walking tour sagrada familia barcelona

Outdoor walking tour of Sagrada Familia and Gothic Quarter

• Professional guide for 4 hours
• Entrance fees: this is an outdoor tour
• Food and drinks
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Entry/Admission - Basílica de la Sagrada Familia
• Entry/Admission - Casa Milà - La Pedrera
• Entry/Admission - Casa Batlló
• SAGRADA FAMÍLIA, 08013 Barcelona, Spain Departure Point: Sagrada Familia, by the souvenir shop "Botiga Tienda Shop" Address: between Carrer Marina and Carrer Mallorca
• Plaça de Catalunya, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• A minimum of 4 people per booking is required
• A maximum of 10 people per booking
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
• If you cancel at least 4 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
• If you cancel within 3 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
• You'll start at SAGRADA FAMÍLIA 08013 Barcelona, Spain Departure Point: Sagrada Familia, by the souvenir shop "Botiga Tienda Shop" Address: between Carrer Marina and Carrer Mallorca See address & details
• 1 Basilica de la Sagrada Familia Stop: 2 hours - Admission excluded See details
• 2 Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic) Stop: 30 minutes See details
• 3 Casa Mila - La Pedrera Stop: 20 minutes - Admission excluded See details
• 4 Casa Batllo Stop: 20 minutes - Admission excluded See details Pass by Real Barcelona Tours
• You'll end at Plaça de Catalunya 08002 Barcelona, Spain See address & details

• 285arthurs 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Stay away from this “company” They never showed up! No messages or answers. A phone number to contact from Italy. And finally we couldn’t go inside the park because it was sold out. Stay away from this “company”! Read more Written May 12, 2023
• janetsS623TR 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Sagrada Família tour was Amazing! Amazing tour and review of Sagrada Familia! Sara was our tour guide and she was outstanding. Friendly, informative and flexible. Tour was well worth the time and price! Read more Written March 9, 2020
• inao962 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Impressive tour of Sagrada Familia We took the Sagrada Familia English Tour with Clara as a guide. Clara gave us a lot of interesting information in an almost 2 hours tour, and could answer all our questions very professionally. Definitely worth the money and 1000 better than any audio guide. Read more Written March 7, 2020
• JackN704 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An Amazing small group tour of Sagrada Familia An Amazing small group tour of Sagrada Familia. I wanted to personaly thank Clara Aubá Espada our tour guide from Real Barcelona Tours. She was very knowledgeable about the Basilica Sagrada Familia and gave a very informative tour. Her sweet personality and very personable manner made for a very enjoyable experience. I highly recommend you ask for her on your visit to the Basilica. Read more Written March 6, 2020
• Eucastila 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing tour well organized, punctual profesionals and excellent explanation. The meeting point was very easy to find. Clara gave us a explaination about the history and symbols sorround and she also clarify any questions you have. Read more Written February 4, 2020
• carlav809 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excelent visit, very well organized, very professional guide! The guide was there on time. It gave a very detailed explanation of the Sagrada Familia and entertained us a lot with many curiosities. The tour operator was also very helpful and had everything ready for the visit. Read more Written February 4, 2020
• Dalius S 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Sagrada Familia Walking Tour - Vivicos International Travel Our family of 3 did a walking tour of the Sagrada Familia with skip the line tickets. Our guide, Marta Cots, was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and also clearly passionate about her job and Barcelona in general. That made the experience even better. Marta was willing (and able) to answer our questions and took her time. Would definitely recommend Marta as your guide! Read more Written October 13, 2019
• CalGal91 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Tour of colosseum, Roman forum and Palatine hill with Matej Fantastic and informative tour of the colosseum, Roman forum and Palatine hill provided by our guide Matej. He had an in-depth understanding of the history and welcomed questions throughout. It was worth every penny to skip the long queues and have access to the gladiator area. Read more Written October 1, 2019
• monql 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Not as described We booked a 4-hour scavenger hunt in the gothic quarter for our kids - have done this in other cities like Venice and had a great time. It was a nice tour, and the tour guide was lovely, but it wasn’t a scavenger hunt...we basically followed a tour guide to different sites and she asked us to look up and find a few things...for the $330 that we paid, it was totally over rated for the experience that we had...and while on tour were told it was only 3 hours - not the 4 that we thought. It was disappointing and I don’t usually right these kind of reviews so just want to make sure that others with kids are aware of what they are actually getting ahead of time before booking Read more Written July 17, 2019
• Marley_386 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Private Day Tour of Barcelona What an incredible day tour of Barcelona. Aida López was an amazing tour guide, and she shared her city with passion and enthusiasm. Specifically, the tour of the Sagrada Familia was fantastic, as Aida was extremely knowledgeable on all things Gaudí. She also was able to get tickets that enabled you to skip the line! I would recommend this tour (and tour guide!) for anyone interested in seeing Barcelona. Thank you Aida! Read more Written July 11, 2019
• Tpartyof6 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Recommend this Tour for a Family We had a delightful time visiting the famous Sagrada Familia. Our guide Anna was amazing and so helpful with our children (four boys ages 7, 6, 4, 16 months). We learned so much about the cathedral and all of its nuances. I am so grateful I found this tour and option for our family as it really was the only way to visit this location with the ages of my children. Read more Written June 27, 2019
• KarlynByham 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Picasso Museum comes alive! Our guide was passionate and well informed to add wonderful narration to our museum tour, including her own enhancements via her personal laptop. After the museum tour we visited gothic quarter locations Picasso was known to frequent, including 4 Gats. Definitely worth the time and money for this tour. Read more Written April 20, 2019
• JasonTexas1968 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Private Tour The private tour is more expensive but you get to ask more questions and really understand Picasso and his early development as an artist. We also asked our guide about Catalonia and the current and historical political state. She was amazing and it was very helpful to understand the region and how the culture was formed. Read more Written October 10, 2018
• Papaabq 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Gaudi tour for kids Our family (grandparents, daughter, and 6-y-o granddaughter) had a wonderful half-day Gaudi experience for kids with Romena (not sure I am remembering her name exactly right). A historian by training, she was tuned in to our 6-year-old and to us as adults, making the day fun and informative as we visited La Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlo. A great bonus was discovering the best hot chocolate in the world in a little out of the way place next door to Casa Batlo. Highly recommend this tour! Read more Written June 23, 2018
• junecranswick 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Barcelona holiday The Sagrada Familia was a excellent tour the guide was very informative about the church and how Gaudi designed it Read more Written May 20, 2018

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Outdoor walking tour of Sagrada Familia and Gothic Quarter provided by Real Barcelona Tours

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The Best Tours of Sagrada Familia in 2024 and Why

Ian Sumpter Last Updated: September 26, 2023

1883, Antoni Gaudi took over the building project for the newly commissioned Sagrada Familia. Today, 140 years later, construction on the site continues. Five generations of architects have left their mark, telling their story through artwork and architecture. With so much history, a visit can feel overwhelming, so what are the best tours to take of the Sagrada Familia and why? I have the lowdown on it all right here.

Pro Tip: Planning ahead will help your trip run smoothly, so consider bookmarking this page in your browser. Also, check out our guide to Barcelona —it has helpful information about restaurants, hotels, and activities.

Should You Take a Tour of Sagrada Familia?

The Sagrada Familia is one of the architectural wonders of Europe and, in turn, one of Barcelona’s busiest sites, with around 5 million visitors per year. This year, tourism numbers have skyrocketed, and tickets to visit the Basilica sell out for weeks in advance. If you manage to get a ticket, a combination of sun and crowds can quickly dampen any visit, and that is where a guided tour can elevate any visit to a higher level. Not only do you get to know the quiet nooks and the shady crooks, but more importantly, you’ll hear stories of the building’s construction and its magnificent history.

There are a number of great tours of Sagrada Familia that allow you to really get to grips with its history, but which is best and why? We cover that all below!

Not ready to book a tour? See our  Barcelona Guide for more resources.

The Best Barcelona Tours of Sagrada Familia

Barcelona is a city of many treasures. The food, the art, and the architecture are all astounding, but nothing quite takes the breath away like Gaudí’s masterpiece. There are many tours to choose from, but here we have listed our best tours of Sagrada Familia and why we love them so much. From group tours to private tours, there’s something for every traveler and every budget.

• Unbeatable Barcelona in a Day Tour
• Skip the Line Sagrada Família Tour
• Private Barcelona in a Day Tour
• Private Tour of Barcelona by Electric Tuk Tuk
• Barcelona by e-bike

1. Unbeatable Barcelona in a Day Tour (6.5 Hours)

Have a limited amount of time in Barcelona? No problem. This tour combines our Park Güell and Sagrada Família tours to make sure you get a jam-packed, best-of-the-best excursion of the most popular sites.

In just a few hours, you’ll stroll around the beautiful Gothic Quarter and see celebrated architect Antoni Gaudí’s greatest works, including skip-the-line tickets to Casa Battló and Sagrada Família. This small group day tour is the perfect option to check every Barcelona must-see attraction off your itinerary list.

• Gothic Quarter walking tour
• Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of Park Güell
• Local jamón (ham) and cheese at the market
• Break for lunch (not included)
• Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of Sagrada Família
• Climate-controlled vehicle for certain stops
• A fun, English-speaking local guide
• Maximum group size of 18

2. Skip the Line Sagrada Familia Tour (1.5 Hours)

The Sagrada Família is not only one of the most celebrated buildings in Barcelona but in the entire world. With its highly decorative towers, this church is one of the most visited buildings due to its unique design. You can look at the architecture and have no idea the stories behind it, or you can go with a super knowledgeable guide who brings it to life.

Due to its popularity, the tower is typically plagued by long lines and even longer waits. What’s worse is that tickets often sell out quickly, meaning you might waste time in line for nothing. The solution is to book ahead with a tour group to ensure guaranteed access and a memorable visit. Best of all, with us, you’ll skip the line and save your vacation time!

• Skip-the-line tickets for Sagrada Família
• Guided tour of Gaudi’s famous church
• Super-knowledgeable, English-speaking guide
• A maximum group size of 18

Not ready to book a tour? Check out some great accommodation options instead.

3. Private Barcelona in a Day Tour (6.5 Hours)

Private tours have many benefits over group tours. Large group tours often end up feeling like a stage performance. The guide rattles their lines in the same style and pattern they have used for visit after visit.

Our guides are chosen not just for their knowledge but also for their enthusiasm. With a private tour, it becomes less street theatre and more of an ongoing conversation. Ask questions, press for more details, ask for stories on particular pieces, and don’t be shy. Our guides are experts and will be glad to escape their daily routine.

