Rather in the same way that I left visiting the Sagrada Familia till my last day in Barcelona, I’ve resisted posting about it. I hoped against hope that I wouldn’t find it disappointing. My hotel, of the same name, was just around the corner, so I had walked past on numerous occasions. Not that it’s possible to just casually pass by the Sagrada Familia. Each time, I would stop and stare, fascinated. The stonemasons, seemingly oblivious to passers by, scaled the heights in flimsy cradles. But what would it feel like, inside? Would it be a venerable space, or simply a crazily imaginative work of art? I’ll let you decide.
Light cascades through the windows, from the ceiling down.
I don’t know if I was ever in a more beautiful space.
From the almost traditional
to the surreal.
From strong blues
through rainbow hues
to soft and rosy pale.
Sunlight shimmers off the pillars
and hides in corners.
Even now, just looking at the photos and writing about it, I feel quite emotional. Hard to explain the impact of this place. The altar, like nothing I had ever seen before. I was feeling reverence, while down below, in the parishioners church, a service was taking place.
A simple Christ
Then there was the tower to climb. Fortunately, the lift did most of the work.
But following the stairwell was a slightly surreal experience.
Looking out past the trussed up newer features
Were windows ever so strangely adorned?
And then the exterior, worked upon for so long. (Gaudi began in 1883!)
A window, barely visible for sculpture
And one exquisitely surrounded
What do they make of it all?
I hope I have managed to convey some of the beauty and artistry of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia. It’s fair to say, there is nowhere else like it. What an incredible man was Antoni Gaudi, “God’s Architect”. The current projection for completion is 2033.
This is my contribution to Dawn’s Lingering look at Windows this week. I wasn’t disappointed. I hope you weren’t either? Meantime, Debbie, over at Travel with Intent has asked if I would like to link this post to her challenge, Look up, Look down. So that’s a lot more folks to visit, isn’t it? Happy Thanksgiving, all!
restlessjo 
This is more than grand – I am in awe. Thank you for sharing with us.
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Truly breathtaking, isn’t it? Unbelievable the vision of this man. 🙂
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Fabulous photos Jo – I haven’t been inside for about 8 years and its come on a lot since then. I love your shots of the stained glass especially 🙂
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The space really speaks to you, Suze. I wasn’t prepared for the impact it had 🙂
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Lovely! It’s come on a lot since I was there about six years ago, you can see so much more detail now some of the scaffolding has been taken down.
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Thanks, Lucy 🙂 The inside really spoke to me. I loved it!
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God’s Architect, indeed! Great post, takes my breath away… Thank you, Jo!
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Thanks for your kind comment, Amy. 🙂 Stunning sunrise here this morning. Great start to another week.
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It’s been a few years since I visited Sagrada Familia and it looks to have come along a bit in the meantime!
Hmmm … that stairwell is pretty surreal!
I can’t think of another cathedral in the building phase – can you?
Great photos, Jo – you’ve really shown it off well.
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Thanks, Marianne. I really enjoyed putting this post together. It is the most amazing space and I really loved it. No, I don’t think it has an equivalent anywhere. 🙂
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Fantastic photos – here, Jo! I have never been inside the Sagrada Familia – because it hasn’t been ready and my last visit I didn’t know it was all done. Just wonderful beautiful the way they have finished it. So glad you did this post … because now I know how it looks inside. It has been under constructions for so many years.
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I did a virtual tour online before I went, Vivi, and I still wasn’t prepared for the reality. It has the most beautiful feeling and you don’t have to be religious to be swept away by it. This is one of those posts I just had to write. I’m glad you like it 🙂
Bedtime hug! 🙂 (I’m going in the bath with my book)
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Jo, it’s a stunning post and next time I go to Barcelona I will visit it. I think I have only visit 4 churches in total as a tourist, not really my thing – but this I want to see … just love the way they have finished it off.
