Exploring Barcelona: Top Landmarks and Hidden Gems - Part 2.

BARCELONA – La Sagrada Familia, an architectural wonder

Barcelona is proud of Antoni Gaudí. It is Gaudí's city. The two seem to be almost indivisible after Gaudí delivered some architectural wonders to the city he loved. Park Güell and Sagrada Familia are two architectural masterpieces he created and gifted to his city. Although Sagrada Familia is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, I perceive it as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. I was stumped when the temple façade loomed up for the first time. Awesome! It is an incredible beauty! The only similarity to the Gothic architecture was the Latin cross floor plan, which Gaudí maintained in his design. The core in the Plan is occupied by four aisles of 7.5 M wide each, and a nave of 15 M wide, totalling 45 M The complex geometries developed by Gaudí deviated significantly from the Gothic designs. Such as introducing a system of angled columns and hyperboloidal vaults to do away with the need for flying buttresses. This enabled the transfer of horizontal loads through interior columns. Gaudí utilised three-dimensional forms comprising ruled surfaces, including hyperboloids, parabolas, helicoids, and conoids. The complex shapes and choice of materials made possible thinner and finer structures, which, in turn, helped in enhancing the acoustics and quality of light in the interiors. Gaudí’s design embraced more of the Catalan Modernism or Art Nouveau styles. As a highly pious man, Gaudí created a visual representation of Christian beliefs by incorporating religious symbolism into every aspect of La Sagrada Familia. The Façade of Nativity is dedicated to apostles St Barnabas, St Simon, St Jude Thaddeus, and St Matthias. The Glory Façade was designed by Gaudí for the dedication and glorification of Jesus. It includes the central nave of Sagrada Familia. To express how Christ’s message is conveyed to the people, Gaudí placed four evangelists with wings in the Glory Façade. The four evangelists are St Luke (Ox), St John (Eagle), St Matthew (Man), and St Mark (Lion). Different colours of stained glass windows form part of the Passion Façade.

The uniqueness of the basilica lay in the stunning blend and effect of nature, light, and colour with the architecture of the temple. Dexterously woven by the Catalan maestro, the spectacles of design in the entire space of the cathedral take us through awestruck moments. The entire story of Jesus is cast on the outer façade of the temple. For instance, the exterior of the Nativity Façade, which displays the birth of Jesus Christ, is designed to receive the first rays of the sun in the pinnacles. The reflections from the first rays capture the joy and life associated with the birth of Christ. Love and warmth spread by Christ are captured on the Gloria façade, which is painted by the midday sun. The Passion Façade is associated with Christ’s departure and faces the setting sun to produce shadows and a lack of light.

The protagonist itself is a huge forest. Natural columns like trees and branches lead to the vaulted ceiling. Assisted by Joan Vida Grau, the columns have been so designed as to provide an impression of growth as one approaches deeper and deeper into the basilica space. Thus imbuing a feeling of strolling into a deep forest and, at the same time, creating a soothing and conducive space for prayer and meditation. Numerous skylights, enormous windows almost two stories high, and vast columns create a soothing and conducive space for prayer and meditation. The most amazing light play in the interior of the entire cathedral is the tracking of the skylight. Early hours produce a soft bluish-white light throughout the interior when the sunrays stream from the east, followed by a change to light orange and ochre during midday, and finally, as the day ends, the interior becomes darker, matching the sun setting in a forest.

It was in 1883 that Gaudí was entrusted with the work on the basilica. His increasing piousness made him concentrate exclusively on the Basilica project from the early 1900s. His original design shows 18 spires, of which the tallest will be the central tower representing Jesus. The height will be 172.5 m, including a giant cross surmounted by the central spire. When completed, La Sagrada Familia will be the tallest cathedral in the world. But it will be lower than Montjuïc Hill in Barcelona, as Gaudí believed that his work should not surpass that of God. According to the construction updates, 12 spires had been completed by the time we visited Sagrada Familia in 2019. Work was in progress for the six immense steeples, which are scheduled to be completed by 10th June 2026 to mark the 100th death anniversary of Antonio Gaudí. It is said that Gaudí continued his devotion to this architectural marvel till his accidental death in June 1926. While on his daily walk to a local church in his area, he was run down by a tram on route no. 30. There was a delay in his treatment as people initially assumed him to be a beggar. He was buried in the oldest constructed portion of the Sagrada Familia, i.e., the Crypt of the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. There was the usual lull after his death. The Spanish Civil War and World War II followed. It was only in early 1950 that Gaudí’s reputation started to recover when his work was championed by Salvador Dalí and architect Josep Lluís Sert. A tour of the Basilica revealed that Gaudí was not only a great architect but also an artist. He was a genius.

As a lighting consultant, an illumination designer, and a student of optical engineering, I admire and appreciate Gaudí’s deep concept of lighting. In the early twentieth century, when Gaudí drew up the initial plans, photonics was at its nascent stage. Much ahead of his time, Gaudí's God-gifted perception enabled him to seamlessly integrate into his architecture a far-reaching visualisation of the precise application of optics and colour mixing. Like circular apertures in the vaults to filter the daylight, where in places Venetian glass tiles of green and gold colours have been used. Astute use of unobstructed sunlight is found at the highest reaches of the stained-glass windows, providing brilliant colours in the Gothic cathedral. Gaudí did extensive research on stained-glass windows, lead glass, and the superimposition of yellow, cyan, and magenta glass pieces to arrive at trichromatic hues and finally designed the distribution of the glass windows and filters to arrive at effective daylight illumination inside the cathedral. The way he let the skylight play through different zones in the interiors goes to prove how he perceived the nitty-gritty of every space in his design. For instance, he designed the roofs almost flat to allow large windows above the nave so that skylight can be used more effectively.

When we finally came out of the temple after a somewhat lengthy sojourn, I was in a state of stupor for a brief moment but soothingly blessed at the same time. Outside, at one side of Sagrada Familia, a row of shops and restaurants on a wide pavement greeted us. I had ice cream, and my wife had coffee and a pastry. We occupied a table and watched La Sagrada Familia from outside. The complex geometries of the facades from outside, the sun bouncing, gliding, and sparkling at some crevices, put me in a fleeting trance. Stunningly beautiful! That’s how I could sum up my perception of a cathedral still incomplete

Madrid was the next station on our itinerary. For Madrid, we opted for ALSA, a very comfortable bus service for travelling within Spain.

Photo Credit: Arundhati Sengupta (Ruby)

View of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

La Sagrada Familia 

Interior of Sagrada Familia

Interior of Sagrada Familia

Interior of Sagrada Familia

The archive displays the progress of Sagrada Familia

A model of Sagrada Familia

Interior of Sagrada Familia

Interior of Sagrada Familia

Facade of La Sagrada Familia

Facade of La Sagrada Familia

Interior of La Sagrada Familia

Project La Sagrada

The following videos were taken inside the cathedral

Liked the architecture? The Catalan capital encompasses more than just Gaudí. Click here to explore [Barcelona Part 1], where I cover the city's most important landmarks and hidden gems you won't want to miss!

⬅️ Back to Barcelona Part 1: The Journey Begins