Sagrada Familia – A Barcelona Institution
I think I can guarantee if I ask you to think of the amazing Barcelona, your first thought will go to the great (as yet unfinished) Basilica of Sagrada Familia.
Why does this place hold so much interest for us?
It’s taking so long to build! Started in 1882, and still ongoing
- It’s going to be the tallest and biggest church in the world
- Architecturally, it is simply breathtaking! It has so much going on, there’s something new to see each time you see it. There are such different styles, it’s hard to believe it was the same man behind each idea. The entire building is tied however with the idea of nature, specifically trees, forest and woodland.
- Speaking of architects – the one we know as being most associated with this building is Antonio Gaudi. His legacy can be seen all over Barcelona, not just in this building but in a variety of others such as Casa Mila and Casa Battlo, Park Guell. Gaudi was tragically killed when he was knocked over by a tram on his way to confession. Did this shocking death which rocked Barcelona seal his place in our collective cultural memory?
- It is the most visited church in the world. Tourists flock to it – about 5 million a year.
I read an article recently that discussed plans for the final completion of this building, It is hoped to be complete in 2026, the centenary of Gaudi’s death – and it made me reflect on the many times I have visited here. I hope you enjoy my “throwbacks”, and maybe you might even learn something to help you on your visit.
The first time we went was on a family holiday – we had coffee and croissants in the park, walked around the block and that was as far as it went!
That first time we went was way back in 2012. One thing I realised very quickly was that I was not going to get inside that day. The queue was unreal. This first trip was on a port day from a cruise ship, so time was very much against us.
However, like I said, you don’t NEED to go IN to appreciate this marvellous structure. Take a walk around, look up, look down, stop and have a proper look.
LOOK UP and see The Towers – 18 in total
12 Bell Towers, dedicated to the 12 Apostles
6 central towers, for Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Tower of the Virgin Mary and the tallest of them all, the tower of Jesus Christ
It actually took me three visits before we went inside. If you plan on going inside I very strongly suggest you book timed tickets ahead of time. The best place to get tickets would be directly with Sagradafamilia.org
You can also pay for a guide if you want some in depth information.
The third time to Barcelona I went with just my daughter. As we were on a 4 day mini-break we had quite a lot more time, so we were able to enter the basilica this time,
Did you know there was an elevator up some of the Towers. If I recall, you have to walk down the stairs though, and they are not very friendly! So, if you have any sort of vertigo or a health preclusion that keeps you away from stairs this is something you may wish to consider. The cost of the tower is not included in the general admission ticket. We did it, and I’m glad we did.
And finally the inside! Such amazing colours coming through the stained glass, all tipped off with Jesus coming through on a parachute!
Getting to Sagrada Familia from the port
We used the Barcelona Metro system quite a lot, and found it extremely easy to navigate. Sagrada Familia has a stop named after itself, and you can get directly there using either the BLUE line 5, or the Violet Line 2. Generally, we have used Line 2 from Paral-lel or from Drassanes (line 3) changing at Passeig De Gracia for Line 2 to Sagrada Familia dependent on where we are starting off from!
If you are coming from a cruise, you can walk to these metro stops. However, it is quite a walk just to get out of the port! Often, the cruise line will put on a shuttle that you may have to pay a short fee for. Depending on how much time you have, or your level of fitness this could be worth considering. Bear in mind though, sometimes the time you spend waiting for the coach can eat into your free time. As always, things are subject to change. I heard that Barcelona port could be moving where the bigger ships dock, so bear this in mind when arranging your own trip.
My most recent visit to Sagrada Familia was when I was lucky enough to spend a few days in Barcelona with a friend prior to going on a cruise. We went in the evening to see what it looked like all lit up and we found a darling restaurant with outside seating. The next day we went back, and stumbled upon a Feminist Food Festival. My friend and I sat with a table full of locals who could not speak English (of course we could not speak Catalan either) but we soon understood what we were being instructed to do with the drinks provided at the table.
A warning – all cities have risks, but Barcelona seems to have quite the reputation for pickpockets, probably more so than anywhere else in Spain. So keep your wits about you.
Bottoms up to Calimoxto
Traditionally, this drink came about because a group of friends were put in charge of organising a village festival. They purchased 2,000 litres of win which was unfortunately undrinkable. They decided to combine the wine, coca cola, lemon and oranges and then just hoped for the best. It was a great success and people have been drinking a red wine/cola cocktail ever since! Did you like it, you ask? Yes, I did – very much so!!
