The heart and soul of Barcelona – the Sagrada Familia neighbourhood

When you think about Barcelona, the very first thing you think of is Sagrada Familia. This unfinished Antonio Gaudí´s masterpiece is extremely well-known and each year it brings together millions of tourists coming to the city just to take a picture of it.

The Catalan modernist basilica has as well given a name to the area where it is located. You can find it in the very heart of the beautiful Eixample district.

The Basilica of Sagrada Familia

The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia is one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in the world. Its construction started in 1882 and never came to an end, because of the problems with financing, as it required private donations from people. Catalan architect Gaudi designed it and worked on it until his very death in 1926, when only a quarter of the church was finished. But the slow building of something so important and impressive is probably what makes the wait even more worth it. They say the construction will be over by 2026, 100 years after the death of Gaudi. And we cannot be happier that we are going to finally witness it.

The Sagrada Familia is the symbolic expression of the Christian faith. Even if you believe in a different religion or none at all, it is still a very spiritual place to visit. The outstanding exterior and interior of the church are something you must see when coming to Barcelona. For a better understanding of its symbolism, we recommend you take a guided tour.

What to do before or after the visit?

The neighbourhood of Sagrada Familia has a lot more to discover than only the famous church. There are all kinds of activities and places where to spend days walking around and seeing. Once you finish your visit, you can take a walk along the Gaudi Avenue, that will bring you to another famous Modernist building of Barcelona – L’Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. This impressive hospital was designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner. It is famous for its wide halls and its towers full of invredibly beautiful mosaics, glass, and sculpture. The avenue also offers many restaurants, cafes, bars and shops, as well as different local markets where to buy something authentic while going to the hospital Sant Pau.

Another avenue to walk by and enjoy Barcelona is the Passeig de Sant Joan. It is very close to Sagrada Familia and is goes all the way from the memorial Arc de Triomf to Travessera de Gracia, giving you a possibility to see one district flow into another. You can take a very pleasant walk there or, in case of seeking a more active way of exploring the city, rent a bike. The area is perfect for long rides and new discoveries.

The area is an ideal place to have a nice lunch or dinner, to walk and meet the locals. Despite the popularity of the main attraction of it, it is still very quiet and relaxed. There are lots of restaurants and cafes to sit and watch the life of the city from. If you want to come to Barcelona to live for some time, this district is an ideal option. It is perfect for students, as there are plenty of libraries and not so many crowded cafes with fast WiFi.

Our suggestions:

Restaurants:

• Oporto Restaurante
• Restaurant Singular
• La Taquería
• Manairó
• Insòlita Gea

Bars:

• The Michael Collins Irish Bar (very famous on the area)
• Chill Bar
• Sagrades Tannines

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