La Sagrada Familia

The last time we went to la Sagrada Familia was maybe twenty years ago. My abiding memory is of seeing a monstrous fork lift truck parked in one of the aisles, totally dwarfed by the Cathedral in which it incongruously found itself.

Today was different. The Cathedral which Gaudí began in March 1882 is due to be completed exactly 100 years after his death, in June 2026: so the fork lift trucks are long gone.

What is there new to say about this inspiring, spiritually uplifting and imaginative building? Even the selfie stick dependent visitors thronging through can’t destroy its power.

Imagine, as Gaudī wanted you to do, walking through an ancient forest, the sunlight filtering through the topmost branches, dappling the trunks and forest floor with dancing daylight. Imagine the changing colours of that forest as the chilly morning sun rises in the east, then finally sets, warm and vibrant, in the west. La Sagrada Familia captures all that. It celebrates nature in stone, glass, ironwork and mosaic tile. Here are just a few shots to try to capture that mood.

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

27 thoughts on “La Sagrada Familia”

  1. Now that you mention it there aren’t many (any?) selfie takers among the bloggers I follow! Are we more interested in seeing the lovely things around us and sharing them? Some nice photos and again you’ve inspired me to go back to this lovely place.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. It is so inspirational I can’t understand why we don’t have more ‘organic’ feeling architecture. I am guessing it is down to the bottom line. Your photos certainly capture that almost untamed architectural expression.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. When I visited some few years ago it felt to me like a ‘colour/fantasy/joyful/crazy kid gone overboard’….. a visual & hardly understandable, incredibly fancy eye-candy of the wildest dream-creation. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’d so love the chance to visit on my own. It would make the experience even more special. But that’s not going to happen, unfortunately.

      Like

  6. You have surpassed yourself! I have rarely seen photos that so capture the organic nature of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia enterprise and the relationship of trees to building and building to trees. He would heartily approve of your efforts I’m sure. All the pics are great but I especially love the second one. Does the last one show the evening light on a pillar/column?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So nice of you to say so, but these smartish phone shots are a bit blurry I think. No, this was mid-morning light, but you’re right as well, as it came from the west side of the church. Camera photos later!

      Like

  10. This is new to me also. It sounds amazing. I immersed myself in your photos and despite your comments about nature being embodied in this building, what came to me as I enjoyed your shots was quite different. I felt I was inside the working of a clock. A beautiful, golden, shining, intricate clock. Does that sounds foolish? Probably. I think I became caught up in the jigsaw aspect: so many perfectly crafted pieces coming together to form an organic and joyous whole. From the majesty and grandeur of a cathedral-in-process to the minutiae of the inner workings of a watch…. It gave me a pleasant interlude of thought, trying to consider how these disparate creations connect. Timepieces both: witnesses to the passing of hours, years, centuries… Very much like nature in fact 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You could be on to something. The brain of an engineer combined with a lover of nature has brought together this astonishing creation. Gaudī made plaster models rather than drawn plans, and it helped him to realise his plans ‘in the round’. You’ll have to visit’!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Great photos and perspectives. When we visited many years ago the inside was closed to the public. I was chastised by a policeman for walking on the grass which surprised me. Grass to us is for walking on. As I don’t make a habit of upsetting policemen it was quite a cultural learning curve. To this day any mention of Gaudi and I think of grass!

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.