A 137 Year Old Incomplete Church in Barcelona That Will Steal Your Heart

La Sagrada Familia temple is one of the best tourist attractions in Barcelona. It’s an incredible but unfinished church designed by Antoni Gaudi in 1882. Now, you must be wondering what’s so special about this church that I’m writing an entire blog post solely devoted to this attraction. Have patience, my dear readers. This article is written with the intention of making you aware of its uniqueness and significance, so keep reading.

 

All About La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is no ordinary cathedral. Apart from being the most visited attraction in Spain, it is also rated by Tripadvisor users across the globe as one of the top attractions in the world.

History

The construction of this iconic site began in 1882. The design of this church was prepared by the renowned architect Antoni Gaudi. The work for the construction started, but Gaudi lost his life in 1926 after being hit by a tram. When he died, the work on nativity façade was going on. It is said that the architect knew that he would not live to see his work come to life and had once remarked, ‘My client is not in a hurry.’ His words “my client” refer to God.

In 2012, the interior of the church was opened to the public. If you’re planning a visit, try to go in the morning or afternoon to see the spectacular sight of natural light being reflected through the windows.

It might surprise you that even after all these years, the church remains unfinished. It is under construction till this date. Only the 75% construction of the original design has been completed. The building is to be completed by 2026 to honor Antoni Gaudi. The year 2026 will mark the 100th anniversary of the chief architect’s death in 1926. 144 years would have passed in 2026 from the time when the first foundation stone of the church was laid in 1882.

Pro Tip

• The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is visited by almost 3 million visitors per year. Also, it is advised that you pre-buy your tickets to avoid standing in a long queue.
• Remember to cover your shoulders as you might be denied entry for breaking the dress code.

How to reach?

Get on a hop-on-hop-off bus or take a metro to the Sagrada Familia station.

Ticket Cost

You can explore it for free from the outside. However, if you wish to see the interiors, the price of the ticket starts from  €15. You can check the costs for all kinds of tickets here.

How much time do you need to visit the monument?

You need approximately two hours to see it properly. However, it also depends on which ticket you have. If you choose to see it for free from the outside, then it will only take around 15-30  minutes to walk around and admire the historical monument.

When is it open?

November – February:  9 am to 6 pm

March – October: 9 am to 7 pm

April – September: 9 am to 8 pm

25th & 26th December, 1st & 6th January:  9 am to 2 pm