Sagrada Familia, the official name of the Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia is the greatest building located in Barcelona and has become its symbol. Its unusual appearance attracts a large number of tourists and travelers. So what interesting facts exist about this building?
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1. In 1882, the construction of Sagrada Familia began and is still ongoing, and it is planned to be completed in 2026. As planned, the temple should be built only at the expense of donations from parishioners. Also, an additional complication is that all stones must be carefully processed and fitted to each other. With the invention of computers, construction has accelerated, there is even a virtual computer model.



2. The project was carried out by the famous architect Antonio Gaudi. He was a lonely, introverted man who devoted his life to architecture. Many considered him rude, obnoxious and arrogant, but those who knew him better said otherwise. Gaudi showed interest in only one girl and showed signs of attention to her, but this was not mutual. In his youth, he looked impeccable and well-groomed, and looked like a dandy, but as the years passed, he began to dress more simply and stopped taking care of himself, because of which he looked like a beggar. Once, having set off on his daily journey, the 73-year-old architect fell under a tram, and since he was mistaken for the poor in appearance, they were sent to a hospital for the poor, where they could not provide proper assistance. He was buried in the tomb of an unfinished building.


3. The design of the building shows the influence of nature. The architect wanted to create natural flowing lines and arches, and some of the interior pillars resemble trees. The tower, located in the center, will reach 170 m when completed, making the Sagrada Familia the tallest religious building in Europe. Gaudi was of the opinion that nothing that a person did should be higher than the work of God, therefore, it is not for nothing that the basilica will be 1 m less than Montjuic, which is the highest point in this city.
4. At the cathedral in 1909, a school was built for the children of those who work at a construction site, as parents spent days and nights at work.
5. Despite the fact that the cathedral was unfinished, due to its special architecture, already in 1984 it was included in the UNESCO list and recognized as a world heritage site.


6. The church has nothing to do with the construction project, and besides, in Barcelona, ​​in the Old Town, there is an important and revered Saint Eulalia Cathedral. Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 declared the construction of the Sagrada Familia a basilica.

7. Some respected and well-known cultural figures advocated the cessation of construction as early as 2008. They believed that the original plan of Gaudi was lost, the temple itself was not built according to his project and drawings, but only in favor of the tourism industry.