Nearly a year ago, the missus and I were able to take a European cruise and one of the places visited was
the Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family in Barcelona:
... a large Roman Catholic church... designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926). Although incomplete, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in November 2010 Pope Benedict XVI consecrated and proclaimed it a minor basilica, as distinct from a cathedral which must be the seat of a bishop.
Because our time was limited, we were never able to get inside as the lines to get in were hours long. That was hugely disappointing but we were able to walk around it and despite its incomplete state, we grabbed a few interesting pics.
Here's a little more on the church's history:
The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is a work on a grand scale which was begun on 19 March 1882 from a project by the diocesan architect Francisco de Paula del Villar (1828-1901). At the end of 1883 Gaudí was commissioned to carry on the works, a task which he did not abandon until his death in 1926. Since then different architects have continued the work after his original idea.
The building is in the center of Barcelona, and over the years it has become one of the most universal signs of identity of the city and the country. It is visited by millions of people every year and many more study its architectural and religious content.
It has always been an expiatory church, which means that since the outset, 131 years ago now, it has been built from donations. Gaudí himself said: "The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is made by the people and is mirrored in them. It is a work that is in the hands of God and the will of the people."
The real reason for the post however is to highlight this video found over at Gizmodo that renders what the Basilica will look like once it's completed, a completion slated to take place in 2026:
Truly a sight to behold.
2026... I'd be 66 years young... hmmm...
