of 200 meters, but at about 100 meters, it started to tilt, so construction had to be stopped until the architectural firm could come up with a solution for this problem.
9. Gaudi’s Buildings Are Featured in Movies
Many of Gaudi’s works, like the Parc Güell and La Sagrada Familia, have been featured in movies and were chosen because they were owned by famous personalities such as Joan Miró, Picasso, and Salvador Dalí. Having creative buildings like there was a way for Gaudi to gain more recognition within the arts community.
10. Gaudi Believed in a Spiritual World
Gaudi believed that everybody had a spiritual world and that he could enter it by design. Therefore, he created several symbols in La Sagrada Familia that represented his beliefs and artistic background.
If you are in Barcelona, Spain, for a week, then you should try Sagrada familia and other attractions. Dont forget to share your experience in the comment section.