MOVED TO TEARS IN SPANISH MONUMENT

It is a rare moment to be moved to tears by the beauty of a place. I recently had one of these special moments while on a stop in Barcelona, Spain this fall. The Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudi’s unfinished masterpiece, completely got me. Maybe it was the way the afternoon sun hit the incredible floor-to-ceiling stain-glassed windows or the sheer size of the temple. Or perhaps it was the unique Gaudi architecture or simply that I was having an amazing tour day in beautiful Barcelona. For whatever reason, I entered the temple with my travel mates and immediately lost my breath as I tried to hide the fact that I had tears in my eyes. And let it be known that I am not one to cry in cathedrals and historic landmarks while traveling! I am much more likely to get misty during a hike when I’ve reached an incredible vantage point.

For a bit of history on the temple – the Sagrada Familia was conceptualized in 1874 and broke ground in 1882, yet it remains a work in progress and has an expected completion year of 2026. Gaudi was the architect for forty-three years until his untimely death in 1926. His vision lives on through the numerous architects who have taken on the immense project. The temple is open daily to visitors and our admission fees continually fund the project. Although incomplete, the Sagrada Familia remains Spain’s most-visited monument and is not to be missed! Perhaps you will have your own moment as you enter what I consider one of the most impressive buildings I have ever encountered. –Ellen, September 2015