The project (Sagrada Familia) is scheduled to be completed in 2026. On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudi is said to have remarked, “My client is not in a hurry.”
The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família more commonly known as The Sagrada Familia is a cathedral in Barcelona, Spain. Construction on the cathedral began officially in 1882, under the direction of architect Antoni Guadi. It has become Gaudi’s most famous work and since his death in 1926, six other architects have taken on the direction of the construction. The Sagrada Familia is scheduled to be complete in 2026, 144 years after construction first began. The construction of the church was originally funded privately by wealthy Roman Catholic clergymen, however it is currently being funded through tourist ticket sales. The Sagrada Familia is littered with symbols and monuments of Christianity such as the Virgin Mary, the four Evangelists, the twelve apostles and most importantly, Jesus Christ. At the top of the cathedral there are four extraordinary spindle shaped towers. The Sagrada Familia is separated into three different facades. On the east wing of the cathedral is the nativity façade, which displays the birth of Christ. It is the section of the cathedral that was most influenced by Gaudi’s designs. To the South is the glory façade and finally the passion façade lies in the west. The interior of the cathedral contains several large columns, specifically designed by Gaudi. The church plan is a Latin cross with five aisles. The Sagrada Familia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain and is one of the greatest feats of architecture and design in the world. |    |
While growing as an artist, Dom's mentor advises him to take a trip to Barcelona and view the Gaudi Cathedral (Sagrada Familia). The unique style of the grand church influences Dom's musical creativity. Dom says of Lupo, "At the station, he embraced me and kissed me roughly on both cheeks, gave me a fistful of gnarled black toscas to smoke on the way, said I ought to drink a lot of Spanish wine and look at the Guadi cathedral while i was there." (109) - Matthew Darcy
