Door detail of one of the giant doors into the Sagrada Família in Barcelona.  

I’ve been here a few times and love it. It was designed by Antoni Gaudí and construction began in March 1882 and it’s not yet finished. It’s just as well that Gaudí knew he wouldn’t live to see it completed. 

If you thought your projects have hit problems, they’re probably not as bad as those that have hit this one. Initially privately funded and very slow; Gaudí was killed in a traffic accident in 1926, taking many of the details with him as he worked out the finer points of construction on site with a model, and thus stalling the projects until the team learnt his techniques and thinking; then came the Spanish Civil War; in 1936 the crypt, workshop and Gaudí’s drawings were destroyed (by political parties), delaying work again until drawings were redone from photos and saved plans; construction restarted in 1956; modern technology and CAD software sped up the process and in 2010, they hit the main point of the build – 129 years after it started. The pandemic in 2020 has dashed their hopes of having it finished in time for the centenary of Gaudí’s death in 2026. 

It really is an amazing building. There isn’t an inch that hasn’t been meticulously thought about and designed – it seems as though the building evolved as it grew out of the ground. Even the rainwater down pipes and the ventilation are designed to be there without being seen. The rainwater outlets are modelled on real creatures and you’re so captivated by sculptural element that you miss the fact that they are a critical part of the building’s structure. The ceilings are mesmerising and the light shining through the enormous stained glass windows is something else. 

Gaudí was a local man and the city has many examples of his architectural work, each with its own story and fascinating details. If you’re looking for somewhere to go for a long weekend, try Barcelona, it’s a fascinating and lively city. Make sure you pop into at least one of Gaudí’s other creations (mostly townhouses and also the amazing Parc Güell) as well as the Sagrada Familía.