The interior light display, courtesy of sunlight and the cathedral’s stained glass windows © Matthew Horwood/Getty Images
What makes La Sagrada Família special?
La Sagrada Família is seen as the most prominent example of Catalan modernism and the best-known work of Gaudí in a city adorned with his designs. The main facade and its crypts, where Gaudí himself is buried, are listed as a Unesco World Heritage site. Some liken its design to an underwater castle of coral or a masterpiece plucked from the pages of science fiction (particularly the interiors, which look more like the inside of a spaceship than a church). Others are less favorable, however, when comparing it to giant termite hills overlooking the city. George Orwell even called it “one of the most hideous buildings in the world” in his Spanish Civil War memoir Homage to Catalonia.
Whatever side you stand on, what’s truly remarkable is that this cathedral was conceived in the late 19th century. This radical design concept starkly contrasts today’s world, filled with uniform glass and steel structures. It begs the question: Has anything as unique been created in recent times?
This article was first published Dec 3, 2021 and updated Mar 26, 2024.
Source link : https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/sagrada-familia-nears-completition-towers-crowned
Author :
Publish date : 2024-03-26 07:00:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.