On this tour, like our group Barcelona in day tour, you will visit many of Gaudi’s masterpieces, visit emblematic neighborhoods, and come away with a deep understanding and appreciation of Barcelona’s many wonders.

Not only will your tickets be sorted, but you’ll also be able to skip the long lines and be expertly guided through the security lines. While the price is higher, the VIP treatment makes it all worthwhile.

• Private walking tour of the Gothic Quarter
• Local jamón (ham) and cheese tasting at the market (closed Sundays)
• Skip-the-line entry and private tour of Park Güell
• Free time for lunch (not included)
• Skip-the-line entry and private tour of Sagrada Família
• Your own expert English-speaking guide

4. Private Tour of Barcelona by Electric Tuk Tuk (2 Hours)

If you are planning to visit the interior of the Sagrada Familia and have pre-purchased tickets, then expect to put aside at least two hours to clear security and explore the interior. If time is pressing and you want to understand and see a lot of Barcelona’s wonders quickly, then this E-TukTuk tour is a great option.

On this tour, you won’t explore the interior of Gaudi’s masterpiece. However, you will learn its history, see its majestic towers, and explore Gaudí’s other masterpieces around the city. It’s a fun way for the whole family to see large tracts of Barcelona quickly and enjoyably. It’s especially useful for any visitors with mobility issues.

• English-speaking, expert guide
• Private Electric tuk tuk for four people
• See top Barcelona landmarks
• Admire Gaudí buildings
• Spain Square and Montjuic
• The Gothic Quarter
• See the Old Port and Ciutadella Park

5. Barcelona in a Half Day by Electric Bike (4 Hours)

Want to see the best of Barcelona in just a few hours and get a little exercise, too? This e-bike tour is a great way to explore many of Barcelona’s key sites in a quick and fun way. Plus, you’ll be burning plenty of calories to replace guilt-free with some wonderful local food, maybe even take a food tour to fill that void.

Strap on a helmet and hop on board a modern electric bike to embrace Barcelona in all its beauty. Soon, you’ll be whizzing past the Sagrada Familia (exterior only), La Rambla, Casa Mila, Casa Batlo, the old Olympic Village, Barcelona Harbor, and much more. The beauty of this tour is that you will see so much in just half a day. Its perfect for getting to grips with the city’s layout before a deeper exploration.

• Modern electric bike rental with helmet (kids’ sizes available)
• Guided e-bike tour of Barcelona
• Famous sites, neighborhoods, and hidden gems
• See Sagrada Familia (exterior only), the Olympic Village, the Gothic Quarter, and more!
• Tapas and drinks at a local restaurant
• Friendly English-speaking tour guide
• Maximum group size of 8

Not ready to book a tour? Check out the best places to eat in Barcelona to whet the appetite

Where To Stay in Barcelona

A great hotel at a great price has become the norm in this internet era. Our article explains what areas are the best in Barcelona so you can get a great deal in the perfect location!

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Barcelona Sagrada Familia & Old Town Walking Tour

Tour description.

Our Barcelona Walking Tour + Sagrada Familia brings you to the Old Town of Barcelona and the famous basilic of the Sagrada Familia. We explore the origin of today’s Barcelona which dates back to the Roman settlement, and how Barcelona started growing during the Middle Ages, becoming an important city across the Mediterranean. It is the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, with the cathedral and the narrow streets, that still reminds to the jewel of those times.

Furthermore this walking tour highlights  the Sagrada Familia basilic, master piece of Antoni Gaudí. Stories on the outside – there is so much to see and to know from the facades – as well as stories inside where you will be amazed by the space and seas of natural light converted in colorful beams changing during the day.

Our Barcelona Walking Tour Sagrada Familia is a 4 hour walking tour and may even become short to see all,  but overall you can take the tour at your pace and upon your interests

What’s more in ?

Your interest counts: no strict timeschedules Skip the waiting queues Sagrada Familia No standard talks Bring additionally a max of 8 persons

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Shore Excursion Benefits

This tour offers the following benefits to cruise passengers: Cruise Friendly Refund Policy Shore Excursions with this benefit will offer a full refund if any of the following occur: - Your cruise ship arrives late, and you miss your Shore Excursion as a result. - Your cruise ship changes its date of arrival and it is not possible to reschedule. - Your cruise ship skips port. - Your cruise is canceled by the cruise line. - You cancel prior to the Cancellation Deadline on your confirmation voucher. In the event of a refund claim for one of these reasons, Project Expedition will verify the cruise ship’s actual itinerary before processing a refund. To be eligible for a refund, you must submit your claim in writing no later than 14 days after the scheduled date of the Shore Excursion.

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Gaudí, Sagrada Familia & Modernism

In those days, at the turn of the 19th and 20th century, Barcelona was changing rapidly. The city was going through spectacular urban development. The fast industrialization resulted in giant fortunes being made in the blink of an eye. The modern city was forming, based on the new ideas fuelled by the movement of the Catalan cultural revival. It expressed itself in many fields of art: poetry, painting, sculpting and theatre, but most of all in architecture and decorative art.    

Barcelona was right in the heart of the Catalan modernist movement. With the money coming from affluent families who wanted their houses decorated in the most opulent style and some of the most creative minds in the history of architecture, it was here that the greatest masterpieces of this era were created. The best known architect who made Barcelona modernism immortal was of course Antoni Gaudí. 

Join us and let’s discover together the style that makes Barcelona different and unique compared to all the other cities in the world. Let us introduce you to the one and only Catalan modernism! We will visit together the famous city block often called “the apple of discord” where four of Barcelona most significant modernist architects Lluís Domènech i Montaner, Antoni Gaudí, Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Enric Sagnier were fighting for the palm of primacy and where their entirely different ways of expression clashed. We will see some of Gaudí’s masterpieces including the crazy Casa Batlló, built with almost no straight lines, bringing to mind some fantastic beast and La Pedrera, with its 33 balconies and facade looking like a cliff sculpted by nature, wind and waves, both included on the UNESCO Heritage List. We will finish the tour at the undisputed symbol of Barcelona – La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s ingenious, unfinished creation. It’s a tour you simply can’t miss!

During this 2,5 hour free walking tour, you will see and discover:

• Plaza Cataluña
• Eixample – district with many modernist buildings
• Passeig de Gràcia – one of the most important Barcelona avenues
• Manzana de la Discordia – the Apple of Discord – famous modernist city block with Casa Amatller, Casa Lleó Morera and Casa Batlló
• Sagrada Família
• and much, much more!

Very informative tour by Jules!

I attended the tour without knowing that much about the architecture of the city however during the tour not only got general information but also very interesting facts that Jules shared with. The tour was very engaging.

Great introductory tour

This was a very interesting tour with all the historical information and interesting quips to get you excited about seeing more of this area. I would highly recommend it as a precursor to going into the Gaudi sites.

Tour maravilhoso com Pedro

O tour com Pedro foi muito divertido e informativo. Ele conhece muito de arte e da história. Foi muito solícito e atencioso todo o percurso. Certamente participarei de novo!

Excelente guía y recorrido

Juan Pablo transmitió de manera increíble los mejores datos de cada edificio y de la historia

Enjoyable tour of the amazing architecture of Barcelona

Great tour explaining the history of the layout of the new town, stopping at 3 or 4 eye-catching buildings by Gaudi and others, finishing at Sagrada Familia. Highly recommmend

This tour is also available as a Private Tour.

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Exterior Sagrada Familia Free Walking Tour

Overview of the tour in Barcelona

• Discover the secrets behind all the details of Gaudi’s masterpiece • Get more than just a photo: understand the story of Gaudi’s genius vision • Perfect alternative for when Sagrada Família is sold out This tour covers much more information than any other tour of Sagrada Família and is the perfect combination with your own inside visit. We'll walk around the entire outside of Sagrada Família and learn about the meaning of the sculptures, symbolism and revolutionary construction and design techniques. Gaudi's life, inspiration and how his vision is being realized now. Every detail of Gaudi's life's work has a deeper meaning or a personal story behind it. The church was designed as if it's a living being. It has a lot of stories to tell, if you know how to find them! With the help of pictures, models and pointers you'll get a complete understanding of why Sagrada is considered one of the new Wonders of the World. Discover all the stories, secrets and deeper meanings behind Barcelona's most iconic landmark! ** Tour does not include an entry ticket into Sagrada Família **

This activity includes:

• La Sagrada Familia
• Passion Facade
• Nativity Facade
• Gaudi's Life
• Best Photo Spots
• How Gaudi's Vision is being Realized now
• Why does it take so long to build?
• When will it be completed?
• Gaudi's use of "divine" geometry

Meeting point

Avinguda de Gaudí, 2, 08025 Barcelona

We meet outside the KFC. Your guide will be wearing a pink or purple name tag!

Things to note

For Taxi/Uber I recommend using the “Free now” taxi app which is a local Uber that uses regular taxis. By public transport: Metro lines L2 or L5 to the station called “Sagrada Família”.

Free Cancellation

You are free to cancel a booking anytime. We kindly remind you to cancel bookings you cannot arrive for. Being reported as absent decreases your customer level points and the benefits you can enjoy.

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Sagrada Familia Closing Time Experience: Evening Light & Rooftop Views

Why take this tour?

• Enjoy one of Barcelona’s top attractions without the risk of tickets selling out or having to spend precious time waiting in long lines.
• See the Sagrada Familia from a hidden (and utterly Instagrammable) viewpoint while sipping a glass of cava.
• Bask in the beauty of Gaudí’s most enthralling building as most of the day’s crowds start to clear out.
• Hear the mind-blowing stories behind the fascinating architectural details, which can be hard to decipher on your own.
• Witness the setting sun illuminate the church through the famous stained-glass windows as you explore at the most peaceful time of day.
• Sites Visited
• The Sagrada Familia
• Rooftop terrace bar
• Tour Includes
• Local English-speaking guide
• Expertly guided walking tour
• Glass of cava
• Skip the line ticket to Sagrada Familia
• Small group of 15-20 guests maximum

Revel in the outstanding beauty and jaw-dropping details of Gaudí's work on this unique evening Sagrada Familia tour, complete with cava.

Total customer reviews: 37, latest reviews.

Meeting Point

Meeting Point  

Avinguda de Gaudí 2, 08025 Barcelona. Meet your guide in front of the large, ornate lamp post in the middle of the small pedestrian avenue between KFC and Burger King. Your guide will be holding a green Walks sign.  Please meet 15 minutes prior to the tour start time.  

