Day 62 - Thursday 4 July - Sagrada Familia and the beach

Thursday 4 July

The tour we booked yesterday was for 10:15, and so we lined up at about 9:45, and it took all of that time to get through security and pick up the audio guides. It gave us a chance to have a good look at the eastern doorway, since we'd seen the western from the bus yesterday.  The eastern shows the nativity and childhood of Jesus, incorporated with the creation.  The western is the crucifixion and resurrection, and the main entrance at the south will represent glory.  

It was begun in 1882, planned as a traditional Gothic building with flying buttresses etc, but when Gaudi took over in 1883 he re-created the whole thing. After 1915, he devoted himself to the building, living on-site, and neglecting everything else.  He realised that it would take many more years after himself to finish, and planned accordingly with sketches and models.  The east facade was the only part he completed, because he thought that if part was finished, it might help authorities decide to keep on, rather than abandon the work.  He was knocked down by a tram and died in 1926, and the work is due to be finished in 2026.
 

The central of 3 arches in the east.  Angels above, wisemen, holy family and shepherds below.  Creatures and natural features everywhere.

 The eastern doors are about creation, full of little things.

It is a remarkable building. There is symbolism everywhere, measurements are balanced, it's almost alive.  First things you notice are the huge pillars, like in Milan, but at the roof these have leaves.

 

 Secondly, it is so light and airy, with stained glass both sides.

Thirdly, there are only 4 statues inside (Jesus above the altar, Mary and Joseph above the side doors and St George, patron saint of Catalunya),

The canopy is decorated with wheat stalks and bunches of grapes.  50 lamps represent the days between the ascension and pentecost.

and fourthly, there are curves, and fluidity, and it all just floats together.
 

 Looking down the western aisle, to the spiral staircase at the end.  The choir stalls are on either side, above the aisles, hanging onto the pillars like clouds.  The barriers between each row of seats are 5 wires, with music notation dots stuck to them.

 Looking down into the crypt, where Gaudi is buried.

 Graffiti-style floor decoration at the western doors.

 A pencil sketch of the western facade.

 I don't know that it will ever become just a church with parishioners, because there will always be people queuing up to look.


We got a train, then walked through the old city, with little lanes and tiny shops, past the Cathedral, now somewhat overlooked.

 

 
We rejoined the bus trip where we left it yesterday, and moved from red to green routes and to the lovely sandy beach, where we swam for over an hour. Family groups, topless ladies, lots of umbrellas, no waves to speak of, just people bobbing.

Then we finished the green tour, then the red, and got our tickets at the station for Sunday's departure.