“THERE ARE NO STRAIGHT LIINES OR SHARP CORNERS IN NATURE. THEREFORE, BUILDINGS MUST HAVE NO STRAIGHT LINES OR SHARP CORNERS.”
These words were said by one of the most famous European architects, a man whose visionary work shaped today’s Barcelona, Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926). Gaudí is considered to be the most important representative of Catalan Modernisme. He drew inspiration from nature, architecture and religion. His work is characterized by curving lines, organic nature-inspired shapes, vibrant mosaic tilework, deep religious symbolism and structural innovation. Having spent his adolescent years living a cosmopolitan lifestyle, he became a devout Catholic later in his life, gradually abandoning secularity. Gaudí died in an accident after being struck by a tram in the street in Barcelona and was buried two days later in a massive ceremony, with thousands of Barcelonians attending his funeral to say their last farewell to their fellow townsman.
One of the landmarks of Barcelona is definitely the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. It is a magnificent architectural creation, containing 18 soaring spires (towers), numerous sculptures and rich religious imagery. The construction of the Basilica began in 1882 which means it has been undergoing construction for 144 years. When Gaudí was once asked why the construction of the Sagrada Familia was taking so long, the architect wittily replied: “Don’t worry, my client isn’t in a hurry“, referring to God as his ultimate client. Besides the Basilica, Gaudí’s most famous designs in Barcelona include Park Guell, Casa Batlló, Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and Torre Bellesguard, all of which our senior students visited last year.
On 10 June 2026 pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass on the centenary of Gaudí’s death and blessed the recently completed central Tower of Jesus Christ of the Sagrada Familia Basilica. The Pope described Gaudí’s masterpiece as a catechesis of stones, colours and light, and a monumental expression of Christian faith through architecture, light, color, and symbolism.
Did you know that….
1) With the completion of the Tower of Jesus Christ, the Basilica reached its height of 172.5 meters thus becoming both the tallest church in the world and the tallest structure in Barcelona.
2) The original design for the Basilica wasn’t made by Gaudí; Gaudí took over the project that had begun the previous year from the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar and redesigned it completely.
3) Gaudí designed the interior of the Sagrada Familia to resemble a colossal stone forest that would help create a feeling of contemplation.
4) Three monumental facades of the Basilica – the Nativity, the Passion and the Glory – represent distinct chapters in the life of Jesus Christ.
5) Gaudí was buried in the Crypt of the Basilica, in the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
6) The Crypt and the Nativity facade, along with six other Gaudí’s works in Barcelona, were declared as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025.
7) The financing of the Basilica relies entirely on private donations, receiving no money from the Spanish government or the Vatican, or, in the words of Gaudí himself:”The Sagrada Familia is made by the people and is mirrored in them. It is a work that is in the hands of God and the will of the people.“
Written by Sanja Bura, June 2026