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The Ultimate Insider’s Self-Guided Tour of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

La Sagrada Familia  is the beating heart of the city of Barcelona. It can be seen across the skyline almost anywhere you go. The top of the spires peaking out, watching over the city at all times. Designed by Catalan architect  Antoni Gaudí , construction began in 1882. And you might be surprised to learn that development is still occurring today. Currently, the best projection for its completion is 2026! A significant year that marks the centenary of the death of Gaudí. Despite its incomplete nature, this is THE MOST important sight to see when visiting Barcelona. Its history, design and the feeling you get upon stepping inside are unparalleled. The church feels like a summation of what Barcelona is all about. And understanding it before visiting or while you tour is essential to better enjoying this fantastic monument.

This is a very detailed guide, so I’ve been sure to make a table of contents for you in case you want to jump to a particular church area. This works great if you’re visiting and need more clarification on a certain area. If you’re looking for a shorter summary of what to see, check out my post on the ‘ Top 12 Things to See.’  That guide is ideal if you’re pressed for time and want just the  highlights tour !

Access & Admission

The Sagrada Familia is pretty easily accessible since it’s located in the centre of town. By metro, you just need to hop on the  L5 line  towards  Sants Station . Upon getting out of the metro, simply follow the signs for the ‘ Sagrada Familia.’  If you are arriving by bus, get on the  H10  and get off at the  València, Lepant  stop. If you bought a  Hop-On Hop-Off Bus  ticket, these also all stop right in front of the church.

When to Go?

When booking your ticket, you need to select a specific  entry time . I’d recommend not leaving it too late. You want to give yourself plenty of time to explore before the church closes. I’d recommend booking your ticket an hour or two before sunset. That way, you can see the building in the light of day and enjoy the magnificent lighting effect of the sunset across the structure. The golden light inside the church casts the most magical glow over the entire nave. And it feels like being transported to another earthly plane of existence.

As the  Sagrada Familia  is the most famous landmark in Barcelona, it draws in some shocking numbers daily. It’s no surprise that thousands of people enter their doors daily. Booking your tickets in advance is always best to ensure you can experience this church easily. You can  buy your tickets online  up to two months in advance. But I’d advise that you only book them about a week or two before your arrival unless you’re visiting during the holiday season.

Which ticket to buy?

There are basically four ticket types for visiting the Sagrada Familia :

• Basic Ticket 17€
• Audio Guide Ticket 25€
• Guided Tour Ticket 26€
• Audio Guide and Towers Ticket 32€

While I did enjoy my guided tour, and I’d usually strongly recommend them, I felt like the guide rushed us through the church. Fair enough, there is so much to see, and you only have them for an hour. But even still, it felt incomplete. Even though I could go back to what I felt I’d missed after the guided tour, there was so much to see that I wished I could have understood better. That’s why I created this blog!

This self-guided tour allows you to go at your own pace. You can sit and absorb what you’re seeing. Take a moment to just listen to the sounds around you. And learn about all the facets of the church. Plus, this free tour will save you a bit of money. While the towers are interesting to see and give a nice view over the city, there are betters views to be found for a much lower price. So I’d advise skipping them and instead focusing on looking into the building instead of out of it.

During the 19th century Barcelona, along with the rest of Europe, was undergoing a significant change. The church, which had once held such immense power and authority over cities, now lost its cultural influence with the growth of independent governments. Urban lifestyles were changing the way that Catalonians lived, and more and more, the church was becoming less and less a central part of their daily routine.

In 1866 the Spanish clergy created the  Association of Devotees of Saint Joseph . They took it upon themselves to help bring back the relevance of faith and spirituality in Catalonia. They raised enough money to start construction on a wondrous temple. A church is so spectacular and eye-catching that it would be the spot where pilgrims from all over the world would travel and which would encourage locals to come back into the fold. The church was dedicated to the Holy Family. The first architect of the church was  Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano . But soon after construction started, he resigned. They then enlisted Catalan architect  Antoni Gaudí . And that one decision would be the catalyst for the creation of what is now one of the greatest man-made wonders of the world.

Master Architect Antoni Gaudi

Antoni Gaudí  is the mastermind behind this incredible church design. Gaudí’s works can be seen all across Barcelona. And he was one, if not the most, influential artist who helped create the  Modernism  movement in Catalonia. Gaudí was inspired by neo-Gothic art, organic forms, and Oriental techniques, which can be seen throughout.

Gaudí’s style formed the artistic style of the city, and the critical piece to his portfolio is the Sagrada Familia. Gaudí’s greatest inspirations were nature and religion. In designing the Sagrada Familia, he combines these elements to near perfection. Gaudí’s aim in creating this Basilica was to link heaven and earth together. He was inspired by the nearby Montjuic Mountains’ shape and power over the valley. He wanted the church to feel like a new mountain sprung from the ground.

Gaudi’s Death

Gaudí was run down by a streetcar and died in 1926. Only a small portion of the Basilica had been built when he passed. Although his life was cut short, Gaudí knew he would never see the church finished. He looked back to the great medieval cathedrals which took hundreds of years to create. Some take over 100 years from start to completion. He put every ounce of creativity, innovation and imagination into the temple’s design. When he died, his revolutionary work would inspire the next architect who took over. Many people were surprised that Gaudí would set out to create something which would take so long to build; when asked why, Gaudí would always say, “ My client is not in a hurry.”  This is where he got the nickname “God’s Architect.”

Sagrada Familia Design

The Sagrada Familia is 4,500 square meters large. It’s the size of an American football field. And when you see it in person, you can truly understand how big it is. The Basilica’s layout is that of a traditional Latin cross design. The Latin cross design features five naves, a crossing, an apse and an exterior cloister-style ambulatory. The exterior has three different facades, each a varied work of art whose imagery tells a story. Although not yet built, the tallest part of the church will be 172.5 meters tall. The highest point in the city but just shorter than Montjuic Mountain (because no man-made building should exceed what God created). The church can hold 14,000 worshippers! That’s the size of a small city. Gaudí wanted to create a place where everyone in the city could gather. Making it feel like it was always open to whoever wanted to come in. A small church just wouldn’t have had the same effect.

It’s important to highlight that, for our readers to understand Gaudi’s vision and references, we will be talking broadly about stories from the bible. And while not everyone who visits this church will be religious, the context will help you understand the meaning behind the construction. If you aren’t spiritual, just think of these citations as stories (or consider the real people who inspired those characters).

The Nativity Facade

To enter the Sagrada Familia these days, you’ll approach via the Nativity Facade. This was the only part of the church entirely designed by Gaudí. And he almost saw it finished as it was completed in 1935, just after his death. He was there almost daily overseeing the work, and it feels like the part of the church which is the most personal. The Nativity Facade has three entrances. One central and two lateral topped with four hollow bell towers, representing the four stripes of the Catalan flag. The Nativity facade faces the rising sun, as it represents the dawn of the life of Jesus Christ.

The three entrances on the Nativity facade are each dedicated to a theological virtue of the three members of the Holy Family; Hope, Charity and Faith. A portico is a triangular porch hanging over the church’s entrance. One of the most delightful little aspects of these entrances is the little details you might miss, so keep your eyes peeled.

One of these small details to notice when looking at the entire facade are the snowcaps carved into the stone. The snow is meant to look like it is melting off the tops of the hollows of the entrances. Gaudí used snow to remind the people of the festive Christmas season. So many aspects of Gaudí’s plans were drawn from historical architectural references. But others were meant to evoke a response for the common man. Something everyone can understand and evokes something within them.

Gaudi’s Gargoyles

Instead of gargoyles, which are so prevalent in neo-gothic architecture, you’ll find a different kind of creature which caps the various edges of the roofline on the Sagrada Familia. Gaudí chose to use reptiles and amphibians (like snails, frogs, chameleons and lizards.) These creatures crawl on the edges of the building. While gargoyles are mythical creatures, Gaudí chose to pick beasts from our world who are biblically associated with the lower ranks. Gaudi believed they served the same monstrous purpose as the gargoyles in Gothic churches. They are not decorative, but their open mouths are used to drain rainwater from the temple’s roof.

The Hope Portico

The Hope Portico, dedicated to Saint Joseph, is on the far left side of the facade. This portico depicts scenes of virtue in times of adversity. We’ll study this piece from the top of the entrance, continuing downwards, beginning with St. Joseph’s Pinnacle.

St. Joseph’s Pinnacle

St. Joseph’s Pinnacle is almost hard to make out. It’s so high up, and sculptures blend in with the rest of the stonework. The textures given to the exterior are designed to reflect the crags you find on Montserrat, the sacred mountain of Catalonia. Just below the climax of the Hope Portico, you’ll see the figure of Saint Joseph sitting inside a small boat. The boat is an important symbol. Saint Joseph helped navigate the Catholic church as the patriarch of the Holy Family.

On the ship’s helm are three emblematic objects; a dove, an anchor and a lantern. The dove symbolizes the holy spirit, the anchor signifies faith’s constant grounding, and the lamp implies the light the word of Jesus Christ provided to the faithful. It’s important to note that this carving of Saint Joseph is thought to resemble Gaudí himself. The sculptors decided after his untimely death to immortalize Gaudí in the church. Gaudí himself feels like a patriarchal figure to all those architects who would follow in his footsteps.

The Holy Marriage

Below the pinnacle, in the hollow of the top arch, we find a grouping of three people. This is the scene of the marriage of Saint Joseph to the Virgin Mary carried out by a high priest who stands in the centre. They kneel over a basket of roses that symbolize God’s love at work in the world. Blossoming below this sculptural group are luscious flowers reminiscent of those growing on the Nile banks. Egypt was where the holy family experienced so much fear and terror; eventually, they had to flee the country. But they fled not without hope, which is what this entrance is dedicated to remembering. Hanging amongst the flowers are stone-carved rosary beads. 59 beads surround most of the windows on the porticos. Another way in which Gaudí combined the physical act of prayer into his church.

The Tympanum

Above the doorway, in the Hope Portico, we have the tympanum, which contains scenes from Jesus’ childhood. These tender moments between the young Jesus make him much more human rather than godly. On the bottom right, we see the Holy Family with Mary and Joseph and an angel guide fleeing Egypt. In the centre, we see the child Jesus in his father’s arms. A single dove flies off into the distance below them. Amidst this scene of father and son is something which you might miss. A set of carpentry tools carved in stone. Jesus’ adolescence was spent being a carpenter’s apprentice. And it was lovely to see that human side of his life immortalized in stone.

