The Sagrada Familia

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At first sight the Sagrada Família is awe inspiring and breath taking and with this has become recognized as the universal symbol for Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain's capital city, and is unmistakably one of the most magnificent structures ever erected in this region. Spain is embedded with cultural tradition and it is believed its rich history is traced back somewhere within four hundred years of when Rome was established. Thus, setting forth the foundation and importance of history and the conviction of this culture to wrap their hearts around the place that has become what Barcelona is recognized for. The Sagrada Família's design was perfected by Antoni Gaudi, an architect, who was innovative and forward thinking in his creations and who meticulously embedded not only religious iconography, but also merged secular symbols throughout the interior and exterior façade of this massive structure to tell the story of the faith in Jesus Christ.

To understand the uniqueness of the Sagrada Família and the reason it has become noted as a building designed like no other it is important to learn about the background of the architect who led the journey of the monumental task of designing and building the Sagrada Família. Antoni Gaudi, a Spanish architect, was ahead of his time with the innovation of architectural design and space of commercial and residential buildings and was considered a pioneer in his field during the last part of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century as recorded in history. Gaudi was influenced as a student by a Romantic and Symbolist concept of the Middle Ages as a golden age, which for him and for other Spanish artists became a symbol for the rising nationalism of Catalonia (Arnason and Mansfield 99). Mo...

... middle of paper ...

...tors that have traveled from around the world to see this creation of inexplicable proportion.

Works Cited

Alvarez, Francesc. Barcelona Interiors. Barcelona. Loft Publications. 2001. Print.

Arnason, H.H., and Elizabeth C. Mansfield. History of Modernt Art: Painting Sculpture Architecture Photography. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2010. Print.

Crippa, Maria Antoinetta. Antoni Gaudi. Germany. Taschen. 2003. Print.

Fargas, Albert. Symbology of the Temple of the Sagrada Família. Menorca. Triangle Postals. Print.

Burry, Mark, Joan Bassegoda I Nonell, Jordi Bonet I Armengol, Jan Molema, Claudi Alsina I Català, Josep Gómez Serrano, Jos Tomlow, Jordi Faulí I Oller, Jordi Coll I Grifoll, Ramon Espel I Rosell. Gaudi Unseen: Completing the Sagrada Familia. Berlin. Jovis. 2007. Print.

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