Delving into the intricate La Sagrada Familia sculptures and symbols was a rich experience. The first sight of La Sagrada Familia was awe-inspiring! It was huge and towering! The church remains under construction. Cranes and scaffoldings were visible even from a distance. Sculptures of images became more visible as we got closer to the church. It was difficult to focus on one image as there were a lot of sculptures and images adorning the different facades of the church.

Antoni Gaudi also designed Casa Mila

We saw some of Gaudi-designed buildings when we toured Casa Mila. Now, we are looking at the biggest project undertaken by Antoni Gaudi. So big that it outlived him, though not of natural causes, before it was completed. The La Sagrada Familia sculptures and symbols are testament to his architectural genius.

There has to be a prior knowledge on the history of the church to better understand the significance of its symbolism. Antoni Gaudi designed it so that the church itself, the facades, the sculptures, the spires, and each wall were represented by symbols.

A significant amount of information about La Sagrada Familia sculptures and symbols was gathered just by listening to the tour guide while on tour. The tour though can only cover so much of La Sagrada Familia. There was too much ground to cover in a limited time with the tour guide. Several visits will be required for a more comprehensive tour and understanding of La Sagrada Familia.

The Spires

Climbing to the top of the spires was a separate self-guided tour. An elevator took us halfway up the spire. After that, it was a slow climb up a narrow winding stairway. It was cold, damp, and windy during the climb. The reward was a panoramic view of Barcelona. It was also a chance to view the ornamental decorations on top of the other spires. Each ornamental decorations held its own meaning and symbolism. A good number of La Sagrada Familia sculptures and symbols were visible from the height of the spires.

A steady stream of people were following us along the narrow stairway. Stepping aside to let them pass was kind of difficult. The easier option was to keep moving. It allowed for momentary viewing of anything within the vicinity. There was no time to linger or examine closely whatever was interesting. It was 504 narrow steps until we reached the bottom.