Slaughter of the Innocents

On the right, we have one of the most violent scenes from the bible: the Slaughter of the Innocents. This display shows a Roman soldier tearing a child from their mother’s arms. Under the soldier’s feet are babies’ bodies who have already fallen to the soldier’s sword. Although this is hard to see, if you manage to look closely, you can see that the Roman soldier has six toes on one foot. A small detail but one denoting his monstrosity.

Although this is a sad scene, it’s an important historical moment. When hope was all that these people had to cling to survive. On this side, the edges of the entrance are formed into the shape of a chameleon. The chameleon is an animal that represents change, and change is what hope is based upon. The fact is that even in the darkest times, there will be light. Light is representative of change, and the turning of tides gives even the most lost hope.

The Charity Portico

The central and most crucial portico on the Nativity Facade is the Charity Portico. Jesus’ charitable nature was one of his most notable characteristics, yet this entrance is filled with scenes of the Virgin Mary. This reflects how those who nurture us pass on their core values and attributes. The textural treatment of this portico is slightly different than the others. The exterior is covered in design elements that resemble or call back to the stable in which Jesus was born. Animals, birds and various plants are hidden throughout the mass of ornamentations that swell over the pointed portico.

The Tree of Life

Again, starting from the top down, let’s first focus on the  Tree of Life . The culminating part of this portico is capped with a polychrome-coated green cypress tree. Polychrome decorates architectural elements, like pottery or sculpture, in various colours. Gaudí originally intended for the entire Nativity facade to be polychromed. He believed that if every sculpture, face, plant and animal were painted, they would come to life in a much more realistic way. Unfortunately, the cost of this much exceeded the budget! And so, polychrome was used sparingly. But therein making where you see those colours that much more impactful.

Symbolism on the Tree

The cypress tree symbolizes eternity since it’s an evergreen plant and never loses its leaves. Covering the tree are 21 white doves that fly out of their nests and into the sky. On the top of the tree, like a Christmas Star, is the red and white symbol of the holy trinity. The Greek cross formed the base of this symbol. The Greek cross combines the letters’ alpha’ and ‘omega,’ which mean the beginning and the end. Atop the cross is the last white dove, its arms spread wide, resembling the shape of Jesus on the cross.

Two ladders are placed below the tree, representing our mortal desire to reach eternal life. Below the tree, you’ll see a pelican perched, her beak angeled toward two baby birds, ready to be fed. The pelican was once believed to be a symbol of the Eucharist as in ancient times, people thought the pelican opened its chest to feed its young, just like Christ offered up his own body to feed his disciples. Hidden beneath the young pelicans is a brightly coloured egg adorned with red and yellow glass. The egg is thought to represent either the birth of the universe or the symbol of Jesus’ resurrection.

Below the tree is a group of angels burning incense inside old vessels called ‘centers.’ Burning incense in the church is an ancient tradition representing the faithful’s prayers rising to heaven. The pinnacle’s stonework is covered in little bubbles, thought to represent the incense floating up toward the sky. It’s important to note that the angels here were actually sculpted by Gaudí himself.

The Crowning of Mary

Below the tree of life, we come to a small cave. Here we can see a little intimate scene of Jesus placing a copper crown atop the Virgin Mary’s head. Crowning her the Queen of Heaven on Earth. This was her reward for her ceaseless love for God and humanity. Despite what they had done to her beloved son. On the left, we see Saint Joseph there to witness the event. And on the right, we see the Holy Spirit represented as a man. The entire scene is set in front of one of the incredibly colourful stained glass rose windows. At certain times of the day, the glass seems to set the entire scene aglow with mystical light.

The Charity Vault

The vault in the Charity portico contains the scene of the Annunciation. We find the archangel Gabriel told Mary that she is the chosen one. Who will bring the son of God into this world? Surrounding this petite scene are the signs of the zodiac. And depictions of constellations across the sky. Just as they would have been on the night Jesus was born. Bands of rosary beads surround the scene. Hanging around the rosary are medallions carved in stone representing the ‘Miraculous Medals,’ which you find around rosary bracelets.

The Chorus of Angels

Above the Charity doorways, here is a chorus of angels. Each angel is a musician, playing popular instruments in religious settings. Instruments like the lute, the violin and the harp, the more common guitar, the bagpipes and the tambourine can all be found here. Once more, this was a way of the common fold being able to see themselves in the divine. Running up between the two sets of stained glass windows behind the angels is the multi-pointed star of Bethlehem. This was the star that shone in the sky to announce the birth of Jesus.

The Adorations

To the left of the double doorway, we can see sculptures of the Adoration of the Magi. And on the right, we have the Adorations of the Shepherds. Some scenes from the Nativity represent how Jesus’ arrival brought people from such disparate groups together. For me, this scene is especially poignant since I feel Gaudí achieved a similar reaction in the construction of this church. No matter if you are religious, spiritual or neither, this building still draws people from far and wide into its arms. And once they behold it for themselves, there is never a question of its outstanding cultural value.

The Monumental Columns

Three primary columns are located at the base of the church, each representing a member of the holy family. The one in the centre of the two charity doors is the Jesus’ Column, and the other two flanking the charity portico are dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. On the very top of the central column is baby Jesus, being placed into a bassinet by his mother. His father looks on, as do an ox and mule, just like the Christmas carol. To the left of this scene is a small text inscription expressing “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” a phrase spoken by the angels on the night Jesus was born.

Large palm leaves look like they’re supporting the group atop the column. Palm leaves are a symbol of victory in Roman culture, and the date fruits hanging from the leaves symbolize faith. Surrounding the column is a thick ribbon with inscriptions inlaid upon it. The form of ribbon almost looks like one side of a DNA strand. Fittingly, it is thought that the inscriptions on the fabric are Jesus’ genealogy dating back to Abraham. Halfway down the column, the stone is surrounded by dense iron mesh. If you peek through the mesh, you can make out the shape of the snake biting an apple, the symbol of original sin. The iron mesh traps the reptile from fleeing the garden and invading the pious world.

Carvings on the Column

Atop the two remaining columns flanking the sides of the Charity portico are a pair of angels playing long bronze trumpets announcing the birth of Jesus. The models for these sculptures were a group of military musicians who were good friends with Gaudi. The angels stand atop more palm leaves, covered in snow and dates. The centre of the columns is marked with an inscription, each inscribed with the names of those to whom they are dedicated to. At the bottom of the columns are carvings of a tortoise and a turtle, holding the entire weight of the column up. The turtle represents the land, and the tortoise the sea. Both of these animals are unchanging and, as such, are capable of being the foundation upon which this church is built.

At the bottom of the columns is the carving of a tortoise and, on the other, a turtle, holding the entire weight of the column up. The turtle represents the land, and the tortoise the sea. Both of these animals are unchanging and, as such, are capable of being the foundation upon which this church is built.

Faith Portico

The last of the tree porticos is on the far right-hand side, called the Faith Portico. This portico is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, yet most of the scenes here actually feature her son when he was a young boy and his life during adolescence.

While centred around Jesus, these scenes show Mary’s faith in God. Imagine being a mother and seeing your son grow up so innocent and kind, all the while knowing he will die for the sins of humanity, and you’ll be the one to bury him. It takes a strong woman to keep faith in this knowledge, and yet she persevered and, not only that, made sure to be the best mother she could be against all the odds. I think everyone can take something from this story into their own lives at times when they feel they perhaps have lost faith in themselves or the direction their lives are going.

Blessed Virgin’s Pinnacle

At the very top of the portico is the Blessed Virgin’s Pinnacle. The head of the pinnacle is capped with ears of wheat springing forth. These symbolize the bread Jesus shares with his disciples in the Last Supper. Below, in a small hollow cave, is a carving of a hand with an open eye in the centre. This is the symbol of divine providence, which represents God, who can see all and even perhaps influence the destiny of humankind. Vines and grapes intertwine all over this pinnacle, another symbolic element of the Last Supper.

In the centre of these vines is the figure of the Virgin Mary, her hands crossed over her chest and head leaning back, utter vulnerability and trust emitting through her language. Mary stands upon a three-pointed lamp, representing the light of the holy trinity. Below her figure, we can see Saint Joseph’s anagram, another little detail tieing these two people together consistently through the design, even when they are not physically together.

Jesus in Simon’s Arms

In the hollow at the top of the portico is Jesus in Simon’s arms in the temple of Jerusalem. Many parents would bring their children to the temple to be blessed. A bowl is at the bottom of the scene, and within it are two birds. But these are not doves as we’ve seen before, but are pigeons. Every parent needed to bring a sacrifice to the temple for their child to be blessed. Most people would bring a lamb to display wealth, but as Mary and Joseph were poor, they could only afford to bring two meagre pigeons.

Central Scene on the Faith Portico

Under the vault on the Faith portico is a beautiful rose window made up of multicoloured glass. Looking up from underneath the vault is the figure of Jesus seated in a chair, his hands raised towards the sky. On his left side is Saint John the Baptist. On the right is Saint Zachariah. These two scholars were some of Jesus’ best teachers and would shape how he would preach. Despite being his elders, they are seen here looking at Jesus with admiration and wonder. Below the scholars, right above the doorway, is the symbol of the heart of Jesus, surrounded by thorns and covered in bees who feast on the blood. A morbid foreshadowing of things to come.

On the left-hand side of the doorway, we can see the scene of the visitation of the Virgin Mary. Here we have Mary, pregnant with baby Jesus, visiting her cousin who at the same time was pregnant with the would-be Saint John the Baptist. In the scene on the right, we find Jesus as a young carpenter at his work table. In front of him are the figures of Mary and Joseph. Their faces are that of surprise, anguish and denial as they learn of their son’s fate for the first time. But Jesus remains unphased, working quietly on his carpentry, his posture slightly slumped, mirroring a more human figure who knows not yet of his divine destiny.

The Spires and Towers

Gaudi desired to make the Sagrada Familiar as the tallest building in Barcelona. He was inspired by stories of architects in medieval times who built their churches as the central figure in the city. These churches needed to be tall as they were often used as meeting points, a guiding light to those travelling into town. Their bell towers signal the beginning of the workday or even warn people of fires, earthquakes or other devastating events. Gaudi wanted to implement this same idea, but just one tower wouldn’t suffice. He decided to far and away exceed anything created for basilicas before.

Gaudi’s design called for eighteen spires, reaching up toward the heavens. The hollow and hole-filled design of the spires makes them look like a sort of beehive or anthill, as the stone’s colour so closely resembles the earth. But the hollow design was actually a form of lanterning, an architectural element that illuminates the church while also giving it enormous height and grandeur.

