La Sagrada Familia brings a completely different kind of wow, especially when you walk in having read no tourist guides and with zero expectations. Catalonia’s favorite architect, Antoni Gaudi, took over the church’s design in 1883, and at the time of his death in 1926, it was still less than a quarter done. His plans were ambitious: three facades, Nativity, Passion, and Glory, dedicated to the past, present, and future of God; 18 spires representing the twelve apostles, Jesus, Mary, Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John; and a spacious interior with vaults that are as high as 45 meters.
There’s so much about this building that can be talked about, but my favorite part are the columns shaped like trees, propping up the grand apses. The sunbeams slip through the skylight, hitting the wall at just the right spot, creating even more patterns and layers and contrast. Despite all the construction noises and other tourists, I still felt like Alice in Wonderland.
Spain was the first foreign country I ever visited (for travel purposes), and I’m so grateful to have met Gaudi’s masterpiece on that first trip. The experience made me thirst for to go further, look deeper, and discover other magical places I never knew existed.
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