Sagrada Familia.
(The Sacred Family)
Sagrada Familia was built by Antonio Gaudi - started at just the early age of 31 or so. The foundation of this church was started by another architect, who would leave it just one year of working.
Gaudi never had straight lines in any of his work because he felt that nature didn't have straight lines, and his work was a work of God that should honor how God made nature. Therefore, the church he built looks almost like it's dripping.
You have to have two things in order to get a church built/started - approval of the city council - which they gave readily to Gaudi, and approval of the Vatican - who did not.
Therefore, without approval of the Vatican, Gaudi had no financing. However, he was determined that God had called him to build this church, and stated it didn't have to be Catholic - it was God's Church - and named it "The Sacred Family" or Sagrada Familia. Therefore he turned to the elite of society in Barcelona, and found one person who was willing to give a little, and then give everything.
So, his vision began.
He started this work in 1883 and worked on it everyday until his death in 1926.
Gaudi wanted to honor the Bible and God in every aspect of this structure - there are various scenes on the outside built into the stone of the church depicting Christ's birth all the way to His death.
Below is a celebration of Christ's birth - everyone is in celebration in music, etc.
The left side reveals the story of Mary and Joseph traveling with baby Jesus, Joseph playing with Jesus as a child, even the soldiers killing infants as ordered by King Herod.
Below is supposed to represent Jesus with a crown of thorns, and Pharaoh's sorrow in sending him to be killed.
The inside. He wanted nature to be present..so all of the beams that are holding up the church are made to look like trees extending upward with outstretched branches..
All the lighting is not too bright or too dark…he made sure it was "just so" with the stained glass windows because he said "one can't see if it's too bright or too dark…in both people are blind…they need to see"
The gold triangle at the very front of the church and at it's highest point is to represent God, the Father.
A stairwell…amazing.
Even all of the dimensions to the ceiling where the choir lofts are built in are built in such a way that music would flow and not be hindered - that everyone in the church would hear it equally.
A room of silence for prayer that is underneath the church.
Below is supposed to represent the coronation of Mary.
The Wise Men with baby Jesus.
Rosary Room dedicated to Mary.
We went up to the top of the Tower of Nativity…a few views from the top.
And the stairwell back down….YIKES!
In 2010, once the Sagrada Familia started making millions because it became so famous - one of the most popular sites to be seen by tourists in the world - it became self sustaining to continue the work that Gaudi started. Also, the Vatican came on board, and decided to make it an official Catholic church - so they now have mass every Saturday and Sunday.
It truly is a beautiful site to behold…every detail is so intricate and well thought out. It's very intimidating to think about!
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