The spires are representative, in ascending order of elevation, of the Twelve Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the four Evangelists and, tallest of all, Jesus Christ. The Evangelists’ spires were designed to be topped by sculptures of their corresponding symbols. A bull for Saint Luke, symbolizing sacrifice, service and strength. An angel stands for Saint Matthew, who represents Jesus’ human Incarnation, who, upon his death, became divine. An eagle sets off to soar in the representation of Saint John, as the eagle symbolizes a figure of the sky and the fact that Christians should look to their eternal fate instead of their mortal one. And finally, we have Saint Mark represented by a lion. Saint Mark’s beautiful gospels were thought to be the “voice of the one who cries in the wilderness,” like the roar of a lion.

Atop each of the spires along the perimeter of the church, over top of the cloisters, are a set of pinnacles. These are in various shapes, abstractions of elements of the bishop’s attire, such as the mitre, the ring, the cross and the staff. They are all decorated in rich tones of Murano glass which is much stronger than ceramics, so they can withstand the elements up high.

Jesus and Mary Towers

The Virgin Mary tower will be the widest right over the high altar. Her tower is currently finished, but its shape has already been a form of a cathedral. Her tower, once completed, will be crowned by the ‘morning star.’ This star is the guiding light that travellers use to find their way even in darkness, and the star is still visible even when the sun has risen at dawn.

The interior of her tower is made up of a large hyperboloid skylight which brings natural light into the presbytery. The hyperboloid will be covered in white tiles, the colour of purity, looking like a divine cyclone sucking in the light from above. The largest and tallest of the towers, the Jesus Christ Tower, has yet to be built, but once completed will be the most impressive of them all, reaching a height of 172.5 meters, capped with a Gaudí-style four-armed cross. The tower’s interior will act as a giant lantern since Gaudi wanted this part of the church to reflect the phrase Jesus spoke, “I am the light of the world.”

The Cimborio

At the top of the spires, you’ll find elaborately coloured and designed cimborio. A cimborio is a dome or a cupola from traditional Spanish architecture. Gaudi’s cimborio is more sculptural, with images of plants decorating the surface, specifically those plants connected to the Christian faith. We see ears of corn, wheat, cedar and lavender all swirling around. Gaudi also chose plants native to the Mediterranean or that once grew on the site where the church was built. Gaudi used his technique of trencadis cladding to ensure the tops were as colourful as possible so you could see them across the sky from all over town.

The Cloisters

As you enter the Nativity facade, you pass through those large doors and enter the cloisters surrounding the entire church. A traditional cloister was first used in monasteries and was meant “enclosure.” It was a covered walkway for the monks to use as a space of private contemplation. When cloisters were incorporated into cathedrals, they would run along one side of the church.

Gaudi used his cloisters in a revolutionary way; instead of just placing them on one side of the church, he wrapped them around the entirety of the Basilica. This was his solution to create separation or barrier between the church’s interior and the loud and obnoxious outside world. This resulted in a quieter interior and an almost zen-like atmosphere. A conventional monastery cloister would surround a garden. Because the interior here would be the church’s apse, Gaudi made sure that his interior still felt like a garden, like the of Eden. A mythical forest in the centre of town.

Cloisters and Light

Gaudi wanted to find a way to bring natural light into the interior of the church even though there were no windows that faced directly outside the apse. He did this through his ingenious redesign of the cloister windows. Gaudi went through two different variations in his light experiments. Both of which are still present to this day. The first was designed in 1890 and was based on the three ogival modules inspired by traditional Gothic architecture.

The secondary design done in 1919 was a more modern interpretation of Gaudi’s which looked less like Gothic art and was more inspired by nature. These circular windows, stacked in a triangular pyramid, looked like a honeycomb and fit better with the rest of the naturalist design across the temple. The cloisters also served another purpose. By having this area around the entirety of the church, Gaudi made it so that these galleries could be an area where people could move throughout the church quickly without interrupting the worship that was taking place inside.

The Bronze floral Doors

To enter the church, we must head back to the Charity portico and walk through the archway. The doors you pass on your way are made from polychrome bronze and designed by various plant species and covers and are ed in highly realistic insects. The paintwork on these doors is breathtaking and an introduction to the colours you’ll be wowed with inside.

The Rosary Portal

You’ll first pass through the Rosary Portal to enter the church’s interior. This incredible doorway is called the door of  Our Lady of the Rosary . In the tympanum above the doorway is the sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding a crowed baby Jesus. Mary also wears a crown, as she is the Queen of Heaven on Earth, but she is also symbolically crowned with an archway of roses on the portal above her. Since the rose is the symbol of purity is almost always hidden somewhere in depictions of the Virgin Mary.

Above this doorway is a cupola lantern which perfectly lets in a ray of light that highlights Mary’s face. This effect is almost too beautiful, and if you didn’t know the cupola was there, it takes on looks heavenly side of the doorways are various sculptures of characters from the old testament.

On the bottom of the arches around the door are scenes dedicated to the theme of temptation. We see the temptation of woman, the death of Judas and the temptation of man. The temptation of man is the most surprising as it is symbolized by a fish-like devil offering a bomb to man. While you might not always associate the devil with bombs, this scene was of particular significance to the people of Barcelona. Bombs were heavily used during the Spanish civil war, and this particular artist was inspired to make this alteration after the bombing of Barcelona’s Liceo Theatre in 1893.

The Interior Apse

The floorplan of the Sagrada Familia is designed to replicate the traditional Latin cross, but Gaudi’s floorplan featured five naves, a large central one and four lateral naves. He also took it upon himself to widen the naves, therein creating an unparalleled vastness of space, which feels impossible to have in such a lavish interior. But with all this space, there had to be structure. Some way to keep the building from falling down without sacrificing that ethereal atmosphere.

The Arborescent Columns

The interior of the church was meant to resemble a spiritual forest. Gaudi wanted it to feel like a retreat into nature. Gothic churches were revolutionary in creating openness and space; they wanted the interior to feel light and the high ceilings as if they were reaching up toward the heavens. Gaudi once more wanted to take this to the next level. He wanted to incorporate huge stained glass windows on either side, which meant they could not be load-bearing, so that load had to be carried elsewhere.

Gaudi researched for years to develop this new concept he called the ‘Arborescent Columns.’ Inspired by the strength and beauty of large trees, the columns tilt slightly about their height so they can withstand the roof load. They also split off in two directions, like the branches of a tree and also like a flying buttress to better support the vaults. At any time, you expect to see birds flying from branch to branch, making a nest for themselves. And what better place to do it?!

36 Tree Columns

There are 36 columns in total with different heights and widths. The variation of these sizes makes them seem more unique and less man-made. Four materials were used to create the columns; porphyry, basalt, granite and Montjuic stone. The Porphyry columns support the vaults over the crossing and are the widest in diameter. They are the red-coloured columns which contain the Evangelists’ lights. The basalt columns have ten sides and are one of the most durable materials. The granite columns are blueish-grey in colour and are only eight-sided. The final columns are made from Montjuic stone and are the thinnest.

Gaudi combined classical Gothic architecture and Catalan art to create these star-like vaults on the roof, which light could easily pass through. The stars are formed by combining concave and convex hyperboloid shapes, which are systems used to disperse light and spread out the roof load of the stars also closely resemble the form of palm leaves, a powerful symbol in Christianity. Each vault centre is filled with a light diffuser decorated with colourful stained glass in various Christian symbols.

Natural Light

Light is one of the strongest symbols of faith in Christianity, so it was crucial to Gaudi to bring as much natural light as possible, the light of God, into the Basilica. Gaudi developed a new way of creating stained glass, comprised of three panes resulting in a mixture of tones and colours to cast a magical glow into the nave. The leading artist who created these windows was Vila-Grau. Vila-Grau used curved shapes to create abstract forms and ensured that the warm and cool tones were kept separate, resulting in this consistent light flow.

The Evangelist Capitals

Four Porphyry columns are capped with the Evangelists’ symbols, two on each side of the transept. The capitals are decorated with  tetramorphs , the four angelic beings from Babylonian symbolism, which describe the vision of the Hebrew Prophet Ezekiel of the Evangelists. “As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.” These capitals are lit from within to ensure they are always illuminated even when there isn’t any natural light.

The High Altar

When you enter the church, before looking up (although I know that’s really hard), take a look at the flooring. The shimmery golden tiles are accented with two thick red lines. One of the lines symbolizes the ‘Path of Humanity,’ which runs from the Glory facade to the apse, and the ‘Path of Jesus Christ,’ which runs from the Nativity to the Passion facade. Where the two lines meet is where we find the high altar. The meeting of the divine and the human in one place here inside the church. The high altar has a ceiling two meters taller than the rest of the nave to give it that little extra touch of gravitas.

Over the high altar, we find the incredible sculptural masterpiece called a  baldachin . A baldachin is a large canopy in a heptagon shape with seven edges, traditionally placed over an altar. These sever corners represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. Fifty little hanging lights illuminate the rim of the canopy. Around the rim springs grape vines and wheat, the symbols of the Eucharist. A ribbon around the baldachin writes out the Prayer of Glory in back-lit red and Gaudí-style lettering.

Saint Joseph Transept

Located on the Nativity side of the church is the Saint Joseph Transept, presided over by a large sculpture of Joseph himself. Joseph stands there prominently with a sceptre of lilies in his hand. Lilies represent his holiness and his celibate marriage to the Blessed Virgin. The walkway above the transept is made of dozens of Roman columns and is an easy way for the clergy to get around the church without interrupting the service. The stained glass windows featured on this wall are made of cool tones, and the morning light pours through this portion of the church.

One interesting aspect of studying stained glass is that the colours become denser and denser as we descend from the top down, letting in less and less light. This is so that the light is the brightest at the top, where you’ll find the divine, and lower to the ground, where we have humanity and slightly less light, creating a perfect space for meditation and reflection.

On the opposite side, facing the Passion Facade, is the Virgin Mary Transept. In the centre is the figure of the Virgin Mary under a simplistic, geometric star-shaped vault. Behind her is a beautiful example of abstract stained glass made by Joan Vila-Grau entitled ‘The Resurrection.’ This side faces the setting sun and is coloured with entirely warm tones, warm tones which make the heart feel full and content, expressing hope upon Jesus’ Resurrection.

