Highlights: Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

It's cold outside where we are right now, so we decided to write about a place dear to our hearts - about Barcelona. That city is addictive - maybe because of the fantastic people living there, many beautiful places and it's climate. But if you ask us, why do we love Barcelona so much, the answer will always be - because we feel at home there. It's the city's atmosphere - both cosmopolitan and very Catalan, that makes it so special.

But if we had to pick up a place in Barcelona that is, literally, the symbol of the city, that would be the Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Eng. Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family). It is definitely the most famous building in Barcelona, and probably also in Spain. It's a large Roman Catholic church designed by Antoni Gaudí, a Catalan architect obsessed with and inspired by mother nature. He became involved in the construction in 1883 after he had taken over the project. Gaudí completely transformed it, and combined Gothic style with his own curvilinear Art Noveau forms, thus designing probably the most beautiful and creative church in the world. Though still under construction, the church already is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Sagrada Familia is definitely Barcelona's no. 1 place. It is truly an astonishing sight from both the outside and the inside. From the outside we can admire three very creative facades - Nativity, Passion and Glory. Each one of them has a different design and tells a different part of Jesus' life. 

Once you step inside Sagrada Familia, you will spend hours there, just looking around. The whole interior is designed to resemble a forrest - all the pillars are 'trees', whereas the ceiling is seen as the leaves through which the sun shines - hence the light coming through numerous colourful stained glass windows. 

If you are tired with admiring the inside of the church, you can take an elevator to climb to the top level of the Basilica. It is worth it, as it gives you the possibility to both admire the views of the city as well as let's you focus on the details of Gaudi's masterpiece.

You might think Sagrada Familia is yet another big catholic church. Trust us, it isn't. You will realize that once you enter the building. Or later, when you are climbing down the spiral stairs of the main tower. Or at the very end of your visit, when you go to Gaudi's workplace and see the complete design. Because, once it's finished, Sagrada Familia is going to be the most amazing example of human creativity. Ever. But.... we'll have to wait for it. Till 2026. Probably :)

And some more pix from Sagrada Familia: