I'm not religious. Over my 45-year career as an urban planner / designer and retirement afterwards, I've had the good fortune to travel to 700 places, 76 countries and all 7 continents. Since my first visit to Barcelona in 1992, La Sagrada Familia has held my awe. At my second visit in 2000, it became my favorite man-made structure in the world. My 3rd visit in 2014 brought tears, as did my most recent in 2023 - the sense of awe it generates is overwhelming. At age 79, one of my greatest remaining life ambitions is to live to see it 100% done. I have to make it to age 88.

Before GTA 6 is crazy 😵‍💫

I spent an entire morning sitting in the basilica just watching the light move through the windows. I’m not catholic and being there was one of the most moving experiences I’ve ever had.

As a tourist, the first time I visited the Sagrada Familia, I came up the stairs from the subway, and just saw city streets in front of me. I wondered where this famous building was. Then I turned around…..that moment will remain etched in my memory forever. I literally jolted, and broke out in goosebumps all over. It will remain on my list of the most intense, breathtaking moments in my life.

Its a blessing that We're actually alive at a time where we can see it complete

Cathedrals all over Europe were built across generations and timelines even longer than that of the Sagrada Familia's. They were collaborations of a vision to express and glorify religious and spiritual beliefs. The fact that we can still manage to execute along multigenerational timescales and collaboration along the unifying vision of this genius architect is both humbling and heartening.
This marvel is on my bucket list!

"Patience is a virtue" in physical format lol

Some important context on the staircase and the homes that need to be cleared: The staircase was always intended to be part of the final design. We know this not just becuase of the drawings, but becuase the space for that staircase was literally reserved for it.
However, at some point in the distant past, it was recognised that the staircase wouldn't be built for a very long time (see: the 144 year completion timeframe), and it seemed a waste to just let the space go unused - so permission was given to build "temporary" homes on that space, on the proviso that the space would eventually be reclaimed to build the staircase.
This was literally written into the contracts for the houses that were built in that space, and this is also the reason why the current project managers and architects can simply decide that they're going to go ahead with building the staircase despite the objection of the residents: They are simply following through on what was agreed in writing, and signed binding contracts.

Gaudi was an absolute genius

I''m an architect and I visited the church in 1975.  Not much there compared to now but still very inspiring.  I feel this is the greatest piece architecture ever done.  That is saying a lot.  There are so many pieces of wonderful and great architecture that I also love.  I want to go back to visit.

no image, photo of film prepares you for the reality. it is as utterly breathtaking as it is truly inspired.

Absolutely incredible. Congratulations to all the generations of people who have worked on this. Well done!

I visited it in 2025 and it’s breathtaking. And the scale is staggering.

Never ever let small minded people stand in the way of projects like this. This is exactly what humanity is all about. This is how we make history and culture that will endure for thousands of years.

Not since the Renaissance has there been built a church of such glorious reflection of spiritual aspiration.

0:49 I thought they were gonna give eachother a high five

I learned about this cathedral in progress when I first took Spanish class in middle school, in the late 80s. I'm 50 now and the idea of this work of art being completed after 144 years !?  It just boggles the mind. Amazing

The 151-year wait will definitely be worth it. Cathedrals have always been built over generations, for example, the symbol of my country, the Czechia, St. Vitus Cathedral, with the foundation stone laid in the 14th century it waited 4-5 centuries for the completion of the west facade with two of its three towers, which took place from 1873 to 1929.

The stone used in its construction came from the nearby Montserrat mountains, until in 2018 when they found the rock getting more and more fragile the deeper they mine, leading to finding a suitable match from a quarry in Brinscall, near Chorley in Lancashire, England. So Sagrada Família’s stonework is a mix of Catalonian and English sandstone.

The modern technology used to complete this beautiful place is incredible.  But it makes the fact that they were able to build the old cathedrals without it even more amazing.