La Sagrada Familia - Cataluña, España

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 The Sagrada Familia (Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family) is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia. It was designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) and although it remains unfinished, it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gaudí worked on the church for forty years until his death in 1926 and work on it has continued, on and off, ever since.

 

La Sagrada Familia is considered to be Gaudí's masterpiece, and has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Barcelona. However, the continued contruction of the building has often been surrounded by controversy as some feel that Guadí's ordinal designs have been misinterpreted by present day architects. There is certainly an obvious difference in construction style between the old and new parts of the church and there is also a contrast in stone colour between the front and back of the building.

 

There are three mains facades: the Glory facade, the Nativity facade and the Passion. Currently, work is ongoing on the 'Glory facade', and most of it is hidden under scaffolding and tarpaulins. However, it is planned to be the largest and most monumental of the three and will represent man's path to God: Death, Final Judgement and Glory. It will also depict scenes such as Hell and Purgatory and will include elements such as the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Heavenly Virtues. The eastern-most 'Nativity facade', which was completed in Gaudí's time, is heavy and neo-gothic. It also bears the most direct influence of Gaudí, with ornate and highly decorative sculptures and scenes and images taken from nature. The Passion facade, despite being much more plain and simple than the Nativity facade, is almost equally striking thanks to the tormented and gaunt characters it features. Controversial designs like the emaciated figure of Christ on the crucifix are the work of Josep Maria Subirachs. Gaudí intended for this facade to strike fear into the onlooker and to emphasize the severity and brutality of Christ's crucifixion.

 

In November 2010, The Sagrada Familia was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI and proclaimed a minor basilica.