Author: Adam Mallon

Spiral staircase inside Sagrada Familia

The cathedral was only about 20% completed when Gaudi died in 1926.  Obsessed with finishing as much as he could, he had taken to living at the construction site.  His clothes worn to rags, and his appearance disheveled, he was struck by a cart in the street and it was hours before anyone came to his aid, believing he was a hobo.  He died soon after.

With multiple architects taking over the project in the decades since Gaudi’s death, each has left their own mark, and the figures on different parts of the cathedral bear very distinctive characters.

Sculpture of a choir of angel children above a set of doors to the cathedral.

The doors to the Nativity Facade were installed in 2014, designed by Japanese sculptor Etsuro Sotoo.

Fish-eye of the Sagrada Familia

Construction continues to this day on the cathedral, with a targeted completion date of 2026, the centennial of Gaudi’s death.  With delays from Covid, it may longer yet.

Another of Barcelona’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Hospital de Sant Pau was designed by Catalan art nouveau architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner and is considered one of the earliest and best examples of Modernista architecture

Sagrada Familia from the windows of the Hospital de Sant Pau

On more look at the Hospital de Sant Pau