Sagrada Família

In 1866, Josep Maria Bocabella established the Association of Saint Joseph Devout with the purpose of constructing the Sagrada Família temple.

Construction of the Sagrada Família church started under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar in March 1882.

On November 3, 1883, Antoni Gaudí succeeded Francesc de Paula Villar i Lozano as the architect of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, following the suggestion of architect Joan Martorell.

On March 28, 1884, Antoni Gaudí signed the first official document as the architect of the Sagrada Família, marking a significant milestone in the construction of the iconic basilica.

In 1885, Antoni Gaudí completed the first plan project of the Sagrada Família, including an altar, a shrine, and a sacrarium for the temple's promoter Josep Bocabella.

In 1887, Antoni Gaudí built the building of the vicarage of the Sagrada Família, where he set up his workspace and spent his final years.

The crypt of the Sagrada Família was completed in 1889, marking the start of the construction of the apse.

In 1891, construction started on the Nativity façade of the Sagrada Família, one of the most iconic and intricate parts of the temple designed by Antoni Gaudí.

By 1893, both the crypt and the apse of the Sagrada Família were finished. Gaudí also worked on the Colonia Güell crypt project in Santa Coloma de Cervelló.

In 1895, the construction of the cloister of the Sagrada Família started under the leadership of Bishop Català and a new Council. Mn. F. Millán presided over the work of the temple.

In 1908, the construction of the Colònia Güell crypt began, where Antoni Gaudí experimented with various technical solutions that would later influence his work on the Sagrada Família.

In 1910, models of Antoni Gaudí's works in gypsum were exhibited at the Grand Palais in Paris, receiving significant acclaim and recognition.

After 1914, Antoni Gaudí started using hyperboloid structures in his later designs for Sagrada Família. These structures added structural stability and were prominently featured in various elements such as the spires, cypress tree, and bishop's mitre.

In 1917, Antoni Gaudí designs the Passion façade of the Sagrada Família, which includes a monument to Bishop Torres i Bages.

In 1920, Le Corbusier visits the Sagrada Família in Barcelona and admires it as a master work.

In 1925, Antoni Gaudí moved to live inside the precinct of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona to closely monitor the progress of the construction works.

After the death of the architect, the construction of the basilica continued slowly. Three generations of architects were needed to rebuild the project's DNA.

Around 1930, the steeples on the Nativity façade of Sagrada Família were completed. The steeples are crowned with geometrically shaped tops reminiscent of Cubism, showcasing Gaudí's unique style inspired by nature.

In 1932, the construction work on the cypress of the central pinnacle at the Sagrada Família commenced.

The pinnacle of the Faith was completed in 1933 at the Sagrada Família.

In 1935, the figures and flashlights representing Hope and Faith were finished at the Sagrada Família.

Following the end of the war in 1939, restoration work on the crypt at the Sagrada Família commenced.

The flight of steps of the Nativity façade was built in 1952 during the Barcelona International Eucharistic Congress at the Sagrada Família.

In 1953, a decision was made to construct the Passion façade at the Sagrada Família.

In 1954, the construction works for the Passion façade of the Sagrada Família began under the direction of architects Quintana, Puig Boada, and Bonet Garí.

In 1958, on Saint Joseph day, the group of the Birth sculpture by the sculptor J. Busquets was placed on the genealogical column at the Sagrada Família.

In 1966, the group of the Annunciation sculpture by the sculptor J. Busquets was placed at the Sagrada Família, while the bell towers of the Passion façade reached a height of 24 meters.

In 1967, the bell towers of the Passion façade at the Sagrada Família in Barcelona reached a height of 30 meters.

By 1970, the bell towers of the Passion façade at the Sagrada Família in Barcelona had reached a height of 46 meters.

On November 9, 1976, the Passion façade at the Sagrada Família in Barcelona was completed with the installation of the pinnacles on the four bell towers.

The vaults of the Sagrada Familia were completed in 1993, marking a major milestone in the construction process of this architectural masterpiece.

In 2001, the four columns of porphyry for the main altar in the centre of the transept were built at the Sagrada Família.

Construction of the Glory façade at Sagrada Família began in 2002. Once completed, it will be the largest and most monumental of the three façades, representing ascension to God and featuring depictions of Hell, Purgatory, and more.

By December 2004, the state of the works at the Sagrada Família included restoration and finishing works in the crypt, as well as ongoing construction of the vaults in the apse.

Construction of a tunnel near Sagrada Família in Barcelona began on March 26, 2010, sparking controversy between the Ministry of Public Works of Spain and Sagrada Família engineers and architects regarding its potential impact on the church's stability.

Pope Benedict XVI consecrated Sagrada Família on November 7, 2010, in front of a large congregation, marking a significant event in the history of the iconic church.

On November 7, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the Sagrada Família Basilica for religious worship, designating it as a minor basilica, recognizing its significance in the Catholic faith.

On April 19, 2011, an arsonist set a small fire in the sacristy of Sagrada Família, leading to the evacuation of tourists and construction workers. The fire caused damage to the sacristy and took 45 minutes to control.

On March 11, 2020, construction of Sagrada Família was temporarily stopped and the basilica was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. This marked the first halt in construction since the Spanish Civil War.

On November 29, 2021, the Sagrada Família lifted the star of the Virgin Mary into place, marking the completion of the tower and a historic moment that changed the skyline of Barcelona.

A decision to potentially partially demolish a block of buildings across Carrer de Mallorca for the completion of the Glory Façade of Sagrada Família is set to be proposed in May 2023.