Sagrada Familia

Katherine Narvaez

History

• The Sangrada Famila is a monumental church began in March, 1882 by the diocesan architect Francisco de Paula del Villar (1828-1901). In l1883, Gaudí was commissioned to continue the work that lasted 40 years until his death in 1926. Since then, several architects have continued the work following the original idea of Gaudi.

Location • The building is located in the center of Barcelona, and

over the years it has become one of the most universal signs of identity of the city and the country. It is visited by millions of people, and there are many who study its architectural and religious content.

• The temple has always been built from the people’s donations. Gaudí himself said: "The Church of the Holy Family is made tanks to the people who are reflected in it. A work that is in the hands of God and the people’s will." Its construction still continues and might be finished in this century.

Features • During the last fifteen years

of his life, Antoni Gaudí designed many parts of the temple, so the architects could continue his work after his death. He combined geometric shapes: hyperboloids, paraboloids, helical, conoides and ellipsoids

Explanations• Gaudí imagined a church with the Latin cross plan

placed on top of the initial crypt. Above it, the main altar was surrounded by seven domes meaning the pains and sins of Saint Joseph. The doors of the crossing are dedicated to Passion and the Birth, and the principal façade, opens in Mallorca street, to Glory. Above each façade he designed 4 towers, twelve in total which represent the Apostles, and one dedicated to Jesus and four more devoted to the Evangelists and one to the Virgin. There are many sculptures representing religious figures. To sum up, we can say that the Sagrada Familia is like a stone Bible that reproduces scenes of Christ’s life and symbols of the Old Testament