Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1. Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia, known officially as the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada FamÃlia, is
an impressively large Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona. Despite being rated as one
UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, construction on the basilica has yet to be completed. Con-
struction began in 1882, is estimated to be finally completed in 2036. What first began as
an expression of the revolutionary changes the city was undergoing, and conceived by Josep
Bocabella, the church has changed architects and styles through the years.
The first architect to work on the structure was Francisco de Paula del Villar, who had ideas
for a neo-gothic-styled church that was simple in design and stature. Subsequent disagree-
ments between Bocabella and Villar led to Antoni Gaudi, a renowned art nouveau architect,
being hired on to continue construction on the building. Gaudi's takeover of the project led
to a complete change in design, and become more of a personal expression of Gaudi's faith
and his strong nationalist feelings.
