57. Sagrada Familia - moving inside ...

Even though the outside of this amazing building is enough to blow your sox off, just wait 'til you move inside ...

The images speak for themselves ... don't need too many words ...

 

In 2010 Pope Benedict consecrated and proclaimed it a minor basilica.  

 

As all major churches generally have a crypt, I wondered if this place did so too – and after getting directions from a very helpful guard, I made my way outside, around the corner, squeezed through the waiting crowd, found the gate and the doorway and let myself in !!! … then down a flight a stairs and into a wonderland – inhabited solely by myself, a guard and the cleaning lady !!! …

 

 

 

The crypt of the church, funded by donations, was begun in 1882, to the design of the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, whose plan was for a standard Gothic Revival church. The crypt was completed before Villar's resignation the following year, when Antoni Gaudí - who was appointed Architect Director - assumed responsibility for the overall design of the project and radically changed its design.

 

 

I felt very privileged to be the only visitor downstairs when there were thousands milling just a few meters above me. 

 

Antoni Gaudi's resting place

 

The man himself ...

 

 

So that was my exciting visit to the Sagrada Familia - certainly a highlight of my Barcelona adventure...

 

The only negative sentiment to the building is that it will always be a major tourist attraction - like Notre Dame in Paris - and so its real purpose as a house of worship will be somewhat lost in the hordes of tourists shuffling through it day after day.

 

 

 

Next post we'll go visit some contemporary art ...