By MOOK Scenic SpotsJun(e)Compiled report
The world has many wonders, and a sacred church that took over a hundred years to build is certainly one of them. A famous Spanish landmark, the magnificent and holy Catholic church – the Sagrada Família, was designed by Antoni Gaudí. Its towering and unique architectural exterior is quite prominent in the coastal city of Barcelona and is also the most well-known tourist attraction.
A basilica that took over a century to build (Image source / Wikipedia)
Construction of the Sagrada Família began in 1882. As a church built as an act of atonement, its funding mainly relies on private donations, and the amount of donations directly affects the progress of the construction. As a result, it remains unfinished to this day, making it the only building in the world to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site while still under construction.
Construction began in 1882 (Photograph / MOOK Scenic Spots, Gao Jiajun)
The world's only World Heritage Site still under construction (Photograph / MOOK Scenic Spots, Gao Jiajun)
The architectural style of the Sagrada Família belongs to the local "Catalan Modernism" (Modernisme català, part of the Art Nouveau movement). There are a total of 18 towers; currently, 12 bell towers on the three façades — the east (Nativity Façade), west (Passion Façade), and south (Glory Façade) — have been completed, representing the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. The six central towers of the church are yet to be completed; these represent the authors of the four Gospels, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus Christ.
The architectural style is “Catalan Modernism” (Photograph / MOOK Scenic Spots, Gao Jiajun)
A total of 18 towers, with 12 completed (Photograph / MOOK Scenic Spots, Gao Jiajun)
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