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Sagrada Familia, Montjuïc Castle and Camp Nou

ByThe Skeptical Traveler

This is a follow-up in a more positive note than yesterday’s post Barcelona, the City I Won’t Visit Again.

Sagrada Familia is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926).  The construction started in 1882 and it has not finished yet, the anticipated completion date being 2026 (144 years). This long duration intrigued me and I was curious what are the longest construction projects.

And sure enough there is already a list compiled Top 10: Longest Construction Projects , everyone likes top 10 of this or that 🙂

No.1 The Great Wall – started: circa 400 B.C., completed: circa A.D. 1600, duration: 2,000 years
No.6 York Minster Cathedral – started: A.D.1220, completed: A.D. 1472, duration: 252 year
Once finished Sagrada Familia will be here and the Coliseum will no longer make the list.
No.7 Sacsayhuamán – started: circa A.D. 1445, completed: circa A.D. 1508, duration: 63 years
No:10 The Coliseum – started: circa A.D. 70, completed: circa A.D. 80, duration: 10 years

The image shows the Sagrada Família, a large unfinished Roman Catholic basilica in Barcelona, Spain. The structure features multiple tall, intricately designed spires and is under construction, with scaffolding visible around the lower sections. The sky is clear and blue in the background.
The image shows the spires of the Sagrada Família, a large unfinished Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Spain. The spires are tall and intricately designed, with a construction crane visible in the background. The cityscape of Barcelona can be seen in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
The image shows the interior of a large, ornate building with tall, intricately designed columns. The columns are of varying colors and textures, and some have decorative elements at the top. There is scaffolding and construction equipment visible at the base of the columns, indicating that the building is under construction or renovation. Light filters through the space, creating a pattern of shadows and highlights on the columns and the floor. The overall atmosphere is grand and architectural.
The image shows a close-up view of the intricate and detailed facade of the Sagrada Família, a famous basilica in Barcelona, Spain. The architecture features numerous sculptures, carvings, and ornate designs, showcasing the unique and elaborate style of the building. The sky is clear and blue in the background.

Montjuïc Castle offers a very good view over the city and its harbour and is worth the trip.  “From this castle, the regent General Espartero indiscriminately bombarded the city with 1014 mortar bombs when the city revolted against his dictatorial rule. Espartero is notorious for his declaration, “Barcelona should be bombed once every fifty years”. The following year, after defeating Espartero in an uprising, the Catalan General Prim launched over 2500 bombs on the city and its people when –dissatisfied with Prim’s backsliding and lack of support for Catalonia– the city rose up against him. Prim overcame the revolt but was eventually killed by his opponents.” From www.barcelona-tourist-information.info/montjuic-castle.html The image shows a cloudy, overcast day at a historical fort or castle. The structure is made of stone, with visible battlements and a cannon pointing outwards. There are some benches and a pathway leading towards the edge of the fort, which overlooks a body of water in the distance. The overall atmosphere is moody and somewhat desolate.
The image shows a large, old artillery cannon mounted on a concrete base. The sky is overcast, and the scene appears to be outdoors, possibly at a historical site or military museum. There is some vegetation visible in the background.
A large cannon is positioned in the foreground, pointing towards the horizon over a body of water. Below, there is a harbor with several docked ships and industrial buildings. The sky is overcast with a mix of dark clouds and a break of light near the horizon.

No trip to Barcelona is complete without visting Camp Nou and the FC Barcelona museum (the second-most visited museum in Catalonia). The stadium is the largest in Europe and the 11th largest in the world in terms of capacity. And again a list but this time of the largest stadiums in the world in terms of seating capacity:

1. Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the USA (297,000 capacity)
2. Rungrado May Day Stadium in North Korea (150,000 capacity)
3. Salt Lake Stadium in India (120,000 capacity)

The image shows the interior of a large football stadium with red and blue seats. The seats in the middle section spell out the phrase "MÉS QUE UN CLUB" in yellow letters, which is Catalan for "More than a club." The field is green and appears to be well-maintained. There are no players or spectators visible in the image.The image shows two bags of potato chips in a vending machine. The bags are branded with the logo and colors of FC Barcelona, a popular football club. The text on the bags reads "BARÇA" and "FCB" with "Patates Fregides" written at the bottom, which is Catalan for "potato chips." The bags are red and blue, matching the team's colors.
Generalissimo’s Cup (Franco was the Generalissimo)
The image shows a silver trophy with two handles on either side, placed on a black base. There is a small plaque or label next to the trophy, but the text on it is not fully legible. The background is plain and white.

FC Barcelona Anthem (El Cant del Barça)

Other photos

They are statues, not people sleepingThe image shows a grassy area with several trees and a wooden fence in the background. On the ground, there are two large sculptures of human figures lying down, partially covered with what appears to be black material. The scene is outdoors, and there is a pathway visible behind the fence.
The image shows a unique, multi-story building with an undulating stone facade and irregularly shaped windows and balconies. The architectural style is distinctive, with organic, flowing lines and wrought iron balcony railings. There are trees in front of the building, and cars are parked along the street at the base of the building. The sky is partly cloudy.
The image shows a body of water with a white statue of a person standing on a small platform in the foreground. In the background, there is a large, historic-looking building with multiple spires and ornate architecture. The sky is clear with a few scattered clouds, and there are some boats docked near the building. The scene appears to be taken during the daytime.
The image shows an ornate, historic building with intricate architectural details. The facade features multiple arched windows, decorative columns, and elaborate sculptures. There are three flags displayed in front of the building, and the structure is bathed in sunlight against a clear blue sky. The building has a grand and majestic appearance, with a combination of classical and baroque elements.
The image shows the facade of a historic building with classical architectural elements, including tall columns and a decorative crest at the top. Two flags are flying above the building, one of which appears to be the flag of Spain. There is a clock situated between the columns on the upper part of the building. The structure has large windows and a balcony with a balustrade. The sky is clear, indicating it is daytime.

One Comment

  1. I agree with earlier post I didn’t find Barcelona all that wonderful It wouldnt make my top 20 list of Western Europe.

    For some perspective, Camp Nou would only be the seventh largest College Football stadium. my European friends are always astounded by American college football facilities.

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