Barcelona Sagrada Familia

About the Sagrada Familia

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, known for its unique architecture including the iconic Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudí. The city combines Mediterranean charm with innovative design, making it a cultural and architectural treasure.

Construction of the expiatory temple began on 19 March 1882 under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, and Antoni Gaudí took charge in 1883, reshaping the project until his death on 10 June 1926, days after being struck by a tram. Because it was financed by donations and left unfinished, the building grew alongside the city itself across the twentieth century, surviving disruption during the Civil War, when Gaudí's workshop models were damaged. UNESCO inscribed the Nativity façade and crypt in 2005, and Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church as a minor basilica in November 2010. Today it draws millions of visitors annually, remains under construction, and serves Barcelona as shorthand for Gaudí's work and the city's Modernista period.