Sagrada Familia: The Eternal Masterpiece 143 Years in the Making
Barcelona's Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is the world's biggest unfinished church, still under construction after 143 years. Antoni Gaudí's aim for this cathedral is to make it the world's tallest church once completed.
Construction began on March 19, 1882, under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. Gaudí took control in late 1883 and changed the modest Neo-Gothic scheme into something new. Gaudí's revised design included five naves, a transept, three façades, and 18 towering spires, each depicting biblical figures such as the 12 Apostles, 4 Evangelists, the Virgin Mary, and Jesus Christ. The central tower will reach 172 metres.
Gaudí committed 43 years of his life to the Sagrada Família, knowing it would never be completed. He concentrated on the Nativity Façade, the most ornate portion, so that future generations may appreciate his artistic vision. Gaudí died tragically in 1926 after being struck by a tram, with less than 25% of the project completed. He was interred in the cathedral's crypt, his ultimate resting place among his greatest work.
The Spanish Civil War delivered a catastrophic blow: in 1936, insurgents vandalised the site, destroying plans and photographs and smashing plaster models. Architects spent decades rebuilding Gaudí's idea using pieces and published information. The three façades convey the story of Christianity: the Nativity Façade commemorates Jesus' birth, the Passion Façade represents his crucifixion, and the Glory Façade (which is still being built) will depict humanity celebrating divine glory.
In 2005, UNESCO declared Gaudí's completed work as World Heritage, and in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI dedicated the church as a minor basilica. The building board hopes for completion in 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death, but this ambitious deadline is dubious.
