The construction of the Sagrada Familia

In the heart of Catalonia's most vibrant district, where ornate facades rise above bustling streets, stands a basilica that has been under construction for over 140 years. The Sagrada Familia is an enormous Catholic church that began as a modest idea in 1882. A bookseller named Josep Maria Bocabella wanted to build a simple neo Gothic temple.

Architect Francisco de Paula del Villar started the project, but disagreements led to his resignation after just one year. In 1883, a young architect named Antoni Gaudí took over. He was only 31 years old. Gaudí completely reimagined the design, blending Gothic elements with natural forms inspired by trees, bones, and flowing water. He devoted the next 43 years of his life to this single project, often sleeping on site to oversee every detail. When Gaudí died in 1926 after being struck by a tram, only one quarter of the basilica was finished.

Ten years later, the Spanish Civil War brought disaster. Revolutionaries set fire to his workshop, destroying most of the original plans and plaster models. Architects spent decades reconstructing his vision from fragments and old photographs. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the basilica as a place of worship. Construction continues with a target completion date of 2026, exactly 100 years after Gaudí's death.