By Siena Duncan
Whether seen from the foothills of the mountains or right up close, the Sagrada Familia is a formidable presence. It’s often first on the list for any tourist, the crown jewel of Barcelona.
Traditional Gothic spires meet nature inspired décor, images of the crucifixion framed by fruit baskets topping columns and massive doors carved with holy phrases in a hundred different languages.
All of this and more is what makes the basilica unique. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, often referred to as Barcelona’s patron architect, the quirks and organic feel to the design are a key part of his artistic style.
Located in the center of the Eixample district, entering the basilica can cost from €26 to €36, depending on whether you want to climb one of the towers or not.
But beyond looking at the pretty stained glass, this work of art also has a rich, complex history behind it.
THE EARLY DAYS
The idea for a basilica in Barcelona began in 1866, when devotees of Saint Joseph decided to build a church dedicated to him. Construction began in 1882 on March 19, the day of the feast of Saint Joseph.
Early photographs show a very different Barcelona. The space designated for Sagrada Familia was wide open. There were no restaurants, no six story apartment buildings.
Eventually, the area would fill in as the population grew, but at the time the construction was near the outskirts of town.
Gaudi actually did not start as the original architect. A man named Don Fransisco was the first choice. He drew out the original Neo-Gothic design, but he left after a year due to disagreements with Joan Martorell, who was on the advising board for the project.
Matrorell just so happened to be Gaudi’s mentor and professor. He was offered the job, but instead recommended his pupil. So Gaudi became the architect through happenstance.
The crypt was finished in 1885, and the neighborhoods began to hold mass there as the rest of the church was being built up around them.
THE BIRTH OF A FACADE
The next part to be constructed was the nativity facade. This was where Gaudi’s true style began to shine through. Elements of nature and Christ’s birth collided in a vibrant display of many symbols and statues.
Work began in 1893, and began to move very quickly. Just three years after beginning, the facade was nearly 30 feet tall, with columns in place for the three entrances, or ‘portals.’
Look closely at the nativity facade doors, and you can find insects of all kinds, symbolizing Gaudi's dedication to depicting nature as a holy thing.
Most believe this was due to a large anonymous donation made to the project that equated to almost €170,000 today.
From there, the work flew by. By 1905, the first sculptural scenes and the decorations for the rosary were nearly complete.
However, money began to run out. The work started to stall. In response, Gaudi decided to drop all of his other projects and solely focus on the basilica.
Gaudi got to see the first bell tower unveiled in 1925. However, just a year later, the architect would be killed in a car accident.
His close friend and right hand man, Domenec Sugranyes, took over as head architect. He dedicated all his efforts on the Sagrada Familia to replicating his friend’s vision as closely as possible.
The nativity facade would be nearly complete in 1939, nearly 50 years after the work began-- but everything to do with the basilica was abruptly put on hold when the Spanish Civil War began in 1936.
The war saw major losses for the basilica. Over the course of a few years, many key plaster models crafted by Gaudi himself were destroyed.
Plans and photographs were burned, and the building itself was vandalized. A group of anarchists broke into the crypt, where Gaudi was buried at the time, and set it ablaze.
These actions significantly stalled any progress. No work happened for a period of nearly three years during a time of national turmoil.
As Spain fell under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, architects rushed back to the basilica, eager to begin again. Luckily, after some restoration efforts, some old plans were rediscovered that allowed them to complete the nativity facade in 1958.
There was a celebration held, once again, on the feast of Saint Joseph, where crowds gathered to watch the architects place the final sculpture of Joseph, Mary and Jesus on the facade.
MODERN WORK
The foundations were laid for the passion facade in the 1950s, but the work, unlike the nativity facade, would change hands and be shared among many different architects.
During the beginning, many of them had known Gaudi personally.
Gaudi’s original vision still remains, but artists have given their own twists on their depictions of various symbols and scenes.
The sculptural scenes depicted on the passion facade come from architect Josep Maria Subirachs. He did his work in the 1980s and 1990s, after a firm base for the facade had been built.
He opted to do each scene chronologically, working from left to right. He actually lived at the basilica while he was working there, similar to Gaudi.
His work was widely criticized by the locals when it soon became clear how sharp and modern his sculpting was, compared to the nativity facade with its soft and realistic scenes.
However, they weren’t aware that Gaudi had actually specified that he wanted the other side of the basilica to be completely different than the nativity.
There are distinct differences in the architectural styles between the nativity facade (right) and the passion facade (left).
He wrote that he wanted it to be all “sharp, extremely simple geometrical shapes” to reflect the “desolation, the suspension of life” that came with the crucifixion of Christ.
His work was completed in 2005.
Now, work on the towers continues, with the most recent completion being the tower of the Virgin Mary, topped with a star that was raised in 2021 that lights up at night. When it’s finished, it will have 18 towers all dedicated to Biblical figures: the 12 apostles, the four evangelists, Mary and finally, Christ.
Christ’s tower, in its completion, will be nearly 600 feet tall. That will make the Sagrada Familia the largest church building in the entire world.
This historical landmark is considered Gaudi’s crowning achievement-- but it also represents the work of many different architects, combining five different architectural styles to form a completely unique masterpiece.
Even now, 130 years of effort later when it only stands half finished, it draws crowds from around the world.
Commentaires