I am currently in Barcelona right now and its raining all day so I decided to just post this because I feel the urgent need of doing so. Yesterday we went to Sagrada Famiia and it started really nice from the outside. We saw the 11 Euros entrance fee and was quite hesitant about it but since we were already there we decided go for it. Long story short, you walk in the cathedral and you will see basically A CONSTRUCTION SITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everything is covered in tarps, nets and rails. There is NOTHING TO SEE IN THE CATHEDRAL. I almost had a heart attack when I walked in, it was like feeling like you got totally ripped off. It was the most expensive entrace to a cathedral that I paid for anywhere and I have traveled all througout the best cities in Europe. This I felt was a Sham! Why couldnt they warn people of this? If I have known, I wouldnt have paid that money to get in.

So afte my episode of disgust and bitterness we saw another line which is a lift that will take you up to the towers. Guess what? you will be charged 2.50 to get up to the tower. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heres my own humble opinion. I would enjoy the cathedral from the outside, take pictures and not even waste money going in. I was really disapponted even if there was a museum on the side that you can get into.... it wasnt worth it. I went there to see the cathedral and not pictures of the cathedral which is what as in the museum.

I need to get over it. Im posting this not to talk negative about the Sagrada Familia because it is a beauty in its own but my gripe is the process of how they lure you in for that much money for absolutely nothing.

I will move on and enjoy Barcelona because it is such a beautiful city. It has been raining all day today.

It is made very clear that the entrance fee to the Sagrada Familia is to pay for its construction. There are many, including me, who wish that it should never have been added to after Gaudi's death.

I think that the additions are tasteless junk and that the completed basilica will be a travesty.

Robin, I agree with you, but you are in Barcelona... put it behind you, go have some wine and some tapas and watch the rain fall.

My mom and I also thought it was a bit of a rip. Then we moved on (to a bar, LOL)

Can't wait to hear more about your trip. If you have not been to Parc Guell yet, go! That is free AND it's Gaudi AND it's awesome.

One sight that you must not miss is the Palau de la Musica Catalan. It is by Domenech not Gaudi but it has a magnificent interior. You should also wander round his Sant Pau hospital.

Robin, I am sorry that you were not prepared for what Sagrada Familia offers and thus were disappointed. The real thrill for me there was going up in one of the Gaudi towers for a view of the city and to get a close look at details on adjacent towers.

The guidebooks I consulted made clear that the building is a work in progress and not a cathedral, which would be built and paid for by the Catholic Church from some central funds because it needs a church for the bishop of the region. Instead La Sagrada Familia is a voluntary church that was initiated by others, who bore responsibility for its design and funding, so it collects fees from visitors for the construction fund.

If you want to see the cathedral in Barcelona, it is in Bari Gotic and has a lovely cloistered garden. Entry into the cathedral is free, as I recall.

Boy, when I went in 2006 it was 8 euros and I thought it was high. I do remember we were able to access some outside area that had many interesting details which we would not have been able to see had we not paid the fee.

I agree with Robert's recommendations of the Palau. It's exquisite. It must be really neat to attend a concert there.

I also recommend that you visit the Basilica Santa Maria del Mar , in El Born district (right by Barri Goti). It has lovely stained glass windows.

We bought the Sagrada Familia combo ticket. Although it is expensive for what you get, we felt like we were at least contributing as a donation. I loved going inside as well as seeing the view from the tower with the additional fee. We are budget travellers as a rule. The best value in this pricey city was the Hop on Hop off bus system as mentioned in my trip report.

Sandy

Yeah, I felt a bit ripped off by the Sagrada Familia too, and as a result almost missed going to another "pricey" attraction, the Casa Batlló on the Paseo de Gracia (just down the road from Gaudí's better known La Pedrera).

But I'm so glad we decided to go in because it ended up being the highlight of my stay in Barcelona. Since then I've heard so many people say "oh we were going to go in, but the price!" and too bad for them.

It is sooooooooo worth it (imho).

Robin, we had only one day in Barcelona because we were on a cruise. We visited the Casa Mila. It was fascinating. You go in and onto the rooftop (not for a rainy day!). After that, fortunately for us, we had had enough and weren't tempted to go into the Segrada. The outside was sufficient!

If you haven't yet seen Casa Mila, and you want to see some Gaudi, definitely don't hesitate to go in. The roof is the best part.

Casa Batlló also has a fabulous roof.

Casa Batllo

Azahar, we had time enough to walk by the Batllo. We will go in on our next trip! I also want to see the park.

As far as the interior being a construction zone, as a guy I rather enjoyed the experience.

I can understand a different point of view though.

