Sagrada Familia questions

We visited Sagrada Familia several years ago. At that time we booked an early entry and glad we did, it can become quite crowed later in the day. I assume you're not troubled with tight spaces and heights, in the tower you'll experience both. As noted in RS book, the elevator on the Passion facade take you a bit higher, for what it's worth. Be sure to visit the Museum (under the nave) and the School. Also, in addition to your day-visit, try to visit Sagrada Familia in the evening when it is illuminated.

I can't comment on the Gaudi House Museum, but if you're interested in Modernista Architecture, and you've not visited Barcelona prefiously, be sure to visit Palau de la Musica Catalana (I'd suggest a day visit so you experience the daylight). Also visit Sant Pau Recinte Modernista; this is a spectacular place and not as crowded as the Gaudi venues. Parc Guell (the Monumental Zone) is also a "must"; if possible, try booking this later in the day so you can be at the park at dusk.

This is another suggestion to enhance your visit to Sagrada Familia: Walk about 10 minutes to the Saint Pau Modernista sight. Designed by Montaner - it is gorgeous and practically deserted by Sagrada Familia standards. You won't be sorry.

I'm providing the TripAdvisor link for the pictures.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187497-d1192272-Reviews-Recinte_Modernista_de_Sant_Pau-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

We took the Passion, based on the recommendation in the RS book, and were glad that we at least chose one of them to go up. But it seems like it depends on who you ask on which is the better tower. I would make sure you get the audio guide, as you will get far more context than without. This is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen.

We didn't hit the Gaudi House Museum, but thought Park Guell was also worth the visit.

I'd suggest keeping on checking each day. Once the October dates open up, the early times will likely be snapped up by tour groups, I'd learned from my research. I did this as I kept checking 60 days prior, and finally when the July dates opened, I was able to get my choice of times. Be sure you have a paper copy of your ticket to show when you get there - that helped us quickly get shown to the right line.

We just returned from our trip, and were able to take the English tour offered directly by La Sagrada Familia staff at 9:30 on July 4. I recommend it - interesting and you're using the headphones so it helps keep the noise down. We were concerned that we would face long lines...so we got there early. Turns out that if you get there early, they will let you start lining up and entering at 9:00. We had time to explore the exterior, use the restrooms, and peek inside before our tour actually began. It was starting to get crowded by about 10:15 as we were finishing up - I can only imagine how it would be later in the day, as people can stay as long as they like once inside.

One surprising thing for me was the chance to visit the school (I'm a teacher) and see how the children of the workers spent their school days. The building itself is cool with wavy walls, and interesting brickwork above the windows. It is also air conditioned, so we spent time there cooling off and making our next plans for the city exploration.

Enjoy! All five of my family members really liked this cathedral, and that is saying a lot! The lighting and the colors were stunning.

Laurie

This is a Post Script to the earlier response. Regardless of which tower you decide on, if you take a camera, be sure to have a telephoto lens (or a long zoom lens) with you of (200mm +/-) so you can photograph the roofscape of the edifice from above. It is amazing. While we were there, one of the construction crews had set-up a temporary office on the roof, complete with desks, chairs, file cabinets, etc. Also, while at ground level of the exterior, find a place to sit or someplace to lean-against and let your eye wander over the amazing details of the facade (particularly the Nativity facade).

These past months have been especially hectic in Sagrada Familia as finally some big pieces that had been assembled elsewhere have been erected and put into place in the basilica (ie. the big 30ft-high stone cross at the Passió façade, the bridges that will connect the Apostles towers with the central tower, etc). This has resulted in that those of us that live here and see the basilica almost on a daily basis have been able to really "notice" the changes, which have significantly altered the landscape of the whole monument.

If curious, see the erection of the cross, that happened just a few weeks ago: http://www.ccma.cat/tv3/alacarta/noticies-324/installen-una-creu-de-9-metres-al-portic-de-la-passio-de-la-sagrada-familia/video/5774971/#

... and you'll excuse me for this selfish ending but I couldn't resist: see hereafter this picture of a view of the city of Barcelona from the top of El Putxet Park, in which you can see -in the background- the Sagrada Família with some of the changes I just mentioned... and in the foreground my sweetie Bòira ('mist' in Catalan, the local language here in Catalonia) who is now 8 months old :)). Zoom in between the ears... and you'll see Sagrada Família.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hxphuS9LMUrrr8639

Enjoy!

Enric, that photo is really great! Thanks for sharing it! We really enjoyed Barcelona, and I appreciated your input over the past few months as we were making our plans. So helpful to hear from a local!

Thanks again,
Laurie

My pleasure, Laurie!

I am visiting (a solo tourist) Barcelona in Mid-September. Does anyone have insight into guided versus autoguided tours? Checking the website today, guided tours are available, 30 of 30 tickets available, during my visit.

