Sagrada Familia Tourist Guide

Sagrada Familia is the most popular tourist attraction visited by tourist. Nearly 3 Million tourist visits Sagrada Familia every year from different parts of the world.

It is not completed yet and is expected to be complete in 2026. Gaudi works on this masterpiece until his death in 1926 and estimated that it was only completed 15 to 25% at that time.

When to go?

Best time to visit Sagrada Familia is early morning or late evening. Please make sure you book Timed Tickets in advance to avoid standing in lines.

Entrance at Sagrada Familia

For entering you have to buy tickets from nearby ticket store.

Long queues extend up to 2 to 3 hours so it’s better to bring water and other necessary things with you.

Skip the line tickets are also available online where you do not have to wait or stand for long hour queues.

Guided Tour – With the help of an expert multilingual guide you can get to know amazing facts about this iconic basilica.

Audio Guide – Explaining all facades and interior of Sagrada Familia with an audio guide which last up to 45 minutes. Best for those who prefer to explore this basilica at their own pace.

Group Tour – Group can be of 25 people but you have to book tickets in advance via online or through booking store. Group will be led by specialized guides who speak different languages.

Students Group – There are two options for students group, an educational visit at school level with expert guide (minimum 18 students in a group) or a visit with an audio guide (minimum 10 students in a group).

Avoid following things before visiting Sagrada Familia

• Not booking tickets in advance.
• Not taking a Guide.
• Not visiting during sun set – magical golden light reflecting from stain glass fill the church with abundance of color.
• Not giving enough time to basilica.
• Not wearing decent or appropriate clothes –It’s a basilica so you should avoid wearing short or inappropriate clothes.

Outside Sagrada Familia

Basilica is consists of 3 major facades

1. Nativity Façade - It was the first façade to be completed and it signifies the birth of Jesus Christ. Decorated with scenes and images from nature which reminiscent of elements of life. It faces towards the rising sun at North East which is known for the birth of Christ. This façade is categorized into three porticos representing theological virtue – Hope, Faith and charity.
2. Passion Façade – It signifies the passion of Jesus Christ, it tells the suffering of Jesus during his crucifixion. Passion Façade is basically portrays the sins of the man. It faces towards the setting sun which indicates the death of Jesus Christ.
3. Glory Façade – It is the largest of all 3 facades and it is signifies the celestial joy of Jesus Christ.

Inside Sagrada Familia

Gaudi loves playing with light and colors and he has done exactly in the interior of this basilica.

He has also maintained the balance between sea and earth by showing turtle in one of the pillar and tortoise in other pillar.

Vault and Pillar System

Decorated with groove, vertically and inclined pillars creates the impression that material joining the pillars has been stretched. Columns inside basilica are made from different hard material like red porphyry, hard volcanic rock, basalt, granite and some soft rock from Montjuic Mountains of Barcelona.

Five Naves

The church designed layout is in the shape of Latin cross with enormous dimensions. The four side naves are of 7.5 meters each in width and the main nave is of 15 meter. Central nave is of 45 meter high and side aisles are of 30 meter high.

Organ

Blancafort Orgueners de Montserrat organ builders have installed the organ in the chancel in year 2010.

Few Unknown Facts about Sagrada Familia

• Initially it was commissioned for Francisco Del Vilar but due creative disagreement he left the site and it was given to Antoni Gaudi.
• Gaudi is not a big fan of straight lines as they don’t appear natural. That’s why he based his design in swirling curves which every can see not only in Sagrada Familia but also in Park Guell, La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.
• It is expected to complete in 2020 but according to some experts it may go to year 2040.
• In order to show balance between land and sea, one of its interior pillar shows tortoise and other pillar shows turtle.

After visiting Sagrada Familia you can visit other Gaudi’s creation like Park guell, La Pedrera and Casa Batlló in Barcelona.

Solo Traveller