Sagrada Familia--Only From the Outside?

I have no doubt that La Sagrada Familia is a modern architectural wonder. But I'm curious: is the interior equally wondrous? The entrance fee is a bit steep, and I wonder how much of its splendor I'd miss by simply walking around it. And around it and around it and around it.

What's inside that's worth the price of admission, do you think?
Note: in Rome, I'm happier outside the Colosseum than inside.
Which is kind of what leads me to the question.

The interior completes the exterior, and I don't say that to be facile. They complement one another. The interior structures are indeed interesting, and you cannot appreciate the stained glass, of which there is quite a bit, from the outside.

If you go late in the day you can avoid the queues, but if it is quite late in the day you may miss the option (for an additional fee) to visit one of the towers.

Admission is 15€ and it is well worth it.

It is one of those places that doesn't let you down when you go inside. Apart from having to share it with so many others. It is certainly worth it.

Any idea of a typical length of visit?
Or rather: how long did you stay?

Yeah, I've seen some photos--some stunning, some not so much. Just wasn't sure if what the camera sees is what the eye sees.

thanks!

I don't think there is a limit to the stay, I would say you need a good hour maybe a bit more, then longer if you want to see the towers (not done that).

Length of stay up to you 15 minutes or over an hour - the first time i went spent over an hour some of that time just sitting and looking - also their is some Guadi stuff to look at including his workshop in basement.
Part of your money goes to the ongoing wirk that is how the work continues due to all tourists paying 15 plus euro - you may only go there obce so money irrelevant really its a unique place in the world

Whilst I am not a fan of Gaudi, IMHO you would be missing a lot by not going inside (and going up one of the towers).

The first time I went to Barcelona I only visited the Sagrada Familia from the outside and was happy with that. The second time I went, I also visited from the inside, and was totally blown away by it. Even though it is very busy, the ambience is quite peaceful, and the glass windows and the whole layout of the the place is really stunning and one of a kind. It is totally worth it, and I would go for it. From the posts you have answered so far on the TT, I would be extremely surprised if you didn't very much enjoyed it there.

I didn't go up one of the towers (which you might do if you are not as scared of heights as I am - the view from them is supposed to be amazing) but rented an audio guide (which I can recommend) and stayed for about an hour. Part of it spent on a bench just taking in the atmosphere, the light, the sounds etc.

And you didn't ask for it, but still: when in Barcelona, unless you really dont like Gaudi, I would also very much consider visiting Casa Batlo, which is amazing, and Park Guell, which is also really really special. In case you want to go into the "sanctuary" of Park Guell (which is not really necessary in my opinion), do book ahead online, as there are very very long waiting times otherwise. Casa Mira is another master piece designed by Gaudi, and again - if you dont have a fear of heights - its also well worth visiting. If you have a fear of heights (like me), it will be rather a nightmare.

The visit inside, especially with an audioguide, was well worth it. One sees the exterior from closer, too, with lots of detail. The play of light in the interior and careful choice of materials are marvellous. You don't have to be a religious person to be moved by the artistry.

What's inside that's worth the price of admission, do you think?

I basically have a conscientious objection to paying to enter a church, but we made an exception with the Sagrada ... it was pretty good indeed - amazing inside, architecturally. It's Gaudí without being gaudy.

Not the same as only seeing the outside of Chartres, Notre Dame, or Salisbury ... but definitely worth the €15,00 on this occasion. Need to buy a timed ticket beforehand of course.

Yes the cost to enter is well worth it.

After the visit if you walk down Carrier de Sardenya towards Avinguda Diagonal you will come across Bodega del Poblet, a traditional Spanish bodega, and a much better (and quieter) location for refreshment compared to the bars directly opposite the catherdral

Not one dissenting vote?
That's hard to argue with.

okay, thanks very much.
And thanks for the tip, stav.
Sounds like a quiet place nearby to sit and process will be useful.

Go inside and you won't be disappointed Craig. I am also better with the outside of the Colosseum, but Sagrada Familia is on a different level.

A better comparison would be, would your visit to St Peter's in Rome be complete if you just walked round the square?

Lol, not a big fan of St. Pete's interior, either... but your point is well taken.
Thanks, crazy hammer guy, for making them move the most beautiful piece of art in the whole darn basilica to a position where it's difficult to appreciate!
Though I guess they had choices in terms of positioning...

The "ayes" certainly have it. But if I am disappointed, I assume each of you will be happy to contribute one euro of restitution to the "Sorry Clem, There's No Accounting For (Your Poor) Taste" fund.

But disappointment seems unlikely.
And no, you don't get a euro each if your advice is sound.
Though you certainly should! But you won't. Rest assured.

