Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia is one of the most recognizable sights in Barcelona. Known as one of the main tourist attractions, I find Sagrada Familia to be one of the marvels of our world. Sagrada Familia is a Roman Catholic church that has been under construction since 1882 and is not scheduled to be finished until 2026. In the modern world of construction, the sheer time frame of the construction for Sagrada Familia attests to the grandeur of the church. The church is considered the crowning achievement of Antoni Gaudi, the famous Catalan architect and artist. The unique style and design displays all of Gaudi's unique visions, truly a masterpiece. He began the construction in 1883 and dedicated the last 15 years of his life to this magnificent structure. Sagrada Familia is scheduled to be consecrated by the Pope in November of this year, a huge event for the Catholic Church and Barcelona.
For people that have never seen Sagrada Familia in person, it is almost impossible to explain. The church has three facades; the Nativity Facade, the Glory Facade, and the Passion Facade. The Nativity Facade was built first and displays the most Gaudi influence. In person, the Nativity Facade is actually fairly gloomy and ominous. The sheer detail encompassed in this facade is almost unimaginable. The Passion Facade is much newer and displays Jesus on the crucifix at its central point. There is a striking contrast between the older facade and the newer facade, demonstrating the different uses of architecture. I have personally visited the church numerous times, marveling at the grandeur of the design. My friends and girlfriend visited Barcelona for their Spring Break and Sagrada Familia was the first place I took them to. They were all astounded by the church and couldn't stop talking about it. I will be sure to visit Barcelona again when the church is finally done.