rashbre central: La Sagrada Família

Wednesday 27 May 2015

La Sagrada Família

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It wouldn't be that difficult to get the impression that this little city break is really an excuse for a beachside break. The reality is we've been able to do some proper city browsing as well.

So here's a distant view of La Sagrada Família, rising ahead of us. A spectacular Antoni Gaudi work, started in 1882 and expected to be completed around 2026, the 100 year anniversary of Gaudi's death. As Gaudi commented, "My client is not in a hurry."
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The outside is filled with intricate forms, created by many artists to the original and adapted vision of Gaudi. This includes the Nativity facade, the Passion facade and the Glory facade, which was only started in 2002. There's supposed to be 18 spires, although currently only around 8 have been completed, the rest provided in a virtual sense by the ever-present tower cranes attending the construction.
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Inside provides one of the most stunning cathedrals anywhere in the world, with magical lighting from the coordination of the stained glass windows and the jewelled effects on the intertwined pillars.
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4 comments:

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

I hope you're having a great time! It's been a while since I've been to Barcelona.

rashbre said...

I've only visited before in busy work mode, so this time there's been chance to take more of a look around.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

GORGEOUS GORGEOUS Cathedral! Love these pictures, Ed....! Gaudi---such a Genius! WOW!!!!

rashbre said...

Hi Naomi, Thanks for the kind comments about the pictures.

I agree that Gaudi was a genius. Inside another of his buildings in Barcelona there is a set of exhibits which show some of his thought processes for design, with its reliance on organic structural architecture.

Personally I prefer this unfinished cathedral over the famous tourist spot of the main Barcelona Catholic Cathedral, which, to me, is a somewhat over-gilded lily.