Barcelona -- Part 3

Guessed its also time to finish up on the leg of my Barcelona travel. Can't blame me much for its after all my first overseas trip and alone some more. The world out there is so huge and there is really so much to rave and rant about ^-^

The Sagrada Famillia (or the Temple of the Holy Family) essentially took up my final day in Barcelona. This was a majestic complex, a an architetural wonder that leaves me rooted the moment i saw it when i stepped out of the metro station. It was built more than a hundered years ago and the unbelievable thing is that its still uncompleted. I am sure my friends out there would have read about it on my main blog but i guess i need to reiterate it again. The concept of this temple was pioneered by Antonio Gaudi in what was to be his final piece of work. Intended as the last great sanctuary of Christendom, the temple was to have 3 grand facades reflecting the 3 major events of Christanity, namely Nativity, Passion and Glory. Gaudi passed away in 1926 but others have since taken up his work and the expected date of completion would be in 2026 way down the road.

It may sound funny how an uncompleted project would leave so much fascination within me but to me, this project epitomises the numerous cathedrals scattered throughout Europe and brought realism into them. To see a project being constructed in front of me and the prospect of being there when its completed simply excites me. The temple is currently halfway through as 2 facades had already been completed, leaving only the Passion facade yet to be constructed.

Just to dwelve a bit more into the various facade, i shall start with the Nativity panel. True to the Baroque style that is found throughout Spain, sculptures of various biblical characters are found throughout the facade. Their intricate details and the beauty generated by the overall feel left me dumbstruck. A magnificent introduction to what it would be like. The Passion facade was next-in-line. I still feel that it was greatly influenced by one of the great artists that lived during that period -- Picasso. His imprint was clear (though a bit subtle). The characters had the typical box-like feel that was so characteristic of his works. A clear differentiation from the initial facade and given it a spanning through centuries feel.

Work had already started on the Garden of Eden. It was too early for me to make any conclusion about its beauty but i looked forward to its completion. However, deep inside me, i can't helped but wished that it should not be completed that early, especially the Glory facade. Both the Nativity and Passion facade were reflective of the dominant art forms during their respective period. Unfortunately, there did not seem to be a dominant art form at this current moment. Artists we no doubt had a lot but there is none who can stakely their claim and say that this is my art and its the art of the late 20th centruy. There may be a deadline to meet, to hope to complete the project by 2026 but i do hope that its not acheived at the expense of a dull Glory facade, no different from that of either the Nativity or Passion panel. Even the Garden of Eden, seemingly a separate entity from the 3 facades had a touch of modernism to it where it reflects the technological advances that was made in the 20th century, with accurate mathematical and computer technology applied to its calculations and colouring...

And with this, i conclude the 3-part series of my Barcelona tour. The pictures may be a bit grainy for i had not had yet a digital camera. Barcelona, a modern cosmopolitan city filled with rich cultural heritage of its inhabitants that lived here centuries ago. It continued to shine among Spain's cities and with its unique identity, it had managed to secure a special place in my heart...


City rating : 4 stars