Detailed interactive map Sagrada Familia
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The idea of a new church was launched by a devote organization. A plot of land in the new Eixample district was bought in 1877. The architect Francisco de Paula del Villar designed a neo gothic church and lead the construction which started in 1882.
One year later, the modernist architect Antoni Gaudí took over as lead architect at the age of 31. From that moment on, Gaudí devoted most of his life to the construction of the church. Instead of sticking to the original plans, Gaudí changed the design emphatically. The neo gothic style made way for Gaudí\'s trademark modernist style, which was based on forms found in nature. When he died in 1926 only one facade, one tower, the apse and the crypt were finished. Because Gaudí was constantly improvising and changing the design while construction was going on, he left few designs and models. And most of these were destroyed during the civil war in 1936. Antoni Gaudi died was buried in the crypt of the Sagrada Familia. The city of Barcelona mourns the loss of one its biggest suns. Until 1930 all bell-towers on the east facade of the Sagrada Familia were finished and in 1954 work on the west facade started which was finished in 1986. The 175 meter high Jesus tower is planned to be built, which could be one of the highest church towers in the world.
The Sagrada Familia is the most visited tourist attraction in Barcelona catering to over 2,000,000 visitors a year. Construction on Sagrada Família is not supported by any government or official church sources. Private patrons funded the initial stages. Money from tickets purchased by tourists is now used to pay for the work, and private donations are accepted through the Friends of the Temple.