What a Wonderful World (An #AtoZChallenge Post): L is for La Sagrada Familia

 

La Sagrada Familia (still unfinished) stands behind a pond in Barcelona, Spain

My husband recently re-retired, and we are front-loading travel. My #AtoZChallenge posts this year will explore our adventures--some pre-retirement, some post. Today's location: La Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona, Spain.

(Yes, I realize that using this for "L" is the same as using anything with the word "the" in front of it for "T," but I'm claiming writer's prerogative. Besides, La Sagrada Familia is really cool!)

We took a cruise that ended in Barcelona, Spain, and we had some time between disembarkation and needing to get to the airport, so we took a cab to go see La Sagrada Familia, the basilica that Antoni Gaudi poured his heart and soul into designing. (Fortunately we had read to buy tickets online ahead of time, as entrance at the door is not guaranteed without advance tickets.) Construction started in 1882 and, according to our guide, will be finished in eight more years.  We'll see. 

The two side entrances to the church have very different styles. The Nativity entrance has been described as looking like a melting wedding cake. The Passion entrance is very modern and angular. Apparently Gaudi said he wanted to start with the Nativity entrance because if he had started with the Passion entrance, it would have scared visitors away. 

The Nativity entrance is covered with various statues portraying events of Jesus' birth

The Passion entrance is much more stark in its style. It doesn't seem like it should belong to the same building. 

The Passion entrance has plain columns and minimal decoration. 

The figures that depict the crucifixion have blocky, modernist lines 

The inside of the church is equally surprising. The numerous columns that are supporting the roof are designed to look like trees. The "trunks" break off into "branches" as they approach the ceiling. Not only that, none of the columns are completely vertical, but instead are angled. 

The inside of La Sagrada Familia reminds one of walking into a grove of trees, with trunk-like columns that split into branches near the ceiling.

The stained glass windows are also unique in that they don't depict religious scenes, but rather they just fill the space with color. 

Light streams in through the mainly blue and green windows

I must admit that I don't quite understand the choice of how to display the statue of Jesus on the cross inside the church. At the risk of sounding sacrilegious (but meaning no disrespect), He appears to be hang-gliding. I assume that wasn't the intent, but it is a very unique feature. But then again, Gaudi's vision for the entire building was very unique, so it fits right in.

Christ on the cross hangs down from a canopy, surrounded by lights

There is a museum attached to the church that explains about the history of La Sagrada Familia. One of the fascinating features is the model that Gaudi used to figure out how to design the columns in the church. He basically designed it upside down by tying little bags of sand to loops of strings. Personally, I wouldn't know how to translate that to an actual building, but he definitely had a knack for design.

Gaudi's string and sand model is displayed in the museum

After visiting the museum, we had the chance to visit the Nativity tower. An elevator took us up, then we could walk down the spiral staircase. The views were definitely worth it!

Looking out from the Nativity Tower, we can see the detail of the facade (birds and plants), as well as a view of Barcelona and the pond in the park across from La Sagrada Familia

The spiral staircase also offered dizzying views, if you looked over the handrail. The circular staircase seems to go on forever in the photo below.

I didn't quite know what to expect from La Sagrada Familia, but it exceeded whatever preconceived notions I had. If you have a chance to visit, do. 

Come back tomorrow to see where in the world we'll visit next!