Sagrada Familia

Sunday afternoon was a day of sight seeing. We went to this amazing curch called Sagrada Familia. Designed by Gaudi.

"La sagrada familia började byggas 1882 men är fortfarande långt ifrån klar. Bland annat återstår byggandet av det centrala kyrktornet (170 meter högt). Det finns idag (2010) planer på att färdigställa kyrkan till år 2026, till 100-årsminnet av Gaudís död, men tidsplanen är omdiskuterad. Gaudí själv var av åsikten att byggandet skulle pågå under flera hundra år (inte helt olikt många gotiska katedraler). Basilikan besöks av flera miljoner turister varje år, vilket gör den till en av Spaniens främsta sevärdheter. Inträdesavgifterna (18 miljoner euro år 2009) är idag de enda medel som bekostar det fortsatta bygget av La sagrada familia, som ägs av en privat stiftelse." (Wikepidia)

"The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is a work on a grand scale which was begun on 19 March 1882 from a project by the diocesan architect Francisco de Paula del Villar (1828-1901). At the end of 1883 Gaudí was commissioned to carry on the works, a task which he did not abandon until his death in 1926. Since then different architects have continued the work after his original idea.

The building is in the centre of Barcelona, and over the years it has become one of the most universal signs of identity of the city and the country. It is visited by millions of people every year and many more study its architectural and religious content.

It has always been an expiatory church, which means that since the outset, 125 years ago now, it has been built from donations. Gaudí himself said: "The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is made by the people and is mirrored in them. It is a work that is in the hands of God and the will of the people." The building is still going on and could be finished some time in the first third of the 21st century. " (www.sagradafamilia.com)


Over and out