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Thanks so much, Vivi. Stunning sunrise this morning! I’m writing with one eye on the window 🙂
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The first time we visited Sagrada Famila was in 1991. We come again and again to view the progress. I love this place.
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It’s astonishing isn’t it? Some friends who had been didn’t like it at all, and I simply couldn’t understand! I liked it more than I could ever have imagined 🙂
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I do. Gorgeous photos!
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Thank you 🙂
I’ve just got home and am too tired to do much catching up. Will visit tomorrow.
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Stunning photos, Jo. It’s so lovely to relive Sagrada Familia through your eyes. It is really a stunning, awe-inspiring space, isn’t it? And so spiritual with all that light streaming in through the lofty spaces. 🙂
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I found it very special, Cathy. Staying so near to it, I’d seen the exterior numerous times, but nothing prepared me for the inside. Thanks, hon 🙂
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You have conveyed the beauty of the Basilica, you captured the light perfectly. Antonio Gaudi’s art is fantastic he led the way with original architecture. Have you a post on any of his other work? Your photos are magic.
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Thank you so much, Jack. I have posts containing Casa Batllo and La Pedrera but not anything as comprehensive as this.
https://restlessjo.wordpress.com/2013/11/09/six-word-saturday-88/
https://restlessjo.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/looking-down-on-barcelona/
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See you in Barcelona I will be there with rour post.
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The interior is magnificent, I think I like it more than the exterior and I imagine it was almost impossible to not bump into other visitors because you would always be looking up and around. Wonderful photos Jo, definitely a sight I would love to see.
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Thanks, Sam. From the outside I was a little unsure, but inside the space just takes you over. Truly special! 🙂
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Fabulous photos Jo! I can imagine how you gawked every time you passed it….we did too 🙂 The interior looks more finished than when we were there!
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Hi Jo. You described this well…part traditional, part surreal. I am in awe and I can see the impact it can have on a visitor.Quite impressive.Love the humorous comment under the last picture. 🙂 (Thanks for wondering where I’ve been. Traveling, home improvement projects and a nasty bout of tendonitis in my “computer writing arm” have derailed me.) Take care. Lynne
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Many thanks, Lynne. Glad to hear from you 🙂 (I could have hunted on Ron’s for some hints, but don’t get there as often as I’d like. Pleased it’s nothing serious)
They do have a slightly bemused look though, the modern sculptures 🙂 Happy you enjoyed it.
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Very well composed post! You really gonna make your readers want to go there. I especially like the sculptures.
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Thanks a lot, Rommel 🙂 Looking at the post, I want to go back myself. It’s an amazing space!
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Your photos are breathtaking, Jo, and I feel lost for words. I would like to see this place for myself one day but in the meantime I’ve really enjoyed seeing it through your beautiful pictures, thank you.
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We just “crossed over” again, Lorna. I was writing in your comments 🙂
Ethereal, unworldly… I don’t know what the words are, but it was a wonderful experience, Lorna. Thanks for enjoying it with me 🙂
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I just saw your comment, thank you. 🙂 I could imagine you might be doubtful about sharing such an incredible place in case other people aren’t as impressed as you were on seeing it in person. However, no need to worry on that score, I can see from the other comments that I’m far from being the only one who was blown away by your pictures. I had to go back and look at those stained glass windows again – mesmerising!
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How gorgeous is your Old World. Sadly most of this type of work has been left out of America well save for the Churches who carry on the tradition of Stained Glass. It is why I have a workshop in my barn so someday I can make more beautiful pieces to hang in front of my ordinary ones 🙂
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I love all kinds of stained glass, Eunice- older styles and modern pieces too. 🙂
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🙂 I like doing mine in the Frank Lloyd Wright style 🙂
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Those are the most amazing photos Jo you have captured the spirit and beauty of this amazing building. I am so pleased to look inside with you. In 1989 when I was in Barcelona I could only gaze in awe at the outside and wish it was open to go inside.
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Hi Pomme 🙂 So nice to have your company! Thank you- it really is a special place.
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