After our explosive introduction to Barcelona on fireworks night, we got ourselves a tourist map and a metro ticket, and found our way to one of the most beautiful modern buildings in the world - Antoni Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia (The Sacred Family) a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The basilica was begun in 1883 and is expected to be completed in 2026, the centenary of Gaudi's death. It reached the mid-way point in its construction in 2010. Progress was extremely slow because it was disrupted by the Spanish civil war and relied on private donations. There are still three cranes permanently on the site. The church has three facades. The first was overseen by Gaudi himself and tells the story of the conception and birth of Christ. It is a rather heavy style - very, very detailed, with four bell towers.
Here is Gaudi's original facade. The photo doesn't do it justice - the building is big and you cant get back far enough to fit it all in. We had to queue for ages in the hot sun in a queue circling the cathedral, and it cost 18 euros (about $26.00 AUD) entry, including an excellent audio-guide, per person. They say there are 4,000 visitors per day, and Paul worked out that, given seasonal attendances, the entry charge would raise about 18 million euros per year. Not much for such a huge project. Perhaps that is still why progress is slow.
The wooden framing you can see is part of the final stage of construction making up the highest central tower and the third facade (which will eventually become the main entry).
This is the second facade, the passion and crucifixion of Christ. Much more modern than the first facade. And much lighter stone. It is absolutely breathtaking.
Each smaller section tells a different story.
You hardly notice the mechanics of construction - scaffolding, cranes, lifts, platforms, workers …. there is so much detail to look at. And we are still in the queue, albeit, now in the shade.
And because it is so difficult to get a photo of the whole building, here is a snap of a model that was in a shop, showing the second facade and the towers on that side. Looking at this model, the tallest central tower as well as the facade and towers to the right, are still to be built (but have begun).
And then we went inside. Talk about the master of light and space. This is all natural light!
The west wall of the apse.
The east wall of the apse.
The dome over the alter with northern light.
The dome over the alter from further back.
Standing at what will finally be the front entrance, looking towards the alter.
The only artificial light is the parachute affair, suspended above the alter. There will eventually be five organs - currently there are only the two you can see here. The parachute is actually a beautiful sculpture of Jesus ascending into heaven, surrounded by representations of the eucharist.
As you can imagine, I took dozens and dozens of photos. But I can't include them all. After three hours of the church and the museum (which is in the crypt), we needed a break.
So it was outside for a coffee and a sandwich and a good sit down, watching the bedlam of those 4,000 tourists per day and contemplating the third facade, which will be about the role of the church in the modern world; humanity's responsibility to God to care for his kingdom on Earth. I can't wait for that one! But very seriously, I think it will be sensational. And given the commitment of this project to Gaudi's original vision of an organic structure, reflecting nature itself, it could turn out to be a work of art with a very strong message.
No comments:
Post a Comment