Sagrada Familia

From Wikipedia:

The Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família  is a large unfinished Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926). Gaudí's work on the building is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in November 2010 Pope Benedict XVI consecrated and proclaimed it a minor basilica,^[as distinct from a cathedral, which must be the seat of a bishop.

In 1882, construction of Sagrada Família started under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. In 1883, when Villar resigned, Gaudí took over as chief architect, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project, and at the time of his death at age 73 in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete.

Relying solely on private donations, Sagrada Familia's construction progressed slowly and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War, only to resume intermittent progress in the 1950s. Since commencing construction in 1882, advancements in technologies such as computer aided design and computerised numerical control  have enabled faster progress and construction passed the midpoint in 2010. 

However, some of the project's greatest challenges remain, including the construction of ten more spires, each symbolising an important Biblical figure in the New Testament. It is anticipated that the building can be completed by 2026—the centenary of Gaudí's death.

Stood in line for an hour just to buy a ticket for the next day, then gave up because the line hadn't moved at all. I ended up taking a pricey skip-the-line tour; this is, after all, the most popular tourist destination in all of Spain, and walking in without waiting along with the tour itself made the price worth it.

The grey is what's done, the yellow yet to come. Tallest spire will be Jesus, the others his apostles.

Original "Nativity" entrance

His leg is white because the old one fell off a few years ago and the replacement has yet to age.

Bronze doors

Cool staircase!

Over the altar

Windows are colors of morning sun on one side, sunset on the other, and colors gradiate, just stunning, all Gaudi's doing.

To be constructed is the main entrance. Was told the ornamentation coming to this side will extend clear across the street. Apartment building across the street will be torn down, a bridge constructed over the busy street, and steps to bridge will be constructed in building's place.

Print of the huge bronze Lord's Prayer in 50 languages that will be mounted over the formal front door.

Inside view of what will be formal entrance. Dark blob at bottom is St. George, patron of Barcelona. Tradition hold that, on his birthday, men give women roses, women give men books. This has evolved into UNESCO's International Day of Books and Copywrite, and the roses and books now go both ways in Spain.

Controversial "Passion" entrance

Controversial because Christ is portrayed naked, and with nails driven through his wrists, not hands. Conservative Pope Benedict was so offended that Jesus was clothed just for one day when the Pope can through in 2010.