Sagrada Familia, located in Barcelona, Spain, is one of the most intriguing landmarks in the world. It was designed by Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi, who spent more than half of his life working on the project. Despite the construction beginning 142 years ago, the church still hasn’t been completed. To learn why and find out other interesting facts about Sagrada Familia, continue reading below.
Sagrada Familia Construction is Entirely Funded by Private Donation
The main reason why Sagrada Familia is yet to be finished is that its construction is entirely funded by private donations. There were several other events that caused the delay, including Gaudi’s death in 1926 and the Spanish Civil War.
Sagrada Familia Once Had a School
With construction workers spending long hours at the site of Sagrada Familia, Gaudi decided to include school premises so their children could spend more time with their parents.
Sagrada Familia is Gaudi’s Final Resting Place
With Sagrada Familia being his life’s work, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Gaudi found his final resting place in one of the chapels within the church’s crypt.
Sagrada Familia Has Elevators
While Sagrada Familia is considered a sacred place, it is also a big tourist attraction. Elevators were built inside of the church towers to accommodate tourists who wanted to climb on top of the church towers.
Sagrada Familia Will Be Tallest Building in Europe Once Completed
Once Sagrada Familia is completed, it will stand as the tallest building in Europe thanks to its 565-foot-tall (172 meters) tower. Gaudi purposely had the tower’s height capped at 172 meters, making it several meters smaller than Barcelona’s hill Montjuic because he believed nothing a man makes should be higher than the creation of God.