Everybody knows that Antoni Gaudí’s La Sagrada Familia is the oldest new church in (probably) the world. Begun in 1882, it may finally be finished in 2026. Promises, promises. It’s certainly been burgeoning for years.
The header photo, taken from the flat where Emily’s partner Miquel once lived shows how this monumental edifice dominates the skyline in a city where so many modern buildings scrape the sky.
For Becky’s #SquaresRenew
From Pyrenees to Pennines 
an extraordinary building – will feel odd for the city when it is finally finished
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I think so. Cranes seem to be part of the design.
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The Sagrada is fabulous. I have been inside twice. Once in 2009 when it was covered with plastic and dust in 2009 and it looked wonderful in 2012. Looked like 90% of the inside was finished
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I’ve been much more recently (just before lockdown I think?) but much of the inside was still tarped off.
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The main church service area was done
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Agreed!
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Extraordinary building! I visited it a few times when my brother lived in the city and would love to see it finished.
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Well, not too much longer … apparently.
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Hmm…
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My feelings exactly!
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That would be an interesting sight— without the cranes. Still beautiful photos, even with the cranes.
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It’ll be odd when they go!
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It has taken so long that last time I visited (2019) they were already replacing the interior.
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Haha! Yes, I think this is a project that’s slightly lost its way. I wonder if we were there on the same day in 2019? We shall never know….
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You have to wonder how much all this has cost and where the money comes from. Saying that the craftsmanship on the building is stunning. The doors alone had my attention.
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That’s easy. Oodles and oodles of money has come from Japan. Which seems odd at it’s not a Christian country.
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That’s very odd.
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I will have to visit Barcelona when this is finally finished. It is an extraordinary feat. My previous visit was 10 years ago now! My first visit was best in the 1980s! Am not sure I believe it will be finished. Perhaps they should leave a tiny bit undone!
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I suspect that might happen! My first visit was on the early 90s, and we were astonished to see a huge construction lorry inside the building, looking for all the world like a Dinky toy.
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What a picture! Guess all the big cathedrals were construction sites but without the heavy gear!
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Which makes the mediaeval ones even more remarkable.
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It is such an amazing building!
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Rather!
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That’s so cool! It will be amazing when it’s finished, but I wonder how the people of the city will adjust to it not still being built as it has been in that state throughout everybody’s lifetimes!
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Good point! I’ve never known it when it wasn’t a building site.
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I’ve been to see it four times in the past 15 years and have watched it progress. It will be amazing once completed. The inside is stunning.
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It’s rather jaw-dropping, isn’t it?
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It’s simply magnificent
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It is rather.
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I visited some years ago and would love to go back once it’s finished. I really like your last shot, juxtaposing the statue of the saint with the construction worker 🙂
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Thanks Sarah. Watching them sprinting up and down the spires gave me the heebie-jeebies!
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I can imagine!
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Thanks for the update, Margaret. The Sagrada familia structure has come a long way since I saw the construction in ’87! I just looked at my photo post from that trip dating from 2021, which you commented on. : )
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I didn’t realise we’d been blogging pals for so long!
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It is remarkable.
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One of a kind, certainly!
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Impressive!
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Rather!
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I wonder if the number of tourists wanting to see this edifice will drop off when it’s actually finished? I
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Not for a good few years, if ever, I think. It’s been a Barcelona Must See for so long now.
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Goodness, I didn’t know it actually had an end date in sight. Maybe!
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It’s one they’ve held to for a while now. We’ll see …
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We were there about 5-6 years ago and saw this. It truly is amazing!
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It’s certainly a Big Statement!
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Never ending work… Amazing! I visited there many years ago.
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You would find it greatly changed. It’s been a century or more of constant change.
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