Our last day in Barcelona we visited the Sagrada Familia. We had great expectations for this building so we left it for last. At our hostel on the first day we were told by a fellow traveling couple that they felt the admission fee (€11.50) wasn't worth it. But we don't know what crack they were smoking because this was an incredible experience! Easily one of the great things either one of us had ever seen in our lives. For those of your who are unfamiliar, Antoni Gaudi is the architect of this church, but it was never finished in his lifetime. Multiple architects have taken over since then with lots of euros spent to complete this massive undertaking. It is designed with three different facades, the Nativity facade, the Passion facade, and the Glory facade, the last of which is currently being constructed.
Here is the building as we're approaching it!
In these photos is the Nativity facade, which is the oldest one. Its architecture and sculptures are done in a very over-the-top and excessive style, which is in stark contrast to the other facade.
Here is the Passion facade, in a much more modern style. The columns are supposed to resemble tree trunks, a motif that is repeated inside the church.
You can see in these pictures the massive trunk-like columns and the incredible architecture. The ceiling looks like a canopy!
Really nice stained glass window!
For an extra €2.50 we went up one of the spires (totally worth your money).
Check out these little bundles of fruit! Each one is covered in mosaic tiles. Everything in this church (like the Casa Batllo) is thought out in so much detail and there is so much to see.
Spiral staircase down one of the spires.
You can see more clearly the sculptures on the Nativity facade here. Incredible workmanship!
We can't remember what this building is but it sure looks nice, right?!
Down a shopping street.
Check out these jeans! Who the hell would wear these?! (Our sincere apologies if you own a pair.) At first we thought the store just hung up three pairs on one hanger or something, but it's actually, really, truly just one pair of jeans. Really.
Nice archway into a plaza.
Delicious Turkish food!!!! How we missed it! This little lady is Gina, someone we met (along with her mom) at the camp grounds in Cinque Terre. We had a lot of fun talking and realised we might be in Barcelona at the same time. And we were! It was so great to see her again, and sort of surreal!
Mmmmm sangria!!!!!!!!!!
Cool graffiti! Someone decided to spruce up their locked-up store front gate!
We came back to the Magic Fountain in hopes for a light show... SUCCESS! It was coordinated with music, and was awesome!
And that concludes our time in Barcelona (finally we posted this last post!). All through our trip before coming here we had talked to people who had expressed how amazing it is. And it definitely exceeded our already-high expectations. The city has a great energy, a great vibe, very alive, and the architecture is absolutely incredible. It has a very intimate, artsy, cultural feel yet it is such a big city. It feels small and huge at the same time. There is an endless amount of things to see in this city. The waterfront is beautiful, the weather was amazing, and all in all it is one of the greatest places we've ever visited. We think everyone should try to come here before they kick the bucket!
