Sagrada Família
The Sagrada Familia is Antoni Gaudi's unfinished basilica and Barcelona's defining landmark, under construction since 1882 and still not complete, with a currently targeted completion date that has shifted repeatedly over the decades. Gaudi worked on it for over 40 years and is buried in its crypt; he knew he would not live to see it finished and designed it to be completed by successors following his models and notes.
The interior is the most striking part for many visitors: a forest of tree-like columns supporting a ceiling designed to filter light like a woodland canopy, with stained glass that floods the nave in shifting color through the day. The exterior contrasts two very different facades, the ornate, nature-inspired Nativity facade (largely Gaudi's own work) and the stark, angular Passion facade added later by a different sculptor, plus towers still being added as construction continues.
Sagrada Família FAQs
No, it remains under construction after more than 140 years, though the main nave and most facades are complete and open to visitors.
Yes, essential, especially for tower access, which sells out fastest; book online well ahead, particularly for summer visits.
Yes, for an additional fee, either the Nativity or Passion tower, reached partly by elevator with some stairs; there are height and mobility restrictions.
About 1-1.5 hours for the interior and exterior, longer with a tower climb or audio guide.
Various target dates have been floated, but construction timelines have repeatedly slipped; it's best treated as an ongoing, open-ended project rather than one with a fixed finish date.
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