Visiting the Sagrada Familia

Until a few months ago, I never imagined I would go to Barcelona.

After learning that it was only a two-and-a-half-hour trip from Prague, where I was living at the time, I booked a flight ticket without hesitation and flew to Barcelona. I toured Casa Milà, the iconic private residence by Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926), and while still savoring that experience, I made my way toward his magnum opus. As I approached the basilica, it was bustling with many people. Among them was a performer blowing soap bubbles. Soap bubbles dancing in the blue sky, and prayers of stone piled up modestly so as not to infringe upon the heights of nature, which he revered. The unique atmosphere of Barcelona, where everyday life blends with a sacred structure that has taken over a century to build, was drifting in the air.

There are multiple entrances, but I entered through C. I had installed a guide app in advance and put on my own earphones.

It is said that the Sagrada Familia expresses the "Bible" through the entire building. The audio guide starts with an explanation of the model of the exterior, but to be honest, I got a little lost trying to find the numbers on the information board. Just to be sure, I should note that the guide starts from the outside, so I hope those who visit in the future do not miss it.

When I bowed naturally while entering the building, the staff member inside smiled and bowed back politely.
Once inside, the sunlight streaming through the stained glass vividly dyed the interior of the basilica.

True to Gaudí's belief that "The straight line belongs to man, the curved one to God," the pillars, as if one had wandered into a giant forest, branch out toward the ceiling. It is said that the colors shining into the space are meticulously calculated to change their expression from east to west, in accordance with the passage of the day. I simply surrendered myself to the overwhelming space of light, with a clear mind. Incidentally, the crypt where he was involved in construction and the "Nativity Facade" on the east side are registered as World Heritage sites.

As I walked slowly through the basilica, I internalized Gaudí's beliefs.

After that, I headed to the museum. There, beyond a peephole, is Gaudí's tomb. I offered a quiet greeting from afar. It is said that during his lifetime, he would say, "My client is not in a hurry."

Suddenly, I remembered that a Japanese person is involved in this basilica. It is the sculptor Etsuro Sotoo. He is someone who deeply understands Gaudí's spirit and has dedicated decades of his life to the sculptures of this basilica. Knowing of his existence, as he continues to embody the words Gaudí left behind in the form of sculpture, the aspect of this place as a "place of succession for Gaudí's soul" that transcends national borders struck me even more deeply.

I left the museum and went to the souvenir shop. Figurines, magnets, calendars, books, and Christmas ornaments were lined up.
I stayed for about three hours this time, but I thought that if I had secured more than three hours, I might have been able to explore his philosophy in every corner. The more I watched while listening to the commentary flowing from my earphones, the more Gaudí's thoughts soaked into my heart.

“Originality consists in returning to the origin.”
“Anything created by human beings is already in the great book of nature.”
“Glory is light, light gives joy, and joy is the happiness of the spirit.”

The vitality that lies behind the words "unfinished building." These few hours I spent in Barcelona became an irreplaceable and precious experience for me.

¡Muchas gracias!

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