La Sagrada Família, Barcelona

Gaudí’s masterpiece, La Sagrada Família, or the ‘Temple of the Holy Family,’ is one of the most iconic basilicas on the planet, and a must for any visitor to Barcelona, Spain. The basilica is easily identifiable by its towering pinnacles and its limestone like appearance. Plus it soars higher than any of the buildings in the surrounding area. It’s thethird tallest building in the entire city, and work is still ongoing.

Initial construction on the basilica began in 1882 and clipped along at a fairly steady pace, but then things like the Spanish Civil War and a variety of economic downturns slowed construction down. These days, with the advent of modern building materials not available in Gaudí’s time (a source of some controversy for the purists), work on La Sagrada Família is moving on at a brisk tempo. The central, and very impressive nave is now open for visitors to see. It had been closed off from the public’s eye for many years.

There are three main façades to the basilica, each with its own religious symbolism, which address the topics of faith, hope and love. On the west side of the building, you’ll spy the Passion Façade, on the easy side you’ll spot the Nativity Façade, and to the south you’ll come across the Glory Façade.

The first façade to be completed, and one of the most elaborate, was the Nativity Façade. The sculpture and artworks above this eastern entrance depict the birth of Jesus Christ and the adoration of Jesus by the Shepherds and the Magi. The Nativity Façade also boasts the ‘Tree of Life,’ far above the Nativity scenes below. The Tree of Life depicts a Cypress tree with a pelican at the base, and a dove at the top, symbolizing the Holy Spirit.

After you buy a ticket to La Sagrada Família, you’ll be free to wander around the enormous interior, and if you’ve paid for some of the extra options, you can ride one of two elevators up to the top of one of the main towers. But be warned, there are some additional stairs you’ll have to climb in order to gain the best views. If you’re afraid of heights or subject to vertigo, best keep you feet planted firmly on the ground. You’ll even have to cross over a few carved buttresses, but the thrill of being up so high and the sweepings views are definitely worth it.

Once you’ve finished with the interior of the basilica, you can check out the museum dedicated to Gaudí and the work that went into (and continues to go into) the construction of La Sagrada Família, plus you’ll be able see some of the actual workshops still being used to complete this mighty basilica.