Thanks again.

Thanks, crazy hammer guy, for making them move the most beautiful piece of art in the whole darn basilica to a position where it's difficult to appreciate!

I'm not proud to say that the crazy hammer guy was one of my countrymen = Lazlo Toth.

And I thought my analogy up-thread was a little closer ... St Peter's Basilica is extremely ordinary from the outside, compared to the "magnificent" interior, whereas Chartres, Notre Dame, and Salisbury are outstanding on the outside, but complemented by their interiors ... which is what also applies more at the Sagrada.

Mmm, I tend to think "spacious" and "magnificent" are two different things (yes, I noticed the brackets, so maybe you do, too). And that's what had me worried about Sagrada Familia.

List of countrymen I'm not proud of: life's too short.

Here is the (slightly) dissenting voice !

As a tourist I visited the Sagrada Familia several times on trips. I think the outside is magnificent. Not sure if it is ugly or beautiful, but impressive nonetheless.

When living in Barcelona for over 8 years, I did visit the outside now and then, and still had the same feeling. But the long queues and the hype made me very wary to go inside.

I visited it a month or two before deciding to leave Barcelona (and Spain). It was expensive, but nice. But - someone pointed this out above - the same feeling as seeing St Peter´s inside. Not a ¨wow¨. Just very nice. Would rather spend my money on the interior of some of Gaudi´s houses, or, even better, on a Modernism tour (self organised is best but needs research) as there is much more to modernism than just Gaudi.

You know how it goes. Everyone goes to the same tourist attraction in a certain city, while there is much more to see. Gaudi was great, but many of his contemporaries were great in their own version of the style.

Money well spent, and yes, inside it is quiet although it is full of tourists. But still very touristy. My (catalan) girlfriend said it was the only place she had ever been to in Catalunya without hearing a word of Catalan :-)

Forgot to add - going into the towers for the views is a complete waste of money. Go to the Tibibado hill, or better, los bunkers del Carmel to have great views of the city. If you like to have a view from high up in the city, just spend the money on a good beer or cocktail and go up in the rooftop hotels of many in the 5 star hotels in the center.

Forgot to add - going into the towers for the views is a complete waste of money.

Possibly ... but going into the towers for the architectural rewards isn't necessarily.

#19 re the long queues, I was there last year in mid May and we pre-booked. When we got the the line for pre-booked tickets there was no one there. There were people inside, and a LOT of people milling around outside the Cathedral, but no-one in the queue - luck of the draw may be at play, but it looked to me that most of the tourists there that day did not want to pay to get in. The replies about the towers are right, you won't be missing out on a singular experience if you miss the tower

Similar experience - we had a timed ticket for 11:30 am, and we walked straight in with no queue at all.

There were hundreds of people queuing and milling about - a large number of them off cruise ships, and without pre-purchased tickets. There was a sign at the ticket office saying no tickets available for anything before 5:00 pm.

Here are my thoughts: I visited the Sagrada Familia a number of years ago. I am neither a huge fan of modern architecture, or of heaving crowds, but I really enjoyed the visit. Certainly, for me, the cathedral was considerably more impressive on the inside than the outside. It's more unique and architecturally interesting on the inside than on the out, at least for me.

I've only been inside 2 Gaudi buildings before, so I'm neither a connoisseur nor an aficionado. Still, I think he's very interesting, more so than his crazy fame might have you believe.

Actually, the thing I found most interesting about the Sagrada Familia was not the building itself, but the sense of being part of something that was being put together over the course of more than a century. It's being built in the style of medieval cathedrals: generation after generation, toiling on the same project, carrying out the vision of a long-dead architect. There's nothing else like that in existence, at least that I'm aware of. I enjoyed the unfinished aspect of the interior as much as I did Gaudi's amazing organic designs, rendered into stone.

It's a nice history lesson that you don't get when you visit a standard, long-completed cathedral. It's easy to forget what goes into it when you see the finished work.

It's a nice history lesson that you don't get when you visit a standard, long-completed cathedral.

Yes ... I don't mind that analysis from Giora at all ... it is still definitely a building site, and all the better for that.

However all those long-completed cathedrals aren't quite historic edifices carved in stone (so to speak) - many of them (most of them?) require huge amounts of maintenance and care just in order to remain viable ... they are very much organic creatures, and therefore showing their age!

Thanks for all the feedback and advice.

A bigger fan of hills than towers here.
And I assume Robert Hughes' book on Barcelona will touch on the less publicized architectural sights.

Any preferred guidebooks to the city? Not near an English-language library.
But the usual suspects, I suppose: LP, RG, Eyewitness...
Thanks again.

