La Sagrada Família

This past weekend, I took a break from my beloved city of Madrid to visit her rival, Barcelona. Along with Madrid, Barcelona is one of Spain’s major cities and an integral part of Spain and its history. Needless to say, I was excited. Here, I want to share my favorite part of the trip.

It’s impossible to talk about Barcelona without mentioning the Sagrada Família. In construction since 1882, this basilica designed by Gaudí is an architectural marvel. In planning my trip and places to see, I knew that I had to see this famous building.

The Sagrada Familia metro station is easily reached by taking the L2 or L5. It was impossible to miss. As I walked up the metro steps, I was immediately engulfed in the shadow of the grand structure looming over me.

Huge spires climb towards the sky. Large cranes soar even higher over the spires, seemingly integrated into the church. As I got closer, the intricate details of Gaudi’s work became visible. This was the Nativity Façade on the eastern side of the church, one of three façades in total. All over the wall were elaborate carvings reminiscent of trees or caves. They were unlike anything I had ever seen before. Integrated into these were numerous statues.

The amount of detail was stunning. Already impressed, I entered the church. I made sure to buy and print my ticket beforehand to skip waiting in line.

I took a few steps in and froze. Not only was the interior one of the most stunning places I have ever been in, but it was also drastically different from the exterior. Unlike the façade, with its striking carvings, the inside was made of sleek, white stone painted by colored light from the elaborate stained glass windows all around the room. It was utterly breathtaking.

Outside and down some stairs, there is a museum. It included many things, such as Gaudí’s designs, models, and information about the history and construction of the building.

Additionally, you can pay to go up either the Passion or Nativity Façade. Buying my ticket online, I chose to go up the Passion Façade. After a short elevator ride, I was at the top of the tower, giving me an unforgettable view of the city.

My trip to Barcelona was only for a weekend, but I enjoyed seeing the city and its sights. And I am incredibly glad I got to see the Sagrada Família, one of the goals I made before coming to Europe. It is definitely a must-see.