Antoni Gaudi

Today we learnt about Antoni Gaudi (1852 - 1926), the Spanish architect most famous for the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona.  The Sagrada Familia is still under construction, having been started 132 years ago, and they now hope to have it finished some time in the late 2020's.  In reality for many years no progress was made at all, due to the Spanish Civil war, and to a lack of funds during hard times in Spain.  In the last 30 years or so they have picked up the pace again thanks to the millions of tourists who come to see it, and pay for access and for tours.

There is still plenty to be done.  It is only four years since the roof was closed in, and so far eight of the proposed 18 towers have been completed.  During Gaudi's lifetime only one tower was completed.  Also the missing main facade is to extend across an existing busy street and through an apartment block, which is causing a few issues with the city planners.

It is an amazing church, because particularly on the inside it looks completely different to the traditional churches and cathedrals of Europe, almost futuristic despite having been designed over 100 years ago.  The outside especially on the older east side is a bit overwrought with masses of detail, but inside the columns (fifty two of them, resembling palms) the roof (45 metres up) and the stained glass are beautiful.

Sagrada Familia - Afternoon sun through the windows

Looking directly up at the ceiling (45 metres up)

On the way homewards from the church we came to one of Gaudi's famous houses, the Casa Batllo.  It is a five-storey apartment, and just as unusual as the church.  It too is a major tourist attraction, and we did the tour and listened to the audio guide.  Inside there are almost no straight lines; every wall, door, window and ceiling is curved or sculpted in some way.

Inside Casa Batllo

On the roof - the chimneys!