Robert Hughes' book on Barcelona

Another famous Australian expat (like Lazlo Toth, the crazy hammer man) - we really do punch above our weight!

Robert Hughes´ Barcelona book is absolutely great. But not a book for random tourists - it gives a great background to history and culture. I read it at least 3 times. It reads like an interesting history book, but the author gives his opinion all the time. It is a great read.

Colm toibin´s Barcelona book is highly recommended as well. It is more of a personal experience, therefore easier to read.

If you ever venture to the Land Down Under CFC, then I can also recommend Robert Hughes The Fatal Shore ... it is a historical masterpiece. He told me once (at a gallery opening in New York) that he spent ten years in the British Library writing it. But it certainly made his reputation.

If you ever venture to the Land Down Under CFC, then I can also recommend Robert Hughes The Fatal Shore ... it is a historical masterpiece. He told me once (at a gallery opening in New York) that he spent ten years in the British Library writing it. But it certainly made his reputation.

Thanks for the recommendation, I will come (after 14 years) this November back to Australia for a fortnight and was constantly searching for a book to bring along. I just ordered it.

Oh yeah, I read it ages ago when it first came out in the US. A great and memorable reading experience.

A wonderful book for "deep background," Onyx. Though I'm not sure how helpful it would be for the typical tourist since I doubt most of what he talks about is still in place (or even commemorated with a plaque).

Was less impressed with his last (ever?) book about Rome. If "Barcelona" splits the difference even, I'll be a happy camper.

#26 I bought and read in the city, and on my way back, Homage to Barcelona by Colm Toibin. A good read, and a lot of historical background for the city and the whole of Catalunya.

@29 - thanks for the tip ! just ordered ! I know absolutely nothing about that part of the world.

Gaudi is a brilliant architect not only because of the output of his work but also because of his inspiration (mostly nature). As everybody else already recommended, go inside, and from my opinion the best way to enjoy it is to also understand the subtleties of his work and that requires a guide. You will be awed, for sure.
Enjoy
Pia
cantstaystill.net

A bigger fan of hills than towers here.

You don't go up the tower for a view of the city but, as noted above, to experience the structure from another angle.

However, there is a lot of Gaudí to see in Barcelona -- houses and 'palaces' as well as the cathedral and the apartment building. And then there is the work of Louís Domènech i Montaner, who established Modernisme in Barcelona and taught the younger Gaudí a thing or two. Here is a handy guide to all that with an abundance of places to visit:

• http://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona/modernisme

Without a doubt you need to go in!! La Sagrada Familia is absolutely amazing inside and out and you will not regret spending the 20 something euros. From the minute you go in it's sensory overload, though the lines can be a bit overwhelming. Check out my blog on some good tips and tricks for planning your visit: https://www.babsandivyseetheworld.com/single-post/2017/09/14/Oh-My-Gaudi

It looks like your "tips and tricks" consist of: buy advance tickets online and consider renting the audioguide.

My tips and tricks for blog writing are: if you want an audience beyond friends and family, focus more on the destinations and sights and less on "I, I, I, I, I."

Thanks for the advice but I'm just blogging for fun, not looking for much else at this point. Sorry that you're not a fan of my writing style but I just came back from Barcelona and thought the post might help answer some of your other questions re how much time to spend and what there was to see and that maybe the pics would inspire you.

Either way I hope you do choose to go inside and that you enjoy your visit!:)

You're either "just blogging for fun" or linking to your blog on multiple threads to attract a wider audience.
i don't think you can have it both ways.

Sorry that you're not a fan of my writing style

It's not so much the style as the focus. Number of paragraphs into your post about La Sagrada Familia before you mention La Sagrada Familia (except in the title): four. Number of paragraphs before you provide details: six. Number of total paragraphs about La Sagrada Familia: eight.

References to Gaudi and/or the basilica in those eight paragraphs--before moving on to Park Guell: 13.
References to I, me or my in those eight paragraphs: 32.
See what I mean?

If you want a wider audience, focus on the stuff, not on you.
If you don't want a wider audience, don't link. Just tell us what you know. Thank you.

A bit harsh Clementis ! But I see where this comes from - the author randomly posted several answers to outdated Barcelona posts with a link to her blog.

No harm intended for sure. But I believe instagram and the like (pun intended) are made for that. Not LP, here you inform or you give your opinion. Well sort or less !

Well put clementis. People linking their blogs simply to try and tend traffic there is an increasing irritation on the Thorntree, and I think you've made a very good point about it.

Unless your blog post is genuinely informative and relevant, don't link the bloody thing...

There is no need to link a blog at all. The information that is relevant to the question can be free typed or cut and pasted to a post.

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