The longest-under-construction building in history—Spain’s must-visit Sagrada Família

By MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Department, compiled and reported
 

Designed by the renowned architect Gaudí, the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain, is one of the world’s most uniquely designed buildings. Its towering and distinctive appearance blends Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, making it one of Spain’s most famous tourist attractions.

The Sagrada Família began construction in 1882. As a penitential church, its funding primarily came from individual donations, and the amount of donations affected the construction speed. As a result, even after more than a century, it remains unfinished—it is the only building in the world listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site while still under construction.

The Sagrada Família is neither governed by the Pope nor owned by the Catholic Church; it is merely a private religious building. It originated from Josep Maria Bocabella, a bookstore owner who also served as the president of the Association of Devotees of Saint Joseph. He had long dreamed of building a church dedicated to the Holy Family. After finding an affordable and spacious enough site, he first commissioned architect Francisco de Villar to build the Sagrada Família in 1882. One year into construction, due to disagreements, the project was handed over to the young Gaudí. Unexpectedly, over the next 43 years until Gaudí’s death, it became the life’s work to which he devoted himself.

After taking over the project, Gaudí transformed the original Neo-Gothic design into Catalan Modernism, drawing inspiration from Montserrat’s Sacred Mountain. It was planned to consist of 18 towers and 3 facades. Each of the four outer facades features four towers, each 94 meters tall, representing the 12 apostles of Jesus; the inner circle includes four towers, each 107 meters high, symbolizing the four Evangelists; and at the center, there are two even taller towers, representing the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, respectively. Additionally, as a church that integrates nature, Gaudí incorporated elements he observed in the natural world, along with his deep religious knowledge, aesthetic sensibility, and a wealth of scientific and mechanical theories, resulting in a structure whose exterior combines various forms of flora and fauna and whose interior mimics a forest structure.