7 Amazing Facts About The Sagrada Familia

by Alex Cook Traveller & Astrologer

Despite the fact that the Sagrada Familia has been under construction for close to 150 years, it remains one of the most important and beautiful buildings of the Catalan capital of Barcelona. It is a building that commands the attention of all those who cross its path and the crowning achievement of renowned architect Antoni Gaudi. As interesting as the building itself is, so is its history, so let’s take a moment to explore it through these 7 amazing facts.

1. Who’s idea was it anyway?

For many, the Sagrada Familia starts and stops with Antoni Gaudi. It is widely believed that the towering Basilica was his idea. But, in actual fact, the man who conceived of the Sagrada Familia was not Gaudi, it was Josep Maria Bocabella, a book publisher and seller. It is reported that Bocabella came up with the idea when returning from a trip to Italy where he met with the Holy Father. On train journey back he saw a church in Loreto that struck him, so he was inspired to an expiatory church dedicated to the Holy Father in Barcelona.

2. Gaudi wasn’t always the architect

Yes, as difficult as that may be to believe. Antoni Gaudi was not the head architect from the get-go. Initially, the head architect was Francisco del Villar. Francisco planned to build the Basilica in the more traditional Gothic Style and wanted to begin with the crypt. However, the architect's plans were extremely expensive. Francisco and Bocabella would clash over the costs and eventually, Francisco, who did not want to compromise on his vision, would resign. This is when Gaudi would step in.

3. Passion and Obsession

In 1883, at 31 years old, Gaudi became the head architect. And, over the course of the next 42 years, the Sagrada Familia would become a passion and an obsession. With each passing year, the Catalan architect would dedicate more and more of himself to the Sagrada’s construction. Towards the end of his life, Gaudi, already a very conservative Catholic, would adopt the Catholic veneration of poverty, dedicating much of his time to prayer and fasting. He even moved into the Sagrada and lived amidst the rubble of the construction site. At the age of 73, Gaudi was mistaken for a pauper and hit by a tram. He died only streets away from the Sagrada Familia.

4. Gaudi’s final resting place

It makes sense that the man who dedicated over half of his life to the Sagrada Familia be buried in it. Located underneath the Basilica, on its underground level, Gaudi is buried in the chapel dedicated to the El Carmen Virgin. You can visit the architect’s tomb and pay your respects.

5. Who Pays for the Sagrada

Contrary to popular belief, the Sagrada Familia is not funded by the Catholic Church. It is instead, a completely privately funded endeavor. The tradition of private donations began with Bocabella and continues to this day. But, you too, also help support the construction of the Basilica. That’s right your trip to the Sagrada Familia is putting up those towers! After all, Gaudi did say, “[The Sagrada Familia] is made by the people and is mirrored in them, it is a work in the hands of God and the will of the people.” Costing approximately 25 million euros a year, the ticket sales to tourists keen to see this stunning structure also help to keep the project alive and moving towards that 2026 completion date.

6. 150 years of work

The Sagrada Familia has been under construction for a long, long, long...long time. It’s no secret. When Gaudi died in 1926, the Basilica was only about a quarter of the way done. But, Gaudi was not worried about this, famously saying “my client is not in a hurry.” Gaudi knew that the Basilica would take generations to complete and with an estimated completion date of 2026, he was not wrong. By the time the final brick has been laid it will have taken just under 150 years to put up the massive church, longer than it took to build the Egyptian pyramids.

7. The most visited attraction in Barcelona

The Sagrada Familia sees approximately 3 million visitors a year. That’s a whole lotta people! The Basilica is a testament to Antoni Gaudi, architecture and beauty and a visit is a truly special experience. The atmosphere almost transcendent.