Sagrada Familia infographic
The planes that fly over the city of Barcelona at night have new warning locations that increase over the weeks. Are the red light dots that warn of higher crane positions who are in charge of erecting the new towers of the sacred Family . Six towers advancing on their way to heaven, the most visible current progress in the construction of the temple, which already has the 75% of its totality completed . And while some 15,000 people visit its interior daily , East World Heritage is still being built.
Upon entering the basilica, visitors experience the surprise of discovering themselves at the foot of an immense forest of white trees . Nature reigns in the work of Gaudi . Impressive to get carried away perspectives, space, light that crosses the colored stained glass windows and draws a more or less warm atmosphere, but always welcoming at every moment of the day.
The Sagrada Familia or the almost impossible dream of Gaudí
From the Nativity façade to the Passion façade , depending on the tonalities that they take out the sun's rays passing through the stained glass window , the space is dyed in one shade or another. We completely forget that we are in the center of a work still under construction . While walking through this main nave, of 4,500 m2, ascending the towers by elevator, or visiting the museum, architects, quantity surveyors, carpenters, stonecutters, model makers, sculptors, blacksmiths and other craftsmen continue to shape the work whose completion has already started its countdown.
Year 2026 It is the date announced to conclude the architectural structure of the entire temple. will match the centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí , who died on June 10, 1926 in the old Santa Creu hospital in Barcelona, three days after being hit by a tram in the city center . The remains of the artist rest today in the crypt of the Sagrada Familia , where you can pay respects at his grave.
The six towers that now stand – they are already over 100 meters tall – plus the Glòria facade in Mallorca street and four towers more than will complete the set of 18 that will have the temple at the end, will be finished in seven years. Then the ornaments of the facade of the Glòria will be missing , with more than 100 figures in that stone bible What Gaudí dreamed of For the execution of all that final ornamentation, the process has already begun. artist selection process . Advise the patronage for it “an artistic and a theological commission” , according to the delegate president of the Construction Board of the Expiatory Church of the Sagrada Familia, Esteve Camps.
Light is everything inside the Sagrada Familia
For now, it continues in the central towers. Four winged figures will crown those of the evangelists , an angel for Matthew, a lion for Mark, an ox for Luke, and an eagle for John. “ They will measure 135 meters and are expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2021 . The tower of María, which will rise 138 meters, is scheduled to be completed by the end of that same year”, explains the coordinating architect and director of the works of the Sagrada Familia, Jordi Fauli . "The tallest tower, representation of Jesus, will crown the temple . A cross will also be placed on it, which will place the ceiling of Gaudí's work at a height of 172.5 metres”, adds Faulí.
And all this is generated in silence, at the expense of the thousands of tourists who, inside and outside the church, come to admire the creation of the prodigious Gaudí. The Sagrada Familia is the most visited monument in Barcelona . In 2018 he received 4,029,410 people , mostly from Italy, USA, Korea, Germany and China.
"We work without disturbing anyone, or noise, or truck traffic, and with all the security measures precise to avoid any accident that could affect both visitors inside and the 20,000 people who can gather outside every day”, he assures Albert Portolés, head of the models department, 3D workshop and printing.
Through his hands and those of his team spends all the finished work in scale model before being executed in real size . In a certain area of the museum you can see how do you work in your workshop and carefully observe the models in sight.
In recent years, technology has allowed a much more evident progress of the work. All is carefully calculated by architects and modellers , including the tools, scaffolding and cranes necessary to carry out the placement of real-size pieces with all safety guarantees. And it is in the municipality of Gaià , one hour from Barcelona, where the huge stone blocks who are completing the construction. The perfect fit is thus ensured by completing each fragment at ground level, thus saving the risk of having to do it on heights, for which only the final placement is reserved.
The idea of building a temple dedicated to the Holy Family came from the owner of a Catalan printing press, bookseller and philanthropist Josep Maria Bocabella, in 1875 . He had founded the Saint Joseph Devotees Association and, after consolidating his company with half a million members, he acquired the site to build the work. The year was 1881, but it was not until on March 19, 1882 that the first stone was laid , with Francesc de Paula del Villar as chief architect . A year later, Antoni Gaudí was commissioned to take care of the works and the genius rethought the original project. He made it big. polyhedrically universal.
The Holy Family: polyhedrically universal
*This report was published in the number 136 of the Condé Nast Traveler Magazine (January) . Subscribe to the printed edition (11 printed issues and a digital version for €24.75, by calling 902 53 55 57 or from our website). The Condé Nast Traveler January issue is available in ** its digital version to enjoy it on your preferred device. **