Barcelona part1: La Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia probably is the most stunning piece of Spanish architecture.

Though construction of Sagrada Família had commenced in 1882, Gaudí became involved in 1883, taking over the project and transforming it with his architectural and engineering style—combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms.

Gaudí devoted his last years to the project, and at the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Sagrada Família’s construction progressed slowly, as it relied on private donations and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War—only to resume intermittent progress in the 1950s. Construction passed the midpoint in 2010 with some of the project’s greatest challenges remaining and an anticipated completion date of 2026—the centennial of Gaudí’s death.

In the Sagrada Familia building the architect evokes nature as well as Biblical scenes.

Sagrada Familia uses caricatures in stone to portray the story of Christianity but its flamboyance has made it a symbol for the city as a whole.

Interior

via: wikipedia