5 Spectacular Views of the Sagrada Família

Located in the heart of Barcelona, the Sagrada Família was designed by legendary Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. Although construction started under another architect in 1882, Gaudi soon took over and, before long, had totally transformed the look of the building. 

One of the best ways to see the Sagrada Família, is from the street. When the church was designed in the late 19th century, this would have been the only way to view the iconic structure. So why not see the Sagrada Família as it was supposed to be seen and start your tour from ground level?

The inside of the Sagrada Família is just as spectacular as the outside. Although it has been under construction for over 100 years, the inside of the church remains unfinished. However, you can still get a good idea of Gaudi’s design, and a feel for how the completed building will look, by strolling through the interior. 

The incredible vaulted ceiling of the Sagrada Família is held up by a series of intricate columns. These columns merge into the ceiling, like trees holding up a forest canopy. Between the columns is a series of geometric carvings and the vaulted ceiling is decorated with beautiful colored lights. 

Every evening, the sun streams in through the stained glass windows of the Sagrada Família and transforms the interior of the church into an ocean of color. This gives the building an entirely different aesthetic and offers a glimpse into the mind of the architect who designed it. 

The windows were an important part of Gaudi’s original design. The architect wanted to maximise contrast in the building at certain times of the day and so designed the windows to be almost transparent at the top and dark and intricate at the bottom. You’ll also find a series of religious illustrations and texts at the base of the windows.  

Although Gaudi would never have seen his creation from above, these days, there are lots of ways to view the Sagrada Família from the sky. If you don’t have access to a drone or helicopter, you can get a fantastic bird’s-eye view of the structure with a lofty digital excursion. 

Seeing the church from above gives you the chance to appreciate its location in the city as well as its imposing size. The Sagrada Família is actually set to get even bigger. At the moment, it’s around 70% complete with ten more spires required to fulfil Gaudi’s original design. These are scheduled to be in place by 2026, the centenary of Gaudi’s death.