MY BARCELONA ADVENTURE (Part 5) - LA SAGRADA FAMILIA

It has been a while since my last post but the work of an academic never ends. As you know by now, I travelled to Barcelona, Spain a few weeks ago and if you have been reading my previous posts you will know that I have been providing you with all the DEETS of all the places I had the blessed opportunity to visit whilst there. In my upcoming posts, I will continue to provide you with the reviews of the amazing places I was able to visit while I was in Barcelona.

 

BASILICA i TEMPLE EXPIATORI DE LA SAGRADA FAMILIA  

 

The LA SAGRADA FAMILIA, Also known as the BASILICA AND EXPIATORY CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona which was designed by the CATALAN ARCHITECT, ANTONI GAUDI.

 

Construction of the church began in 1882, but to date the construction of the church remains incomplete! However the church is one of Barcelona's significant attractions. It is a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, and POPE BENEDICT XVI consecrated (blessed or sanctified) the church in November 2010, and proclaimed it a MINOR BASILICA.

 

A BASILICA, be it major or minor, is distinguished from a CATHEDRAL. It is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches, and carries with it a certain status, and privileges (which include the right to incorporate the papal symbol of the crossed keys on the basilica's banners, furnishings and seal).

 

The La Sagrada Familia is absolutely EXQUISITE! When I saw it, I finally understood why RAINER ZERBST (author of the books "Antoni Gaudi", "Gaudi: Obra Arquitectonica Completa", and "Gaudi: Modernismo in Barcelona") said, when describing the church, "it is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art". PAUL GOLDBERGER (a famous American architectural critic) described the church as "the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages."

 

Here are my favourite highlights from my visit to the church:

 

LA CRIPTA (THE CRYPT)

 

The crypt, which is part of the church, consists of SEVEN CHAPELS dedicated to the HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS:

 

1. San Jose (JOSEPH OF NAZARETH)

2. el Sagrado Corazon (THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS)

3. la Inmaculada Concepcion (THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION)

4. San Joaquin (JOACHIM-FATHER OF MARY)

5. Santa Ana (ST ANNE - MOTHER OF MARY)

6. San Juan y la capilla de Santa Isabel (JOHN THE BAPTIST and ISABEL or ELIZABETH- MOTHER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST)

7. San Zacarius (ZACHARIAH - FATHER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST)

 

The chapels are arranged in a roundabout way, in front of which FIVE OTHER CHAPELS are placed in a straight line: the center dedicated to the HOLY FAMILY (which houses the ALTAR), edged by the chapels of OUR LADY OF CARMEN (where Gaudi is buried), JESUS CHRIST, OUR LADY OF MONTSERRAT, and SANTO CHRIST (which has the grave of JOSEP MARIA BOCABELLA).

Here are some of my favourite highlights from my visit of the crypt: