Sagrada Familia: Tickets

Sagrada Familia Tickets and Information

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• ‍Sagrada Familia Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 401, Barcelona, 08013 / Carrer de la Marina, Barcelona.
• ‍Sagrada Familia Summer Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 09:00 - 20:00 & Sundays: 10:30 - 20:00.

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Is The Sagrada Familia Worth Visiting

• As Spain's number one tourist attraction in Spain, with around 20,000,000 people visiting Barcelona each year to see if from the outside alone and around 4,500,000 purchasing tickets to enjoy the inside, we definitely think its worth visiting, yes!

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What  You See At The Sagrada Familia‍

• Inside the Sagrada Familia basilica
• Access to the museum
• Option to access a Tower

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About The Sagrada Familia

The Sagrada Familia is one of Barcelona's most famous landmarks and is the most popular tourist attraction in the country. An estimated 20 million people visit the area each year just to view it from the outside, with over 4 million buying tickets to enjoy the inside.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site even though it isn't even complete yet and an architectural masterpiece that was designed by the late Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, whic captivates those that see it.

‍The full title of the Sagrada Familia is "The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família." It's a Roman Catholic Church that was consecrated as a minor basilica on November 7, 2010, by Pope Benedict XVI. In the Eixample district of Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia became the passion project of Gaudi, who was one of the most celebrated architects of the 20th century. After completing another of Barcelona's popular attractions, Casa Milà (La Pedrera) in 1912, Gaudi devoted himself entirely to the Sagrada Familia project. He didn't start the project but was brought in later and it ended up transforming into his life’s work.

Sagrada Familia Completion Date

• It was due to be completed in 2026 but sadly due to delays caused by COVID-19, and now suggested funding issues, the completion date has been delayed.

Sagrada Familia Fun Facts

• Construction on the Sagrada Familia started in 1882, so its already been in development for over a century.
• The church will have 18 towers when complete and the tallest one will be 170 metres tall and will be dedicated to Jesus Christ.
• The Sagrada Familia has been listed by UNESCO since 2005.
• The church has more than 1500 pieces of stained glass which help to flood the inside with incredible light.
• When complete its tallest spire will sit just below the height of Montjuïc hill, which Gaudi did on purpose!

‍The Interior

Light and Colour

‍The Sagrada Familia has a calming feeling. The light and colour dance through the beautiful stained glass windows. Maybe its because you know its a religious building, but the interplay does create a peaceful ambiance and this is despite of the thousands of people that visit the church on a daily basis. The grand columns capture your attention as they branch out like trees and support the roof, which reflect Gaudi’s love for nature.

Stained Glass Windows

‍The stained glass windows of the Sagrada Familia are nothing short of magnificent. They cast colourful shades across the interior which creates patterns of light and shadows that shift with the sun’s movement throughout the day. People just sit and spend hours just watching the light show. Gaudi’s famous quote, “Glory is light, light gives joy, joy is the happiness of the spirit,” is brought to life here.

Naves

‍The Sagrada Familia has five naves. The central one is the biggest and is supported by the tree-like columns. The columns also play a crucial role in the ever-changing light and shadows in the church as the light its them and they cast shadows.

‍The Apse, Altar, and Crypt

‍Antoni Gaudi himself was laid to rest in the crypt on June 12, 1926. The crypt is near the apse under a grand sculpture of Jesus Christ with stained glass windows above that flood the area with light during the day. Gaudi’s devotion to the Virgin Mary inspired the design of the apse, which incorporates the seven sorrows and joys of Saint Joseph.

The Sagrada Familia Museum

‍The museum which is dedicated to Gaudi’s life and works is under the Sagrada Familia and tickets also includes access to it. The museum features exhibits on Gaudi’s creative process, original furniture, drawings, photographs, and models related to the construction of the Sagrada Familia. The museum offers a deeper understanding of Gaudi’s genius along with the history of the monumental project.

Architecture and Exterior

‍The Sagrada Familia’s architecture is a blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau elements. It will have three distinct façades upon completion:

• ‍The Nativity Façade: Celebrating Life - The Nativity Façade is on the eastern side of the church and is the oldest. It depicts the birth of Jesus Christ and related events through intricate sculptures of animals, nature, and biblical scenes. Gaudi wanted this façade to celebrate the beauty of life.
• ‍The Passion Façade: Suffering and Resurrection - The Passion Façade is on the western side of the church and symbolises the suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was completed in the summer of 2017. Its sculptures were crafted by Josep Maria Subirachs, and add to the façade's poignant narrative. He lived at the temple whilst creating the sculptures to fully immerse himself in the project’s atmosphere, something that Gaudi would have loved as it aligned with his own passion.
• ‍The Glory Façade: A Vision of Judgment - The Glory Façade is on the southern side of the church but is still under construction. When it's complete it will be the main entrance to the Sagrada Familia. The façade represents the final judgment and includes themes of heaven and hell and symbolises the journey through life and the ultimate reward or punishment. It is expected to feature both angels and demons, which will capture the essence of both realms, heaven and hell.

The Sagrada Familia Towers

• The Sagrada Familia will have 18 towers when complete, with each represent somebody.
• ‍6 of the towers are dedicated to Jesus, Mary and the 4 Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
• ‍12 of the towers will represent the Apostles.
• ‍The Tower of Jesus Christ will be the tallest tower. The tower will stand at 172 meters and will be one of the tallest constructions in Barcelona, almost the same height as Montjuïc Hill, which was an intentional design by Gaudi.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

• The Sagrada Familia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - as part of the "Works of Gaudi", which also includes other Gaudi properties in Barcelona (Casa Batlló, Casa Milà - La Pedrera & Park Güell amongst others). The Nativity façade and the crypt are specifically mentioned and listed by UNESCO in November 2010.

The Initial Idea of the Sagrada Familia

A man by the name of Josep Maria Bocabella had the original idea for the Sagrada Familia. He was a local bookshop owner and envisioned creating an expiatory temple dedicated to the Holy Family.

He initially commissioned an architect (not Antoni Gaudi at this stage), to design the church, and construction started in 1882. However, disagreements followed regarding the design and it was at this point that Antoni Gaudi became involved in the project (and eventually took over).

Gaudi was still working on other local commissions at the time which included Casa Mila - La Pedrera. As a religious man, Gaudi's vision for the Sagrada Familia was to build a church that represented the three stages of Jesus' life: The Nativity, The Passion, and The Glory. The stages were to be depicted in the three façades of the church.

Gaudi's designs often incorporated elements of nature, along with stained glass, sculptures, and various other features. He would use the elements to tell the story of Jesus' life and other biblical events through time.

Gaudi also realised the Sagrada Familia would not be completed during his lifetime, so he focused on the exterior, believing that if the outside was completed, future generations would be more likely to continue the work and complete the project.

Gaudi ended up dedicating over 40 years of his life to the Sagrada Familia until his death in 1926, when he was struck by a tram on his way to mass. Since then, a succession of architects has continued his work.

The Sagrada Familia has faced numerous challenges over the years including being damaged by an arson attack during the Spanish Civil War, which caused construction to halt. Work finally resumed in 1954. Then the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 also temporarily forced construction to stop. Despite these setbacks, the project continues, with Gaudi's vision still guiding its completion.

See All Sagrada Familia Ticket Options

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