Sagrada Família Cathedral

BARCELONA’S most-visited tourist attraction is also Europe’s longest-enduring construction site – the foundation for the monumental Sagrada Família cathedral was laid March 19, 1882, 137 years ago.

The Sagrada Família, (Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family) is a large unfinished Roman Catholic church in Barcelona (northern Spain) designed by legendary Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi (1852–1926). Gaudi’s work on the building is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in November 2010 Pope Benedict XVI consecrated and proclaimed it a minor basilica, as distinct from a cathedral, which must be the seat of a bishop.

Antoni Gaudi was not tremendously worried about how long the building would take, famously commenting that his client (meaning God) was “not in a hurry.” Sagrada Família is home to the tomb of Antoni Gaudi, who was unfortunately killed a few days after being hit by a tram during his daily walk in 1926. The church was only 25% complete at that time. In the years since, nine architects have taken on the project only to later walk away due to project’s numerous obstacles. Between weather, time, and the ravages of war, parts of the unfinished cathedral have already required renovation.

Aside from deadlines, another thing Gaudi apparently never bothered with was properly clearing the construction with city authorities. It turned out, 136 years into the process, that it has been going on without an official status or supervision. Fortunately for the world’s architectural heritage, as well as the 4.5 million tourists visiting every year, it was decided not to tear down the illicit structure. Instead, the cathedral will pay about $41 million of the fees it has run up over the years. That money, paid over the next 10 years, will go towards improving public transport to the Sagrada Família and help the neighborhood around it.

(To be continued)