The Apsidal Chapels

The apse has seven chapels dedicated to the seven gospels of Saint Joseph. These chapels are lit from above and by impressive stained glass windows. In between these panels are the adorable carving of angel heads peeking out from the walls.

The Great Doorway

This entrance, called the Great Doorway, will eventually be the main entrance into the church once the Glory facade is finished construction. The two solid bronze doors will open out into the facade, weighing over two thousand kilos! The designer of these doors is the same one who made the Passion Facade,  Josep Maria Subirachs . The doorways are inscribed with the words “Give us this day our daily bread” in fifty different languages. Above the door is the abstracted sculpture of Saint Geroge, the patron saint of Catalonia.

The Choir Galleries

Above the nave is a separate space that houses the choir during church services. This area can hold over 1000 singers since Gaudi wanted their voices to fill this enormous temple. Gaudi thought the importance of acoustics in the building to be of the utmost importance as he loved music so much. It was one of the few ways he could unwind and relax. The hyperbolic vaulting he used throughout the church was made to reverberate the sound throughout the church in a harmonious way and provide light.

The large pipe organ looks almost holographic in certain lights and has over 1,492 pipes. And what a sound it makes when played. Gaudi wanted this organ and the music of God it created to fill the nave like the ocean. Washing across the worshippers and visitors alike.

Winding Staircase

Gaudi didn’t ever want to break up the natural movement of the Basilica. No straight set of stairs would be acceptable. So Gaudi created these sets of winding staircases which the clergy could use to access the upper levels. The staircases are almost completely open, with some circular cutouts, similar to those in the cloisters, to ensure they are perfectly lit without artificial light.

As you walk along the back of the nave, behind the altar, be sure to look down and see if you can peek into the small peepholes which open up into the crypt. Head down to see the interior of this hidden part of the church. The crypt, located under the nave and high altar, holds 12 chapels. The roof of the crypt is supported by 22 ribbed cross vaults, each decorated with shimmering keystones. Some of the keystones are adorned with scenes from the bible. The central keystone with the gold-leafed carving of Mary’s Annunciation is the most impressive. The bright gold brings the smallest details to life, making this image shine like a star underground.

Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

You’ll find the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel inside the crypt. This chapel is of particular significance since it is where you’ll find Gaudi’s final resting place. Located on the far left-hand side of the front wall, his tomb is presided over by the Lady of Mount Carmel. Gaudi is laid to rest under a simple, jet-black tombstone.

Gaudi made it his mission to bring natural light into the otherwise darkened crypts. And he did so through those small holes in the vaults which bring light in from the nave. He also made sure to include a lot of vibrant stained glass. This created a feeling of lightness and brightness despite being underground. It is unlike any other crypt I’ve visited around the world. The stained glass within the crypt is decorated with images of angels, another interesting juxtaposition for a crypt since angels are generally found in the sky, whereas these ones are found buried under the foundation.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by José Luis Rodríguez Pineda (@joseluis661959)

The Passion Facade

The final portion of the tour of the church is the Passion Facade. This facade is located on the side of the building where the sun sets. The darkness reflects the ultimate sacrifice and death Jesus would incur. Compared with the ornate, natural forms of the Nativity Facade, the Passion Facade is gloomy, stark and restrained. Gaudi made sketches for this part of the church when he fell ill with a terrible sickness and almost passed away. This illness was the closest to death Gaudi would ever come since his eventual death would sneak up on him. During this sickness, he was consumed with fear. And he poured all these emotions into the design of this part of the temple.

While Gaudi died long before this part of the church began construction, architect  Josep Maria Subirachs  took up his mantle and made it his mission to create precisely what Gaudi had envisioned. Subirach’s figures are inspired by expressionism, in contrast to the realistic figures on the Nativity portal. There are over 100 figures depicted, grouped into 13 different scenes. They rise upwards in an S-shape, starting, in chronological order, with the last Supper and ending in the crucifixion.

Capping the facade is the pyramid-shaped pediment. This pediment is formed with eighteen bone-shaped pillars, which symbolize those who died. The columns of the Passion Facade reach out towards the street. Unlike a regular column which just goes straight up, they are placed at an angle. Seemingly drawing the viewer in from the outside.

Last Supper

In the bottom left corner, we see Subirachs’ interpretation of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane during the Last Supper. All the faces we see here are gaunt and abstract. They seem less human, and each one appears to have an expression of sadness on their face. Jesus turns to his disciples to explain what will happen as Judas is off to the side, accepting the blood money for betraying his friend.

The Kiss of Judas

We then move to the scene where Juda kisses Jesus, indicating he is the man whom the Roman soldiers must arrest. In the bottom right corner of this scene, you’ll see the snarling face of a snake. The snake represents the devil as this reptile is regarded as one of the lowest terrestrial animals, closest to the devil’s lair. Besides the two men is a set of numbers on a grid called the ‘magic square.’ The magic square features a collection of numbers which, when added either along one row, one column or diagonally across, always add up the same number. In this case, the number is 33. 33 is the age at which it is thought that Jesus Christ died; it also contains the number 3 twice, which is the symbol of the holy trinity.

The Flagellation Column

On the main level, in the centre, we have the Flagellation Column. Bringing this scene almost at eye level with the visitors is a critical choice and, once more, brings humanity back to this otherwise godlike man. Everywhere else where Jesus is depicted, he is within a group, but here he is totally alone. An interesting detail is the three steps which lead up to the column, symbolizing the three days between Jesus’ crucifixion and the resurrection. Subirach used travertine marble to carve the column, the same stone used in all the buildings in ancient Rome.

The Bronze Doors

Three broad sets of bronze doors are set behind and on either side of the Flagellation Column. On the right, we have the Gethsemane door; in the centre is the Gospel door and on the left is the Coronation of Thorns. The main entrance used today into the church is through the Gospel door. This door contains thousands of raised letters with passages from various texts relating to the last days of Jesus’ life.

The Gethsemane door looks almost like a sketchbook. It combines text and images relating to the prayers Jesus’ made in the Garden of Gethsemane, pleading for God to change his mind and save his mortal life. The Coronation of Thorn’s door has two main scenes. One of the scenes depicts the soldiers presenting Jesus to Herod and Pontius Pilate and being crowned with thorns. The top scene is of the humiliation of the soldiers who tortured Jesus on the way to the cross.

The Denial of Peter & Ecce Homo and the Trial of Jesus

This sculpture depicts the three times Peter denied he knew Jesus, represented by three women. He wears a large sheet, a symbol of cowardice. In the next scene, we see Pilate presenting Jesus to the people. In the final scene, we see Pilate washing his hands as he announces to the crowd, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see you to it.”

The Three Mary’s and Simon Cyrene

In the next vignette, we see the three Marys; The Virgin Mary, Mary Magdelene and Mary of Cleophas. On the ground is the fallen form of Jesus, and the man carrying the cross is actually Simon Cyrene, who helped Jesus take the cross to the sight of the crucifixion. It is thought that this man showed sympathy for Jesus as he walked, so the soldiers forced Cyrene to carry the cross, another example of the soldier’s cruelty. Now, Simon Cyrene is considered the patron saint of passersby.

Veronica and the Evangelist

Over the Gospel door, we find the scene where Jesus falls again. A woman named Veronica bends down to brush the blood off his face with a cloth, and when she removes it, the face of the Messiah is imprinted on it. The carving of Jesus’ face on the cloth is masterfully done, and no matter where the viewers go, Jesus’ eyes seem to follow. To the left of the group, you’ll see the legionnaires whose armour was made in the shape of Gaudi’s famous chimneys from Casa Milá, a little reference to Gaudi’s history.

Saint Longinus

The figure to the right of Veronica is a Roman soldier on horseback. This is Saint Longinus, who was a Roman general that stuck a spear into Jesus. Legend has it that Longinus was half blind, but when he speared Jesus, a drop of blood spurted into his eyes, and they were healed. Upon this miraculous healing, Longinus repented of his sins and converted to Christianity.

Soldiers Player Dice

We have a small group of Roman soldiers to the left of the crucifixion scene. They can be seen playing a dice game. The victor of this game would win Jesus Christ’s clothing and possessions. A heartless moment but another depiction of the cruelty of man.

The Crucifixion

The top of the facade is dominated by the form of Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. He is tied to a cross composed of two iron beams. The iron beam meets to form the shape of an “I.” This is thought to recall “INRI,” which in Latin stands for ‘Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum’ meaning ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews, something which they nailed over Jesus on the cross as he lay dying. At his feet is the sobbing form of Mary Magdalene, while the Virgin Mary stands to the side, her face in her hands, consoled by St. John. At the base of the cross, we can make out a skull symbolizing Jesus’ final death. In the upper right corner, we can make out a full moon, as it is said that the night he died, there was a full moon.

To the right of the Crucifixion scene, we have the burial of Christ. In this sculpture, we see Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus preparing and wrapping Jesus’ body to make it ready for the tomb. The image of Nicodemus is actually a self-portrait of the sculptor Subirachs. In the background is the Virgin Mary with an egg on her head, symbolizing the resurrection.

The Passion Vaults

Under the vaults of the Passion’s portico, when you look up, you’ll see a torn cloth hanging in front of a brightly coloured mosaic. The enormous torn fabric acts almost as a type of baldachin hanging beneath the cross. In the Temple of Jerusalem, there was always a large cloth that separated the holier areas of the temple from the ordinary people. At the very moment of Jesus’ death, it was said that this cloth split in two, bringing together common people and God as one. The glasswork is Venetian and contains texts and imagery relating to the resurrection. Unlike the rest of the facade, which is bleak and monotonous, this hidden bright spot is representative of the hope that Jesus’ resurrection gave the people, always present but hiding in the darkness.

The Glory Facade

The Glory facade is the one part of the church which has not begun construction. This side faces the midday sun when the sun is the brightest and therefore exemplifies the idea of Glory and Hope. The design of the Glory facade is made up of a series of large lanterns and a grouping of fluffy white clouds. The three types of clouds represent the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each inscribed with words of prayer. By entering this doorway, worshippers will have a sense of movement through the earthly plain into the divine heavens.

The Schoolhouse

Outside the Passion, the facade is a small building, a recreation of the 1909 original, which once served as the children’s schoolhouse. During the Basilica’s construction, there were so many workers that they needed a dedicated school to cater to their children. Gaudi made it his mission to educate these kids and create a beautiful place for them to do it. You can enter the old schoolhouse, study the Catalan vaulting technique he employed here, and study the classroom’s various details. You can even see some of the things the children studied during their time here.

