Sagrada Familia opens sacristy for public

Barcelona (CNA).- Visitors to the Sagrada Familia can extend their tour now, by going to the newly opened sacristy where they can find the ‘Camí de la Litúrgia’ ('Way of the Liturgy’). This is an exhibition of different pieces that the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí designed for the Catholic liturgy. It is located on the ground floor of the cloister. The pieces include a wrought iron candlestick, a lantern, a mobile pulpit, two couches, three banks and a chair. In the sacristy are two closets, one for saving the liturgical vestments worn by the ministers of the celebrations and the other for the various liturgical objects such as chalices. All pieces are original designs and reproductions of Gaudí. The construction of Barcelona’s most iconic building began in 1882 and aims to be finished in 2026.

The works in the sacristy is in its final stage, which means the exterior framework and scaffolding are removed, exposing elements that were previous hidden. The western corner features three reliefs by Jaume Cases representing autumn with grape leaves in the center, the virtue of strength with the lion shield and classical helmet on the right and the bishop represented by the crosier and initial of the Episcopus on the left. The dome of the sacristy is made with stones from the Montjuïc mountain, but the spurs are red to represent splashes of wine or blood. At 37.5 meters high, a crown bronze ring surrounds the stone base of the dome.

Final construction phase

Barcelona’s most iconic building, entered its final construction phase in October. In two years’ time, the six central towers will already be visible and by 2023 they will be complete, making it the tallest religious building in Europe.

The construction work is currently focused on the transept, a room that wasn’t planned by architect Antoni Gaudí, and that is set to bear the weight of Jesus tower, the biggest one, which will be 172.5 m high. Further areas under construction include the west sacristy, where two of Gaudí’s original pieces of furniture will be displayed and the six central towers.

The architectural director of Sagrada Família, Jordi Taulí, confirmed that the construction of the central towers “has already started” with the column supports, stone and iron blocks six metres high and five metres wide, currently being constructed in the workshop outside the basilica. The work on Sagrada Familia represents an annual investment of 25 million euros and the whole building is expected to be completed by 2026, to coincide with the 100^th anniversary of Gaudí’s death.