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La Sagrada Familia Past And Future
a Sagrada Familia can be further into the sky, the
found in Barcelona, in building began to take on a much
Catalonia in Spain and is talked about fantastical shape
renowned as Antoni Gaudi’s and the now world famous four
masterpiece. spike shaped towers were crowned
with geometrically shaped tops
Although thought of as a that were most likely influenced
cathedral, it is in fact, a by the Cubist movement. The
basilica – the cathedral in complicated decorations covering
Barcelona is the Cathedral of the basilica are rooted firmly
Santa Eulalia. with Art Nouveau styles.
Gaudi was handed the project in Unfortunately, in 1926, before La
1884, but only after the founding Sagrada Familia could be
association and the original completed, Antoni Gaudi died. The
choice of architect Francesc del iconic towers were originally
Villar had irreconcilable intended to be three times higher
disagreements with those behind than they were. At this time, the
the project. Spanish Civil War broke out and
parts of the unfinished basilica
Gaudi went back to the drawing and Gaudi’s models and workshop
board and came back with a were destroyed. No plans were
completely new design. He worked left for the completion of the
on the project for more than 40 building and since then, work has
years and during the last 15 continued on it with a variety of
years of his life, he devoted his different architects, including
entire efforts to it. Francesc Quintana and Lluis Gari.
Famous sculptors such as J.
As the building began to take Busquets and the controversial
shape, and reach further and Josep Subirachs have work
decorating the facades.
There will be three grand facades
Work has continued on La Sagrada – the Nativity, the Passion and
Familia with the original plans the unfinished Glory façade. The
being reconstructed from Passion façade includes
historical notes and adapting it strikingly emaciated figures of
to modern times. Christ being whipped and
crucified and the doors on this
As Gaudi intended, every part of façade reproduce words from the
the basilica’s design is rich Bible in various languages,
with Christian symbolism. He including Catalan, and the Glory
wanted the church to be “the last façade is to be decorated with
great sanctuary of Christendom”. words from the Apostle’s Creed.
In all, there will be 18 of the
striking towers, representing in La Sagrada Familia was the most
ascending order of height, the 12 popular tourist attraction in the
Apostles, the four Evangelists, whole of Spain in 2004 with 2.26
the Virgin Mary, and tallest of million people visiting the
all – Jesus Christ. The four unfinished building.
Evangelists towers will be topped
with their traditional symbols, It is hoped that, with the advent
an angel, a bull an eagle and a of quicker building technology
lion – representing St Luke, St than in the 1900’s when La
Matthew, St Mark and St John Sagrada Familia was started, it
accordingly. The tallest tower will be finished in 2026 – the
will be surmounted by a huge centenary of Gaudi’s death.
cross.
About the Author:
Mike McDougall works for Babylon Idiomas, a Spanish language institute with schools in Spain [Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla], Argentina and Costa Rica. For more information visit http://www.babylon-idiomas.com
Read more articles by: Mike McDougall
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