The Gaudi Museum

Located in the basement of the cathedral is the Antoni Gaudi Workshop and Museum. Although many of the original documents and plans were destroyed when a bomb went off during the Civil War, this newly created space is where the city has taken it upon itself to conserve, restore and put on display pieces of the history of the construction of this church. You can find drawings, period photographs, ceremonial furniture and several scale model copies of the originals. There is also a model of the original workshop where Gaudi would spend all this time.

If you’ve made it all the way through, I commend you and know that I appreciate the time you took to understand the immense amount of history, art and cultural values instilled in this incredible temple. I genuinely wish I could spend every day here, and I hope your time visiting this space is just as magical as mine was.

Have you been here before? What was your favourite thing to see? If you’re on your way, let me know what you’re looking forward to the most.

Happy Travel Adventurers

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On the Passion facade, your burial information is not correct. It is Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who were responsible for preparing and wrapping up Jesus body to make ready for the tomb. In the background is the Virgin Mary with an egg on her head, a symbol of the resurrection. The image of Nicodemus is actually a self-portrait of the sculptor Subirachs. xx

laura.f.whelan

Thank you ever so much Karla for taking the time to send me this information! I’ve gone ahead and updated the post to reflect those changes. I truly appreciate it as I’m always learning myself from others! Cheers, Laura

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Fast Track Sagrada Familia Private Tour

Priority access sagrada familia tour in barcelona.

The best way to visit the highlight of your trip

The Basilica of La Sagrada Familia is the undeniable must-see of Barcelona, not to say of Spain. The architect Antoni Gaudi turned this into a masterpiece that would take generations to be completed. The building is now in its final stages, transforming the city landscape forever as the last 10 towers start rising to the sky.

This church is like no other church. Religious visitors will vibrate with the spirituality that emanates from its architecture. But there are so many aspects to it, that even non-Christian feel their heart touched by this imposing monument. 

Its science, math and engineering will be mind-blowing for those with a practical mind. Its human stories and hidden secrets will entertain children and curious adults alike. The history of the people who has been involved in its construction for generation will grow a bond with your own life path. The sun rays filtering through the stained-glasses will change your idea of what beauty means.

But for all this magic to happen, you need to enter the church in the best company. Your travel mates, and a private Sagrada Familia tour guide that can grasp your interests quickly. Someone able to bring the stones to life, great at story-telling. Someone that can convey her expertise and deliver it with the words that will touch you and make you remember that day the rest of your life. And of course, some one that can skip lines, so getting inside is a breeze.

This is the goal of our Sagrada Familia tours: to help you create a moment of a lifetime.

DURING THIS SAGRADA FAMILIA PRIVATE TOUR YOU WILL SEE:

NATIVITY FAÇADE   |   INTERIOR   |   PASSION FAÇADE   |   MUSEUM

WHY THIS IS THE BEST SAGRADA FAMILIA GUIDED TOUR

✓ Skip lines with our fast track priority access. No need to pre-purchase tickets yourself. ✓ Way more fun than boring audioguides. ✓ Much more personal than crowded public group tours. ✓ Your favorite site, with a friendly expert. ✓ Get custom recommendations for the rest of your stay at the end of your private tour. ✓ A complete Sagrada Familia guided tour adapted to your interests and pace. ✓ And much more, in a Sagrada Familia private tour just for you and your party!

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA TOUR FAQ

• THIS SKIP-THE-LINE TOUR RUNS : Every day.
• GUIDED TOUR LENGHT : 1.5 hours. Possibility of extending this private tour 30 extra minutes on request.
• RECOMMENDED STARTING TIME : MORNING TOURS : Only available during the low season (November – March, except for the Christmas holidays) . Anytime between 9AM and 12.30PM AFTERNOON TOURS : – April thru October : Anytime between 3PM and 6PM (October only until 5PM). – November thru March : Anytime between 3PM and 4PM (March until 5PM)
• WHERE DO WE MEET ? In Sagrada Familia.
• WHERE DO WE END ? Inside Sagrada Familia. You’ll be able to stay longer inside after the guided tour is over, if you wish (as long as it’s not their closing time already)
• IS THERE A CAFETERIA INSIDE ? No. There’s only vending machines. The area around Sagrada Familia isn’t great to eat either, but you’ll find our the best restaurants here .
• HOW DO WE MOVE AROUND ? This private tour is a 100% walking tour.
• IS THERE A DRESS CODE ? The dress code at La Sagrada Familia Church isn’t usually too strict, but they have occasionally banned access to people wearing short shorts (closer to their butts than to their knees), deep plunging necklines or open backs.
• IS THIS A SKIP-THE-LINE TOUR ? Yes! Our guides are licensed and entitled to skip lines and give explanations at Sagrada Familia.
• CAN WE CLIMB THE STAIRS AT SAGRADA FAMILIA ? Sure! We have a specific Sagrada Familia tour with towers . Check it out!

TRAVELLERS THAT HAVE TAKEN OUR FAST TRACK SAGRADA FAMILIA PRIVATE TOUR SAY:

“There are skip the line tickets and there are skip the line tickets with Forever Barcelona in which there is no line to skip. You simply walk straight in at a separate entrance.”

Read all the other reviews >>

TAILOR THIS LA SAGRADA FAMILIA TOUR TO YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS

This Sagrada Familia Tour is the best choice for people that want real fast-track access to Sagrada Familia and explanations of its history and details that aren’t a memorized script but a speech adapted to your own interests, knowledge and pace. 

If you are traveling with kids , this guided tour is a good choice because they’ll get to learn but won’t have time to get overwhelmed or exhausted.

If you have walking issues or are on a wheelchair , let us know in advance. Sagrada Familia is wheelchair friendly except for the towers, but the seating opportunities are limited. A complimentary wheelchair can be borrowed if necessary.

If you’d rather tour longer , consider adding an extra 30 minutes to spend more time exploring your chosen site. Or if your budget allows, go for a private 3 or 4-hr tour that includes your chosen site and a few more.

If you are on a cruise-ship,  remember that you’ll be given a convenient meeting point near the private priority access point (it should be easy to find a taxi at the pier to take you there). Pier pick-up and drop-off are not available for this guided tour.

If you are more than one day in Barcelona , we’ll be happy to customize other guided tours for you that don’t overlap with this one. Did you know we also offer private food tours and day trips out of town ?

This is a 100% private tour with fast track priority access to Sagrada Familia, exclusive for you and your party. There is a base rate total per tour (no matter how many people you are), plus a per person rate to cover the entrance fees.

BASE RATE (paid once per tour):

• Full itinerary
• Licensed Tour Guide
• Towers not included
• More time to explore!
• Towers are optional

SEE MORE SITES

• 3 Gaudi Masterpieces​
• Taxi rides not included

CHANGE YOUR TOUR DATE UNLIMITED TIMES * *Notifying us at least one week in advance. Click to learn more >>

ADDITIONAL PER PERSON FEES

Charged upon booking:

• Sagrada Familia: €32/person

On request only:

• Tower Access ( €12/person )

* Costs are given as an orientation only, as they can change without notice. Discounts might apply for students and/or seniors.

More questions?     Inclusions   —   Exclusions   —   FAQ   —   Contact   —  Cancellation Policy

OFTEN BOOKED TOGETHER:

PRIVATE BARCELONA FOOD TOUR

PRIVATE MONTSERRAT GUIDED TOUR

BEST BARRI GOTIC WALKING TOUR

Alternatives to our fast track sagrada familia private tour:.

THE GAUDI TOUR BARCELONA EDITION

FAST TRACK SAGRADA FAMILIA GUIDED TOUR WITH TOWERS

PRIVATE LA SAGRADA FAMILIA VIRTUAL TOUR

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A Complete Guide for Visiting the Sagrada Família in Barcelona

One of the most visited places in Barcelona is the ornate Roman Catholic basilica la Sagrada Família aka the Basilica of the Holy Family. And rightfully so. This still unfinished but incredible church was designed by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and is both a representation of his imagination and a reflection of his thoughts on faith and religion.

In this post, I’ll share some insights into the architecture of this building, some interesting facts about the basilica, and helpful pointers on how to prepare for your visit to the beautiful Sagrada Família.

A work in progress

It might surprise you to find cranes and scaffolding surrounding the church. Although construction on Gaudí’s masterpiece began in 1882, only a quarter of the work had been completed at the time of his death.

Since then, there have been nine architects who have taken on the project only to walk away due to its complexity. However, even with this turnover, the project has remained faithful to Gaudí’s original plans and will be completed. An original completion date was set for 2026 to mark the 100th anniversary of the architect’s death, but construction was delayed due to the pandemic, and we’re not certain when this monumental building might be finished.

Did you know? Originally, the project was financed by private patrons, but these days, most of the funding comes from the entrance fees. So if you visit, your ticket will contribute to the building of this masterpiece!

Modernist architecture

No one can deny the grandiose feel of this basilica. With its colorful stained glass windows, countless towers, chapels, and façades, the Sagrada Família feels more like a dreamy fairy-tale castle than a Catholic church. Storytelling can be found in every corner of this structure with an emphasis on nature.

The Sagrada Família’s many symbols

There are three intricately designed façades to the Basilica, and each has detailed motifs that reflect a moment in Christ’s life.

• the Nativity (his birth)
• the Passion (the crucifixion)
• the Glory (in heaven)

The Nativity façade has animal and human figures while the Passion façade is much more dramatic with pillars that appear to have skeletal sculptures. The Glory façade is one of the most striking, featuring scenes of the Last Judgment, including both heaven and hell. It also grants access to the Basilica’s central nave.

There are 18 towers in total. The tallest and most majestic symbolizes Jesus Christ and, once completed, will measure 566 feet. That will make it the tallest church in the world — surpassing the Ulm Cathedral in Germany. The other towers represent the Virgin Mary, the apostles, and the evangelists.

Interior of the Sagrada Família

For the interior of the church, Gaudí kept with the nature theme by avoiding straight lines. Instead, he created an environment with winding tree-like columns and a symphony of colors.

Towering stained glass windows dominate the interior of the Sagrada Família with ever-changing shades depending on the time of day and even the weather. A sunny day will produce dynamic explosions of bright color while a cloudy day will reflect soft and soothing hues.

How to visit the Sagrada Família

I highly recommend taking public transit here instead of a car so you don’t have to deal with parking.

Here are the public transportation networks that serve the Sagrada Família. 

• Metro: L2 or L5
• Bus: 19, 33, 34, D50, H10 or B24

La Sagrada Família is open every day.

How to tour the Sagrada Família 

You can visit outside of the basilica for free or pay to enter the church, but we always recommend going with a local guide. 

