La Sagrada Familia

Its multicolored towers piercing the blue sky, La Sagrada Familia is no doubt the most iconic structure in Barcelona. The church, located in L'Eixample, has been a fixture in Barcelona since construction commenced in 1882 and as building continues on today the structure's fame only grows.

Though still a work in progress, the church already is an amazingly intricate structure. Antoni Gaudí spent 43 years on this project and, since his death in 1926, the duty to finish it has been passed on to several architects. Though the responsibility continues to change hands over the years, the architects have all respected Gaudí's vision and have made additions with his design in mind.

While most of the work has been done to the exterior, there is still much to see inside the church. Impressive stained glass windows line the main room and a lift takes visitors up one of the towers to enjoy the view. Smaller rooms hold exhibits detailing the history and future of the structure. La Sagrada Familia is projected to be completed in 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi.

Practical Info

The finished product will have 18 towers: 12 for the apostles, 4 for the evangelists, 1 for the Virgin Mary and 1 for Jesus Christ. The tallest, saved for Jesus Christ, will stand more than 1.5 times higher than the existing tallest tower. Already the tallest building in the area, La Sagrada Familia will surely not be hard to find! Some edits to Gaudí's original plan have been made though, as his models were lost in a fire that destroyed his workshop during the Spanish Civil War.