Sagrada Família

The Basílica de la Sagrada Família at Carrer de Mallorca 401 in Barcelona's Eixample district is Antoni Gaudí's life work and Spain's most visited monument. Construction began in 1882 under architect Francesc de Paula del Villar before Gaudí took over in 1883 and devoted the final 43 years of his life to the project. The building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains under construction, with completion targeted for 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death. The exterior presents two contrasting facade philosophies: the Nativity facade (east), designed by Gaudí himself and covered in stone carvings of extraordinary naturalistic detail depicting the birth and childhood of Christ, faces the morning sun; the Passion facade (west), designed by sculptor Josep Maria Subirachs in deliberately angular, expressionist style, was completed after Gaudí's death. Inside, the nave is a forest of branching stone columns — each inclined and branching at calculated angles — that distribute roof loads without the need for flying buttresses. Stained glass designed by Joan Vila Grau floods the nave with color that shifts dramatically across the day: the east windows project warm amber and green light in the morning; the west windows glow red, orange, and amber in the afternoon. Tower lifts (booked separately) ascend either the Nativity or Passion towers for panoramic views across Barcelona. The apse and crossing offer views of the still-under-construction central tower of Jesus Christ, which will reach 172.5m on completion. Allow 2-3 hours for the basilica alone; tower visits add 30-45 minutes.