Final Day Wandering the Streets of Barcelona

Tomorrow we head to our hotel room at the airport and ready for the long journey back to Colorado. It’s been a great trip, went by pretty fast, but we’re ready to get back home and the wonderful, warm Colorado weather.

Before closing on this adventure, there’s one more day to roam the streets and see a few new things. First stop, Basilica De La Sagrada Familia, one of Barcelona’s most recognizable sites. Started in 1866 when the first stone was laid for the crypt under the guidance of architect Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano. His plans followed a typical Neo-Gothic design for the cathedral but after a short while, disagreements on the design became too much for Francisco and he resigned, somewhere around 1883. Enter Antoni Gaudi.

Antoni Gaudi, born in Catalan in 1852, is best known for his mix of architectural style that was inspired by natural forms. As a “Modernist”, Gaudi integrated ceramic, stained glass, wrought iron and a technique called, ‘trencadis’ or broken tile mosaics, in his architectural designs. Rarely did he sketch his designs, instead preferring to cast them or carve them as he went along. Imagine how difficult that must have been for the builders of this cathedral! (See pictures below)

Imagine casting this from a model

One of the many biblical scenes at the entrance

Sagrada Familia seen from the park

Gaudi’s design abandoned the Gothic style and instead focused on building a more immense, symbolic structure that would have a large Latin cross floor, and a facade with soaring towers, towers that today are 138 meters (453ft) tall.

Although work on the basilica has continued non-stop since 1866, Gaudi’s personal attention to the project ended abruptly in 1926 when he died from injuries received in a tram accident. Gaudi’s body was buried in the chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the crypt of the cathedral. Since his passing, numerous architects, draftsmen, sculptors and modelers have worked on the project maintaining Gaudi’s original style.  As of 2017, the basilica was said to be 70% complete.

Done with Sagrada Familia, now on to La Boqueria market.

Unlike most cathedrals, Gaudi’s design for stained glass was not to depict biblical scenes. Instead it was used for color and dramatic highlight.

The right-side transept