When you visit on your own, you’ll look around, snap some cool pics, and be on your way. Go with someone who really knows the basilica — and all about Gaudí’s vision and what those carvings on the façades mean and why it’s so controversial — and you have an experience you’ll remember for years to come.

A walking tour outside the Sagrada Família

This is a chance to not just see the basilica but to learn about it, including its history, the symbols in its sculptured façade. It takes just an hour, so while it’s thorough, it also fits in with a busy day.

Don’t forget that part of the entrance fee if you book a ticket helps with the costs for completing the church!

How to dress for the Sagrada Família

There is a dress code for the Sagrada Famíla, although you won’t need to put on your Sunday best.

Remember you are entering a place of worship. Visitors should dress appropriately, meaning tops that cover the shoulders and shorts and skirts that come down to at least mid-thigh. Hats are not allowed.

Fun facts about the Sagrada Família

Here are seven fascinating facts about the Sagrada Família you might not know. Of course, you’ll learn many more on our Sagrada Família guided tours.

• The Sagrada Família is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, even though it still hasn’t been completed.
• To pay tribute to basilica workers, the builders’ faces were used as models and their images can be found sculpted in stone of the Portal of Mercy façade. 
• Gaudí wasn’t the original architect. Construction started under Francisco de Paula del Villar, who resigned in 1883, allowing Gaudí to take over as chief architect.
• The Sagrada Família is the most visited place in Spain, boasting almost 3 million visitors a year.
• The Sagrada Família has been built entirely with donations and has not been backed by the church or the government. Construction today is still funded with entrance fees.
• There is a mysterious square with mixed numbers on the Passion façade. No one knows what the numbers mean, but when all are added up in any direction, they equal 33. Experts believe this square is tied to the age of Christ’s death. 
• Gaudí is buried here. He died on June 10, 1926, after being hit by a tram on his way to visit the Sagrada Família. His tomb can be found in the El Carmen Virgin chapel.

La Sagrada Família: A church like no other

The Sagrada Família is a moving and mystical place — there’s a reason it draws millions of visitors a year.

But it’s just one of many Modernist gems in Barcelona. There are more masterpieces by Gaudí and his contemporaries, several found along the lovely Passeig de Gràcia. 

Best of Barcelona Architecture Walking Tour

To learn more about La Sagrada Família, join us for one of our tours of the basilica. To discover other architectural treasures in Barcelona, check out our popular Barcelona Architecture Walking Tour . 

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Best things to do and see in Barcelona

Barcelona is located in the northeast of Spain and it is the capital of the Catalonian province. It is the second-largest city in the country, coming in behind only Madrid and it is considered to be one of the most frequented tourist destinations in the world because of everything it has to offer, from its vibrant culture and history, reflected in its unique architecture, to its exquisite Mediterranean cuisine. 

There are options available to do your free walking tour in Barcelona in the morning, afternoon and evening with tour guides who are locals. You can also find a variety of different tours that are centered on topics ranging from Anton Gaudí and Modernism, (the avant-garde architect of The Sagrada Familia) and walks through the Gothic Sector of the old town including The Born and Gracía Neighborhoods. Other areas of interest that you should check out when you visit include: The Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Batlló House, Casa Milá-or the Pedrera, (stone-quarry house) The Rambla Avenue, the prominent hill that overlooks the harbor-Montjuic, also the amazing Magic Fountain of Montjuic, the Boqueria Market, The Catalonian Square, the Picasso Museum, the Cathedral, Ciudadela Park, Barcelona’s football stadium-Camp Nou, the Tibidabo-the tallest mountain in the area, the harbor district- the Barceloneta, The Christopher Colombus Monument, The City Aquarium and The Arc de Triomf. Learn more about best things to do in Barcelona, Spain. 

To make sure you get the best experience, you can read the opinions and ratings of other walkers who have already had the chance to do one of the free city tours in Barcelona . As you will see, many of the walkers there often repeat and do other tours of the same city, or do a guruwalk in their next destination, like Valencia, Alicante or Pamplona. Make your reservation for free and enjoy the company of one of our local guides who will help you to get to know the most interesting parts of the Barcelonan culture. 

Free walking tour near Barcelona

Others cities to visit after barcelona, find other guruwalks in barcelona, where are you traveling to.

Gaudi's Modernist Legacy Private Walking Tour

Private Tour · Half Day

Half day or Full day tours

Plaça Catalunya, 21 ➤

Personalized experience

Enjoy a private Modernism walking tour in Barcelona, learning about the masterpieces of Antonio Gaudi. La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, Casa Batlló.

Enjoy a stroll through the streets of Barcelona and discover its most extravagant buildings on this 3-hour walking tour of the city's modernist architecture . Journey through the life and work of its greatest exponent, Antoni Gaudí and marvel at his masterpieces, La Pedrera and La Sagrada Familia.

Tour highlights

Explore Barcelona's modernist architecture and the works of Antoni Gaudí on this guided tour

Learn about the life and creative inspirations of this Catalán genius

Visit famous Gaudí works like 'La Pedrera' and the Sagrada Familia

See other examples of the modernist movement in Barcelona's Eixample area

Great introduction to Barcelona's revolutionary architecture

• Private tour to ensure a better experience and more personal attention

Tour information

On request (English or spanish)

• Professional local guide
• Modernism Walking tour, including the Casa Batlló and La Pedrera
• Thorough explication to Modernism architecture and to Sagrada Familia
• Gratuities (optional)
• Food or beverages

Points of interest

L’Eixample : Enter into the Modernist neighbourhood of Barcelona and admire its fabulous architectural style. Each building has its own peculiar shape and at any corner you can observe beauty. This area of the city is also famous for its glamour and the best boutiques in town. Your guide will help you find the most unmissable corners of this district and show you the best place for tapas or shopping.

Passeig de Gracia: Probably the most famous avenue of the city, home of the most beautiful houses of Barcelona and of the most exclusive boutiques in town. Walk through luxury and elegance, get inspiration for your most glamorous outfit or ask to your guide for the best michelin restaurants nearby.

Casa Lleó i Morera: Have a look at the house that pioneered the modernist style in Barcelona, constructed by Domenech i Montaner , the teacher of Gaudí at university.

Casa Amatller: Home of the famous chocolate makers of Barcelona, this house is a true gem of the Modernist architecture . Take the chance to but some very good chocolate to bring home.

Casa Batlló: The colour and fantasy of the Casa Batlló captivates passers-by on the Passeig de Gràcia . Standing halfway up this elegant boulevard and in a strongly contrasting style to the neighbouring houses, the Casa Amatller and Casa Lleó Morera , Gaudí's building reveals the splendour of an architect who was able to work on this project with total creative freedom, producing one of the most outstanding private houses in the world, listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites .

Casa Milà: The Casa Milá , a UNESCO World Heritage Site , is the culmination of Antoni Gaudí's career, designed as a Modernist building tailored to the new social needs, without forgetting his main source of inspiration: natural and organic forms.

Casa de les Punxes: Along the way, pass by one of the true gems of Modernist architecture to find out about the legend of St George, the Patron Saint of Barcelona and many other countries and cities…

Sagrada Familia: The life project of a genius or a fool, with no doubts the Sagrada Familia will leave a lifelong impression. Experience a moment full of emotion, admiring Gaudí's masterpiece , considered as the most emblematic landmark of Barcelona . There are no words to describe the feeling one gets when entering this magnificent temple of Modernism . The organic shapes found throughout its structure, the light filtering through its stained glass windows and the symbolic nature of the building’s sculpted façade will certainly be the highlight of your tour.

Tour Description

Meet your guide in the center of Barcelona, and then set out on your 3-hours architectural walking tour. Listen as your guide offers fascinating insights into Gaudí and his major works . Explore the work of this visionary modernist architect , and learn the secrets of how he realized his goals. Understand how the mountains of Montserrat inspired him to build La Pedrera , and how he based his own art on the legend of Sant Jordi, patron of Catalonia. Also explore other works and important buildings of modernist architects as you visit the Eixample , which was born in the mid-nineteenth century from the expansion of the city beyond its medieval walls. Discover the ideals of the urban planner Ildefons Cerdà and his vision that each interior block should have had a garden. Finally, marvel at Gaudí's masterpiece La Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family) and his boundless imagination in its representation of the Old Testament. Learn about its complex symbolism and the controversy surrounding the interpretation of Josep Maria Subirachs , Gaudí's successor. Your tour concludes at La Sagrada Familia, offering the opportunity to independently explore further.

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Luis took us on the Game of Thrones tour and was a stellar guide. Informative and happy to answer any ...

Excellent tour. Arnau was a very professional guide, ponctual and very knowledgeable. very happy with this wonderful tour

68countries

The tour was great. My guide, Oriol, picked me up and dropped me off at the hotel which made it ...

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We have visited the sagrada familia with Arnau, and was all perfect, he’s a really good guide, and we loved ...

lbingham208

We had a great time with our tour guide, Reuben, and really enjoyed the relaxing tour of the Empuries greek ...

Everything about this tour was worthwhile. Excellent customer service from Matteus our guide. As requested he picked me up from ...

Montserrat was absolutely amazing! Our guide, Evelyn, was outstanding - personable, friendly, and she went out of her way to ...

Good intro to Montserrat. Did Cable Car. Art museum. Black Madonna. And listened to choir boys sing - a bit ...

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ENLACES HOME 2022

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Experience the Sagrada Família as if you were there!

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Sagrada Família installs digital art projection created with AI for Sant Jordi

Easter at the Sagrada Família

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Passion and death of Jesus Christ through illuminations of the Passion façade

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It is well known that Gaudí predicted the international interest the Sagrada Família would attract,...

In his time, Gaudí predicted that “people would come from all over to see the Sagrada Família,” and...

Stone has been and continues to be the main construction material for the architecture of the...

The feast of Saint Joseph is an important day for the Sagrada Família for several reasons. Firstly,...

20 March is the first day of spring, the season when nature comes alive after its winter lethargy...

The tower of the Virgin Mary, over the Temple apse, currently stands 110.65 metres tall and will be...

Official architecture blog of the Sagrada Família. Here you can follow the progress on Gaudí's masterpiece, which is expected to be completed in 2026, and learn about all the details.

Sagrada Família

Metro: L2 i L5 Sagrada Familía

Bus: 19, 33, 34, 43, 44, 50, 51, B20 i B24

Metro: L3 | Lesseps Casa Museu

Bus: 24, V19, D40, H6, 116

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