Central & Eastern Spain Trip: La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona)

Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia gets its own post. Because. It's magical. It's also under construction and set to be completed "this century", as a sign informed me. How's that for church-building timescales?!

I really loved how the Nativity facade of the building was [nearly] traditional sculpture, with the Passion facade fully seated in art nouveau sculpture. It was a really lovely effect, almost like visiting two cathedrals in one. Two cathedrals that both happen to be topped off with Gaudi's signature trencadis spires.

But what was truly magic was the interior of the church. Despite the crowds and construction noises, between the facades there's a beautiful sculptural forest holding up the roof. The stained glass art work is abstract but in concentrations of color washing the church over with reds and blues, separately. I could have spent hours just sitting and looking...and I did. The only real downside to La Sagrada Familia is that you must purchase a timed ticket in advance, and also a separate timed ticket to ascend one of the towers. It's a little bit like being at work, where you must keep to a tight meetings schedule. But once you arrive at the appropriate time, you're free to consume as much of the sights for as long as you'd like.

• Madrid, Spain, 7 days
• Barcelona, Spain, 4 days
• La Sagrada Familia