Sábado Gigante

Cranes and towers indicating
the location of la Sagrada Familia

Sábado Gigante is a game show on Telemundo which, when literally translated, means giant Saturday, which is what we experienced in Spain. After our tour of the music museum, we stepped outside, curious where to head next. The skyline answered that question for us, with a glimpse of the towers and the cranes of la Sagrada Família. The basilica has been under construction since 1883, is not expected to reach completion until 2026, and was designed by Antoni Gaudí, a leader in the mondernisme art movement. His style is reflected throughout the city of Barcelona, but la Sagrada Família is his crowning glory. Gaudí died in 1926, but the work has continued after him, relying on his detailed plans and instructions. If the building is completed in 2026, it will be 100 years after the master architect died.

Quaker Parrots in a Barcelona, Spain park

En route to the basilica, we passed through a park, where we noticed a green bird in with the pigeons. We were amazed and stopped to take its picture, only to be further flabbergasted when we rounded a corner, and saw a flock of dozens! These birds are Monk parakeets, also known as Quaker parrots, and are actually an invasive species in Spain, introduced most likely by people releasing their pets into the wild.

La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

Leaving the parrots behind, we proceeded to one of the grandest sights on our European tour. As a teen learning Spanish, this building was always part of the curriculum, and I had wanted to visit since it was first brought to my attention. The structure did not disappoint, it was unlike anything I have ever seen before, a riot of colors and textures all competing for attention from the thousands who flock there daily. Amidst all this, construction continues, evidenced by the cranes and occasional gaping holes in the ground to lay more foundation.

Construction continues on la Sagrada Familia
in Barcelona, Spain

The towers called to mind, a beehive with a sort of honeycombed appearance. They are colorful, painted as ancient temples used to be, and adorned with fruit. At the base of the towers, the beehives morphed into mud wasp nests, clumps of mud piled atop each other with tunnels to the interior. At present, only 8 of 18 towers have been completed, and I would appreciate returning in the somewhat distant future to observe the completed building. I’m not sure if I would call the outside beautiful, breathtaking to be sure, but beauty is more questionable. The statuary and sculptures I enjoyed; they were not lifelike, and looked to be carved with a rough hand, but I appreciated the simplicity and starkness of the pieces.

Stained glass windows inside
La Sagrada Familia
Barcelona, Spain

 

Towers and lights inside la Sagrada Familia
Barcelona, Spain

Scale model of a finished
Sagrada Familia

The inside, is most definitely beautiful, and is a glory to behold. It was the brightest place in Barcelona that day, and the way light was designed to enter the building could make me believe the day was sunny instead of gray. The columns were designed to look like trees, and the stained glass windows were abstract images combining color in a pleasing manner. The entire space was amazing, and I highly recommend it to all who visit. While the entrance price of 13 euro may seem steep, remember that your ticket is buying further construction work, and you get to be a part of it.