This is a first ever visit to Barcelona, and to Europe. I feel like I'll be a deer in the headlights with all there is to take in, so I am leaning towards a guided tour. My plans also include visiting Parc Guell, and Sant Pau, and just wandering the city taking it all in (this last point sounds unstructured perhaps, however, it helps me make a mental map of new surroundings).

My lodging is situated between SF and Sant Pau, so an easy walk to those sites.

Thanks!
John

We did the audio tour guide at Sagrada Familia and would recommend that as it gave a good insight into the Cathedral and and you could pause and rewind if you needed to hear it again. My recommendation is try to get tickets for a time in the early morning. By 11am the tour groups come and by noon, it is full of people.

We did do a guided tour for Parc Guell and thought it was a good purchase. Though they only take you around the monument area, we learned so much about Gaudi and the how's and why's of his buildings. Heartily recommended.

JG
You should perhaps post your question as a separate topic on the Spain forum. People won't be looking for your inquiry on this thread. i just happened to stumble across it.

A quick response, If you're intimidated by a DIY visit, then, if for peace of mind alone, take a tour or two.

However, while Barcelona is a large city (I didn't notice where you're from and "large" is relative), if you get a map of the city and understand the basic layout of the area, it is an easy city to get around in using public transportation. The Metro/subway is safe, clean and comprehensive in the area it serves, and the public buses are amazing. Get a Rick Steves book or Fodor/RoughRider/DK Eyewitness, etc. for Spain (specifically Barcelona would be better) and decide where you want to visit. If you purchase a Barcelona Card, you can use the Metro and buses all you want for the duration (validity date) of the Card you purchase. If Sagrada Familia is among your choices, and if you're not on a tour that includes admission, pre-purchase admission on-line.

A quick response, If you're intimidated by a DIY visit, then, if for peace of mind alone, take a tour or two.

Intimidated? No. Overwhelmed by the all new experiences awaiting, quite possibly. My thought is that the tour, at SF or elsewhere, will provide more context, though maybe not having the flexibility of a self tour. That is the reason for my question.

However, while Barcelona is a large city (I didn't notice where you're from and "large" is relative), if you get a map of the city and understand the basic layout of the area, it is an easy city to get around in using public transportation. The Metro/subway is safe, clean and comprehensive in the area it serves, and the public buses are amazing. Get a Rick Steves book or Fodor/RoughRider/DK Eyewitness, etc. for Spain (specifically Barcelona would be better) and decide where you want to visit.

I have my trusty Europe Through the Backdoor book, and have been borrowing the latest edition of RS Spain. And lots of viewing online maps, including Google and Streetview. They've all provided much to understanding how Barcelona is laid out, and to help locate points of interest (to me), as well as transit stops. My mental mapping will tie that together.

Am a frequent user of the Metro in both Toronto and Montreal.

I'll post a new thread inquiring on guided or 'diy' tours. And another post for insights on the Feste de La Mercè happening during my visit.

John

Juuuust a note, curious one if anything....

The maps depicting the city have traditionally located the Mediterranean sea to the south, the Collserola ridge -where Mount Tibidabo is- to the north, and the east and west borders of the city were flanked by the rivers Besós and Llobregat respectively. This has been so for centuries and even now the vast majority of "true" Barcelonans will still use the same layout. Here fast forwarding to the 21st century and Mr Google Maps "insists" on using the positioning in relation to the North Pole instead... so in fact, then Barcelona appears "skewed", so to speak, and it's displayed like this.

For a number of reasons, most of them practicalities, we DO NOT use Google's layout and this is important to be aware so as to understand, for example, directions given by many residents when asked, or reading the public transportation maps, etc.

Just sayin'

I first noticed the map skewing as described when using the BCN mapping service online. I admit it is disorienting at first. I am not here to argue the merits of map orientation BCN vs Google.

A feature's location in relation to other features on the surface of the earth, or in relative location from the North Pole don't change. You've just stepped on the paper map spread out on the floor and 'skewed' the map from its original orientation. Features are still in the same location on (or below) the surface of the earth. Is one metro now in a different location relative to another metro? Will it matter more if you don't know the travel way to get to your final destination using the subway?

JG
I hope I didn't offend by my comments. I perhaps mistook the "deer in the headlights" comment and jumped to an (as it turns out, inaccurate} conclusion you hadn't gotten your "bearings" in the city. I was obviously quite wrong.

The sub-thread of maps interests me; I suspect far too few people would even notice the approximate 45 degree "tilt" of the maps. Is the--what looks to be about 45 degrees difference--the angle of declination between Ng and Nm? Unless my eyes are deceiving me, if Enric's first map is turned counter-clockwise so that the north arrow in the lower right corner is pointing "up", both maps (more or less) coincide.

Perhaps the "Barcelonian North" had something to do with the grid in the city running more-or-less at 45 degrees to "Google North".

Jon, I believe the two maps would coincide as you describe. I am more curious as to the historic reasons for the different orientation. City grids are laid out to conform to geographic features, this unique situation warrants further research, here and while in Barcelona.