I'll See You in 2026

"I want to buy a house here."

That was what I said after three days of stay in Barcelona. I don't know the reason why I waited so long to visit Spain, but I thanked myself for making the decision to go there in a breezy spring. 

Barcelona is tightly associated with Gaudi, it's the place where he lived, died and devoted himself to.

The Passion Facade, also known as the Facade of the Suffering Way

Sagrada Familia from the Inside

Our first stop in Spain was Barcelona and the first place we visited was Sagrada Familia, yes, I know, very #touristy, but who cares? As we found the architecture style was so complicated and brochures wouldn't have been enough to explain, we had a guided tour. (And this turned out to be a very right decision!) To shed some light, Gaudi was well known for his respect to nature, and that's why his design considered the possibilities to let in more natural light instead of artificial. We can also tell by the pillars, they mimicked the shape of trees. 

The story behind each facade is quite something to savor. "Each one represents one of the three crucial events of Christ’s existence: his birth (C/Marina); his Passion, Death and Resurrection (C/Sardenya); and his present and future Glory (C/Mallorca)." (From Sagrada Familia's wesbsite) 

A closer look of Nativity Facade

Time flew by too soon, and Gaudi died too early and suddenly. Sagrada Familia was far from completion in 1926. However luckily, a group of architects gathered and are working day and night to realize Gaudi's conception. Do you see the colors on tip of the towers? Do you see the texts? And have you seen them on other religious buildings? This is the unique style of Gaudi and the reflection of his inspiration coming from nature. 

Where architects work to finish the ongoing project, planned to be completed in 2026.