That's so Gaudi

After 100 years, the Cathedral is nearly finished.

May 06, 2026

We bought our current home 6 years ago and STILL haven’t finished painting. That’s nothing compared to La Sagreda Familia which has been under construction for over 100 years. It “should” be finished this year and the parties will be extraordinary!
- Cris

La Sagreda Familia

This Cathedral doesn’t growl ‘bow before me.’ It says ‘Come on in, let’s be friends.’

OK, so this week we explore a Catholic Cathedral. If you do not follow Catholicism, you still want to see this. It’s the only cathedral in the world that brings together all people in beauty, safety, and friendship. It is something everyone should experience. I have never experienced anything like it (and I have visited all of the Iconic Cathedrals).

Keep your straight lines. My townhome will be easy to find at night.

In the heart of Barcelona, a century-long wait is about to pay off. In June 2026, the city will experience a historical convergence: the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death and the structural completion of his magnum opus, La Sagrada Família. For travelers, visiting during this window will give you a front-row seat to an architectural miracle (and the sheer madness of the celebrations).

Gaudi rejected rules (such as straight lines) which made him a surprising choice to build a Catholic Cathedral. It was a brilliant choice. He pushed ideas to their limit (sometimes past) and you can just imagine his sneer when someone told him what to do. I really like him.

The cathedral is huge.

2026 has been officially designated as "Gaudí Year,” a city-wide celebration that aligns with Barcelona’s tenure as the World Capital of Architecture. While the basilica has been a "work in progress" since 1882, the landscape changed forever this past February when the Tower of Jesus Christ reached its final height of 172.5 meters.

You’ll notice that the Cathedral appears to be made of stone. It is. The stone was never intended to be visible - his sketches call for every column to be painted in bright, inspiring colors (hence, the term ‘gaudy’). No one is saying a date for when that will be completed but hopefully it’s in the next 100 years.

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Life happens

The stained glass is designed for beauty and optimism. You won’t find images judging you.

Crowned with a 17-meter-tall four-armed cross of glass and white ceramic, this spire officially makes La Sagrada Família the tallest church in the world. For the first time in history, the silhouette Gaudí dreamed of is finally visible against the Catalan sky.

The cathedral is stunningly beautiful, light, and airy. This isn’t Notre Dame with gargoyles giving you the stink eye. This building makes you want to sing and hug someone. The inside is absolutely filled with colorful light from the stained glass windows. It feels like sitting inside of the kaleidoscope that you played with as a child.

Light fills the entire space.

The focal point of the celebrations is Wednesday, June 10, 2026. This date marks exactly one century since Gaudí was tragically struck by a tram, and the basilica is honoring him with a sequence of events designed to bridge the spiritual and the spectacular:

The Solemn Mass: Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to preside over a historic mass inside the Basilica. This service will feature a massive assembly of musicians and choirs from across Catalonia, filling the forest-like nave with a wall of sound. If you are a lapsed Catholic, now is the time to reconsider. You might need to be invited by a Cardinal to get inside. I have no idea how people are getting tickets to this one.
The Blessing of the Tower: Following the mass, the official blessing and inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ will take place. This is the moment the "Light that Culminates" is formally dedicated.
City-Wide Tributes: Beyond the basilica walls, the Palau de la Música will host the world premiere of "Seven Dreams of Gaudí," a symphony conducted by Marin Alsop, while Casa Batlló and La Pedrera will feature special nighttime projections and exhibitions.

The pillars are designed as trees and branches, reminding us of the beauty of life

This is the hottest ticket of the summer for travelers, Catholics, Art Lovers, Historians and anyone who appreciates beauty. That means you really must get good at bribing charming people to allow you to make a hotel reservation, dinner reservation, taxi reservation, and - for sure! - tickets to the Cathedral MUST be purchased from the source. Do not trust the scammers selling fake tickets.

Gaining access to the Cathedral has always been a complicated task. You could go to a Sunday service (and definitely not take photos), you could buy tickets in advance, or you could wait 5-6 hours in line hoping to get in. I thought my husband was crazy for buying tickets in advance. Then I saw the poor suckers waiting in line, contemplating the death of theirs spouses for not planning ahead. He was right.

Get your ticket now.

I haven’t been able to get a ticket so drop me a note if you have an extra.

See you next Wednesday.

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