The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is an architectural marvel, boasting spires that resemble sandcastles, intricate stone carvings imitating lush flora, and an interior bursting with color. Despite its fame, this basilica still offers surprises. Josep Turull, the rector responsible for its parish, recently took The Associated Press on a private tour, highlighting some of its lesser-known features ahead of a Mass by Pope Leo XIV.
Enigmas in the Façades
Each morning, Josep Turull is greeted by the basilica’s ornate façades. These walls display a mix of religious scenes, some straightforward, others more cryptic. The Passion Façade offers stark imagery, with figures in tense poses, designed by Antoni Gaudí to reflect Christ’s suffering. Decades later, sculptor Josep Subirachs added lighter touches, like a representation of Gaudí gazing at Jesus.
A unique detail, the ‘magic square’, presents numbers adding up to 33, symbolizing Christ’s age at his crucifixion. Nearby, a labyrinth carved into the stone invites a deeper reflection on faith during times of confusion.
Tower Tops and Natural Residents
After the Mass, the Pope will bless the Tower of Jesus Christ. The basilica’s heights feature nature-inspired decor, including fruit sculptures and a family of peregrine falcons. These birds of prey have helped control the pigeon population, maintaining the basilica’s cleanliness.
The reintroduction of peregrine falcons is part of a conservation effort, reinstating a species that disappeared from the area in the 1970s. Their successful breeding at the basilica marks a win for urban wildlife conservation.
Visiting Gaudí’s Crypt
Amid the vibrant tours and camera flashes, many overlook the basilica’s spiritual core. By venturing through a modest side entrance and descending below ground, visitors find a small chapel. Worshippers attend Mass in this serene space where Antoni Gaudí is buried.
Turull notes that many seek Gaudí’s intercession here, lighting candles and praying for miracles. The Vatican may canonize Gaudí, a process that starts with confirming a miracle attributed to him.
The Seashell and Sacred Water
Before returning above ground, Turull pauses by a large seashell used for holy water. This unique basin, sourced from the Philippines, is a testament to Gaudí’s inspiration from nature.
A Papal Changing Room
In a sunlit room up a spiral staircase, two ornate oak cabinets hold precious relics and attire. Among the treasures is the chasuble worn by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. Pope Leo will don a specially crafted garment for the upcoming Mass, featuring symbolic elements linked to the basilica’s design.
Some details about the vestment remain confidential, preserving the mystique around the event’s preparations.
Journalist Hernán Muñoz contributed to this article.
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