Tour to Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia is an incredible basilica and the most popular tourist attraction in Barcelona. It attracts more than 3 Million travelers every year from different parts of the world.
Cathedral is still under construction since 1882 and is expected to be complete in 2026. At the time of Gaudi’s death it was only completed 15 to 25% at that time and today it is 65 to 70% completed.
General Information
You should wear appropriate and decent clothes. It’s a basilica so you should pay respect towards basilica and avoid wearing shorts, mini skirts or inappropriate clothes.
When to visit Sagrada?
Early morning or late evening is the ideal time to visit Sagrada Familia during summers. It is the most visited place in Barcelona so we will recommend you to Book your Sagrada familia Tickets in advance and avoid standing in lines.
How to get in?
A ticket is needed for accessing Sagrada Familia. Book tickets from nearby ticket store or from online websites.
During season time long queues extend up to 3 hours so it’s better to bring water and other necessary things with you.
Skip the line Tickets — Booking Skip the line Tickets will help you to enter straight into Basilica and you don’t have to wait for hours by standing in long queues.
Guided Tour — Explore the Sagrada Familia and Gaudi work with the help of an expert guide. Book Sagrada Familia Guided Tour and make your Sagrada Visit a valuable one.
Audio Guide — An Audio Guide is also available in multilanguage which last up to 45 minutes. It is the best available option for those who want to explore this basilica at their own pace.
Group Tour — Group Tour consists of 20 to 25 people including tickets with an Expert Guide. You have to book tour in advance via the online website.
What to see?
Basilica has 3 different facades
Nativity Façade — It is dedicated to the birth of Jesus Christ and was the first façade to be completed in 1935. This facade is highly decorated with nature scenes and element related to the creation of life. Facade faces towards the North East (rising sun) which signifies the birth of Christ and is divided into three porticos representing theological virtue — Hope, Faith and charity.
Passion Façade — This facade represents the passion of Jesus Christ and it tells the suffering of Christ during his crucifixion. It also represents the sins of the man. Passion Facade is facing towards the West (setting sun) which indicates the death of Jesus Christ.
Glory Façade — It represents the celestial joy of Jesus Christ and it is the largest among all three facades.
Moving inside Sagrada Familia
Gaudi love playing with colors and lights and you can experience it in the interior of this basilica. His love for nature is also seen by maintaining the balance between sea and earth in his art by showing turtle in one of the pillar and tortoise in an adjacent pillar.
Five Naves
The church layout was designed in the shape of a Latin cross with enormous dimensions. Side naves are of 7.5 meters wide and the main nave is of 15 meters. Nave in central is of 45 meter high and side aisles are of 30 meter high.
Vault and Pillar System
Decorated with a groove, vertically and inclined pillars make the impression that material joining the pillars has been stretched. Columns inside basilica are made from a different hard material like hard volcanic rock, basalt, red porphyry, granite and some soft rock from Montjuic Hill of Barcelona.
Organ
In 2010, Blancafort Orgueners de Montserrat organ builders have installed the organ in the chancel.
Some Facts about Sagrada Familia
Initially, Sagrada project was assigned to Francisco Del Vilar but due to some project disagreement, he left the site and then the project was assigned to Antoni Gaudi.
According to Gaudi, there is nothing straight in nature and it is the reason for not using straight lines in any of his design and architecture. As a result, you will see swirling curves and natural shapes not only in Sagrada Familia but also in Park Guell, La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.
Sagrada Familia is expected to finish its construction in 2026 but according to some experts, it may go to 2040.
