In the days when grand cathedrals were still commonly built, they would take decades, even centuries to complete. But that was back in the Middle Ages, long before machinery and cranes. One of the things that makes the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona so special is the fact that it has brought back to life the spirit of those classical cathedrals. Not only does it resemble them in style, scale, and ambition but it has also been built in the same handcrafted manner. To be fair, that is the only way a church should be built, by devoted artisans for whom this labour of love is their life’s work. In this sense, the Sagrada Familia is perhaps the only major edifice to have been built in this way for over a hundred years.

If the dedication and artistry of the generations of teams that worked on it will fill this modern-day classic cathedral with their spirit and passion then this is clearly far more than just another big, beautiful building. Whether you are religious or not, a temple of this kind carries with it an almost undefinable energy that is an integral part of its purpose. Seen this way, the fact that Spain’s most famous church has been over 140 years in the making is not surprising, but entirely as it should be.

A Modern Cathedral In The Classical Sense

Built with the devotion of a medieval church, La Sagrada Familia has slowly risen above the city of Barcelona since it was first commenced in 1882. Not surprisingly, a project as ambitious and lengthy as this has been dogged with innumerable challenges and hurdles, but it is a testament to the dogged determination of its successive generations of builders that it now features 12 of the originally planned 18 lofty spires towering high above the cityscape. When the Tower of Jesus Christ is completed this year the cathedral will become the tallest church in Europe, rising 170 metres above the famous diagonal streets and avenues of Barcelona.

Though this landmark will forever be associated with the singular genius of Antonio Gaudí, the Catalan architect whose grand buildings have added a touch of fairytale beauty to Barcelona, he wasn’t the project’s original designer. The man first selected for this role was the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano. Faced with what seemed insurmountable obstacles he resigned after just one year and in 1883 paved the way for the famous Gaudí to leave his stamp on what has to be one of the most unique construction projects of the past two centuries. The great architect was well suited to the job, as he embraced the handcrafted concept that had revived with movements such as Arts and Crafts, and which of course was made for an undertaking of this kind.

The main down side of working this way was a lack of speed, so the building of the Sagrada Familia had already been underway for 44 years when Gaudí died in a tram accident in 1926. The work has since been taken up by generations of more nameless designers, engineers, artisans, and builders who stubbornly pursued this mission so strange in the modern world. The project was halted during the Civil War and almost faltered in the wake of it, due to a lack of funds and the fact that the original plans had been lost in the carnage of war. It proved not to be a final deterrent, so work continued on the basis of a reconstructed plan, culminating after long decades of work in the completion of the Chapel of the Assumption in 2025, and the last major milestone in 2026.

A Global Icon

Though this is a uniquely hand built edifice created in a still rather classical way and proving that traditional construction materials such as stone are still entirely viable and relevant in the modern world, some compromises to time and practicality have been made in recent years. This includes the use of cranes and prefabricated stone building segments for the upper reaches that have helped to speed up the process and improve safety. Thus making it possible for this awe-inspiring monument of our era to be reaching its culmination now.

Quite apart from being one of the most famous cathedrals in the world, the ultimate iconic landmark of Barcelona, among the most singular buildings in Europe, and also a major tourist attraction that draws long queues of visitors keen to explore its intricate innards and experience its rich energy, the Sagrada Familia is of course first and foremost a church, and it has been functioning as such for a long time now.

This means that masses, celebrations, and occasionally also cultural events take place under its tall roof. The news that this legendary project is reaching its completion will do even more to mark it out and draw visitors as well as making it the natural focus of attention for all the most important celebrations to be held in the city.

With the final ‘inauguration’ of La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona will have revived the spirit of a classical era in the modern day.