• Brief description: The Sagrada Familia, UNESCO World Heritage site, is Antoni Gaudí's largest work. An art nouveau cathedral inspired by forms in nature, the architectonic solutions are still shocking today. Construction on this magnificent Catholic church began in 1882, when Gaudí was just 31 years old. He would devote the rest of life to it, and for the last fifteen years before his death would work on nothing else. From the original project, only the blueprints and a plaster model badly damaged during the Spanish Civil War were preserved. In any case, the idea was clear: 12 towers in honor of the 12 Apostles, 4 taller towers representing the 4 Evangelists, an even taller side tower that would be the Virgin Mary and finally the great central tower of Jesus Christ. In total 18 towers.
• Status of the work: According to tradition, the work can only be subsidized by contributions from the people of Barcelona. This slowed down the works. When Gaudí died in 1926, only a tower had been built. 80 years later only 7 others had been built. However, due to the progress in the construction technique, in the last decade everything has accelerated so that now the 4 towers of the Evangelists are being crowned with sculptures of the four animals that represent them, the Star that illuminates from the top of the tower of the Virgen already lights up on some special nights (it is incomprehensible that it is not always lit) and now all that remains is to complete the central dome tower representing Jesus Christ (right now half of it would be built) and also four minor towers.
• Completion of the work: it is expected to completely finish the Sagrada Familia in 2026 with the 100th anniversary of Gaudí's death. However, there is still open controversy because the project included a large staircase with a large lake where the entire work would be reflected and, for both things, it would be necessary to demolish several residential buildings. The City Council already has the land to build new apartments for the people who would have to be evicted and has the budget to do so, but you can imagine the resistance of those who now live there (although they all acquired their property knowing that one day this moment would come).
• Video of finished work: here you can see a video recreating what the Sagrada Familia will look like once finished. It was built 8 years ago, so the towers that already exist today appear as planned, but it is still the best there is to see how the work is being built.
• Cost: 26€ (30€ including guide). You must buy the tickets online, at least 2 weeks before travelling to Barcelona. They are always sold out. You'll have to choose the entrance date and time, but it is worth it. If you want to take an elevator to the top of one of the towers, you will have to pay an additional 10€ (any of the towers is equally beautiful). This is nice but not essential.
• Length of visit: 1hr 30min.
• Hours: October to March from 9.00 to 18.00. April to September from 9.00 to 20.00.
• How to get there: metro Sagrada Familia (lines 2 and 5).