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Sagrada Familia

Religious and Sacred Architecture

The Sagrada Familia is a Catholic church under construction in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. It is the tallest church in the world. On November 7, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a basilica, and in 2005 parts of the building were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the listing Works of Antoni Gaudi.

Facts
Location
Eixample district, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain 1
Architectural Style
Gothic Revival combined with curvilinear Art Nouveau (Catalan Modernisme) 1
Structural System
Branching, tree-like columns supporting hyperboloid vaults 1
Primary Material
Stone, originally quarried at Montjuïc 1
Building Type
Catholic basilica church 1
Commissioned By
Josep Maria Bocabella's Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José 1
Construction
from 1882 1
Height (metres)
172.5 1
UNESCO Inscription Year
2005 1
Current Use
Active basilica under construction, funded by visitor admissions and donations 1
Visitor Access
Open to paying visitors, drawing about 5 million annually as of 2025 1
Classification
Genre
Architecture 1
Connections

Created By

Antoni Gaudi, Artists

In Form

In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Sagrada Familia (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • History section, first paragraph
    transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms
  • Lead paragraph
    In 2005, parts of the Sagrada Família (Nativity façade and Crypt) were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, under "Works of Antoni Gaudí".
  • History section, second paragraph
    Sagrada Família was inspired by a bookseller, José María Bocabella, founder of Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José
  • Funding paragraph, History section
    Money from tickets purchased by tourists is now used to pay for the work, and private donations are accepted.
  • Visitor access paragraph
    The stone that was originally used in the construction came from Montjuïc
  • Interior section
    The columns of the interior are a unique Gaudí design. Besides branching to support their load, their ever-changing surfaces are the result of the intersection of various geometric forms.
  • Legacy/description paragraph
    drawing an estimated 3 million visitors annually by 1990 and 5 million in 2025
  • Genre reference
    The Sagrada Familia is a Catholic church under construction in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi.
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