Location

The Temple Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia is surrounded by the following 4 roads:

C / De Provenca

C / De Sicilia

C / De Sardenya 

C / De Marina

How to get there

Nearest Sagrada Familia -

7   16   17   22   24   28

Opening hours

October - March   9am - 6pm

April - September  9am - 8pm

Tower Ascent

You can ascend some of the towers, by either a lift or by walking up very narrow spiral staircases. A head for heights is required, note the stone bridges that join the towers together, if you go up one tower you come down another.  If visiting in winter wear warm clothing, the wind blows a gale through the open window structure of the towers.

Construction

Construction of this impressive temple started in 1882, and one year later Antonio Gaudi was appointed Project Director.  He worked on the project until his death in 1926.

 

The temple is only partially built. 8 of the 12 towers are  are virtually finished. The 4 remaining towers will be built in C / Mallorca and will be the main entrance, when complete. The much larger, in both width and height,  central tower is still to be built. Estimated year of completion: 2022 - 2230

 

It is well worth comparing the look of the 4 towers, statues and frontage on the C / De Marina side, built by Gaudi to those on the C / De Sardenya built under the newer architect. The flamboyance and the to some peoples minds the OTT (over the top) Gaudi design is changed to a more geometric design, note the square jaw angular look of the statues.

 

Some of the lighter colour statues on Gaudi side are designed by an oriental sculptor, who has a similar style to Gaudi, except for the statues eyes which are more oriental than western