Sagrada Família in Barcelona

The Sagrada Familia is quite possibly the most incredible church in Spain. Incomplete before designer Antonio Guadi died, it remains yet another triumphant addition to this talented architect's portfolio. Construction on the church began in 1882 and was left incomplete in 1926, when Guadi met his end in a streetcar accident. He is buried in the crypt below the temple. A leader in the Art Nouveau tradition, Gaudi chose to design the church as expressionistic (much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris.) The "Church of the Holy Family" is what remains of Gaudi's legacy, and the tour guides are happy to show the traveler everything about the church. Services are held regularly, and tours are available for free for some children's groups. Paid tours held daily and one can request a group guided tour, or for a little more cash, you can go on an individual tour with one of the guides--well worth the extra money for the individual attention. From the main entrance, the traveler will see the nativity façade off to their right, and the passion façade to their left. The central Nave or the middle of the temple is still under construction even today. The workers don't seem to mind visitors, however, and have constructed catwalks for tour groups to walk through almost all of the areas still under construction, allowing them to become part of history.