| I'd like to go back before I die. The Sagrada Familia is | | | | Holy Family's flight to Egypt, the visit of the Magi, the |
| a Barcelona church designed by the great Spanish | | | | engagement of Mary and Joseph and a gruesome |
| architect Antoni Gaudi. He started building it in 1882 | | | | depiction of soldiers murdering all the baby boys in |
| and if things go as planned the structure will be | | | | Bethlehem. |
| complete in 2026. Gaudi was a very religious man. | | | | The back of the church has another set of |
| Building the church was so important to him, that | | | | sculptured scenes. These relate the story of the |
| later in his life he worked on it exclusively, and even | | | | crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Designed by a |
| moved onto the construction site and lived there. He | | | | more modern artist, but staying true to the plans laid |
| died in 1926 and is buried in a crypt in the church. | | | | out by Gaudi, these sculptures show Biblical events |
| Gaudi's other impressive architectural projects in | | | | like the soldiers casting lots for Jesus' robes, Jesus |
| Barcelona have become important tourist attractions | | | | being whipped and Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss. |
| but the Sagrada Familia is his masterpiece. | | | | A unique element on this side of the church is a huge |
| During the Spanish Civil War and the subsequent rule | | | | engraved grid with sixteen squares. Each square |
| of Franco not much work was done on the Sagrada | | | | contains a number. There are 321 ways to add four |
| Familia. In fact during that period Gaudi's workshop | | | | different numbers from these squares to make the |
| was burned. Luckily many of his blueprints for the | | | | sum of 33, the number of years Jesus lived. |
| cathedral were saved. Although the models he had | | | | Gaudi loved the created world and used designs from |
| built of the church were smashed, dedicated friends, | | | | nature in all his buildings. Some of the Sagrada |
| students and supporters painstainkingly pieced them | | | | Familia's towers look like honeycombs. The main |
| back together. | | | | sanctuary is supported with pillars patterned after the |
| One of the reasons it has taken so long to build the | | | | trunks of giant California redwood trees. Its ceiling is |
| church is Gaudi's insistence that no government | | | | sculpted to look like huge leaves. Natural light will filter |
| money be used to pay for it. The work is being | | | | in from above. Gaudi wanted people to feel like they |
| funded exclusively by donors. These donors include | | | | were sitting in the middle of the forest as they |
| the thousands of tourists from around the world | | | | worshipped. |
| who pay an entry fee to visit the church each year. | | | | I was fascinated by the Sagrada Familia and the |
| When complete the Sagrada Familia will have a main | | | | story of its creation. The building's architecture is so |
| sanctuary for worship and eighteen huge high towers. | | | | unique and has hundreds of intriguing features. You'd |
| Elevators can whisk you to the top of two of the | | | | need to spend days at the cathedral to discover |
| towers that are already completed for a breathtaking | | | | them all. I was only at the church for one afternoon |
| view of Barcelona. | | | | but I'd love to go back. In 2026 I'll be 72 years old. |
| The front of the church is decorated with more than | | | | Health and finances permitting I want to return to |
| a dozen scenes from the story of the Birth of Jesus | | | | Barcelona and see the Sagrada Familia in its finished |
| designed by Gaudi. Each tableau is made up of larger | | | | form, just as Gaudi planned it nearly 150 years ago. |
| than life sculptures. You can see a recreation of the | | | | Anybody want to come along? |