The Longest-Building-in-History Structure: A Must-Visit Sagrada Família in Spain

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Department Compilation and Report
 

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

The Sagrada Família began construction in 1882. As a penitential church, its funding mainly came from individual donations, and the amount of contributions affected the construction speed. As a result, even after more than a century, it remains unfinished — making it the only building in the world to be 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 young Gaudí was brought in. Unexpectedly, over the next 43 years until Gaudí’s death, the project became the lifelong passion project to which he devoted all his efforts.

After taking over, Gaudí transformed the original Neo-Gothic design into Catalan Modernism, drawing inspiration from Montserrat’s Sacred Mountain. The structure was planned to consist of 18 towers and 3 facades. Each of the outer facades features 4 towers, reaching 94 meters high, representing Jesus’ 12 apostles; the inner ring includes 4 towers, each 107 meters tall, symbolizing the four Evangelists; and finally, there are 2 even taller central towers, representing the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. 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 building whose exterior combines various animal and plant forms and whose interior mimics the structure of a forest.