You are right on, you saw what you saw , a construction site. I went inside two years ago with my god daughter who is an engineer and it was fascinating to listen to her observations and comments, and we even spent time reading the schematics - plus I also like to see and understand the guts of buildings but if you dont't.... This year I was with two friends who I knew would not appreciate the inside and thus we only looked on the outside and spent the price of admission at a bar - like Shannon.

I heartlily agree with Azahar about Casa Batllo, we visited it in March and it was well worth the 16 euro admission.
kathyk

We visited in March 2006 & yes it was a construction site, but both my husband & I found it fascinating. We spent a lot of time looking through the displays & reading all the details. Also spent about 20 mins just looking at the light coming in from different apertures - really amazing! The views from the towers & the chance to see some of the detail close up were well worth it.

I first visited the site in 1977 when reconstruction had barely started and I hope I'm able to get back to Barcelona to see the 'finished' church.

P.S. Isn't it wonderful that we all react to our travel experiences in different ways? That's what I love about this site!

Enjoy your tapas!

I have always assumed that all guidebooks mention that the Sagrada Familia is unfinished, because the unfinished aspect is such a huge part of what it is and is what we have come to embrace.

We spent most of a morning at this construction site. We found it fascinating.

What may have helped is that we had rented a headset with tour notes on it. (There were four of us, one listened and then told the rest of us what it said.) Having that to help interpret what we were seeing - or may be able to see in a few more decades hopefully - made a lot of difference. Also interesting were some of the exhibits that helped explain the inspiration for the design elements and construction process.

We were there in March and had visited La Pedrera (designed by Gaudi) beforehand. We were glad we had visited it first as there was a wonderful display and audio tour of the way he designed his houses,churches and the Sagrada Familia.
We spent several hours there and then continued to the Sagrada Familia.
My husband is a mechanical engineer and was fascinated by the design and construction process. We didn't hire the audio at Sagrada because it was so well explained in La Pedrera.
Next was Parc Guell and as it was a beautiful day there were people taking advantage of the sun while sitting on the mosaic seat. Well worth a visit although the view was slightly obscured by the smog.

Jill

I was there in February. My friend and I designated a whole day as "Gaudi Day". We started at La Segrada Familia, paid 17 euros which included a guided tour of the cathedral and entry into Gaudi's house at Parc Guell. Our experience was great!!!! Yes, the cathedral is a construction site but oh my! It is still a phenomenal work. Gaudi was truly a genius and a visionary. Our tour guide mentioned that the projected end date is in 30 years and we plan to be there to see it. We thought it truly spectacular. Parc Guell is awe inspiring and La Pedrera is awesome. We took along a picnic lunch that we bought from La Boqueria Market, the surroundings at the Parc were the best in which to have a picnic. The roof at La Pedrera and it's structures are spectacular and we truly enjoyed our Gaudi Day.

I knew i was going to stir it up when I posted that topic. Im not sure if I missed anything when I walked inside because I absolutely saw NOTHING in the cathedral, there was no peek of anything a glimpse of something or a slice of any interesting sight. Im not even asking for a pristine sight just a "peek" All I saw was the whole place covered in a big white blanket., metal bars all around and the line that leads to the elevator up to the tower. Thats literally what I saw. I would have been ok with all the construction stuff if I was able to see some stuff amidst the chaos but it was like going to a moviehouse and the screen was covered with a white blanket and then they turn off the sound. if it were a transluscent blanket where I can see a blurred view or just a silhoutte I wouldnt have felt ripped off.

My opinion is this. If u dont care much about 11 euros then go inside and see the construction, at least you can say that you were in the Sagrada. If u just want to see the beauty of guadi's work, I would just walk outside the sagrada and admire it from the outside. It was nicer from the outside than it is inside and best thing is the outside is FREE. Thats exactly what I would have done if I knew what I know now.

I wonder though if the day I was there was the worse day to go. Were there days when you can see something at least when u walk inside?

i want to stress that I am commenting on the INSIDE of the cathedral not the museum, not gaudi's work, not the exterior. Just the INSIDE once you walk in the doors of the cathedral.

I just want to share what I saw so people can know what to expect. I believe I am stating it quite objectively.

Robert D, Thanks for commenting on Palau de la Musica Catalan, it was our last day when we got to that place. No more english tours and u cant go inside without joining a tour so we ended up joining the Spanish Tour just to get in. the stage with those statues coming out of the walls was truly enchanting and the stained glass work is magnificent. My dream one day is to see a performance in that venue.

My brother went last March. And he said the same thing about Sagrada Familia...save your money, stay outside and enjoy the view.

I am assuming that things have changed a lot since last Fall. There were some things blocked from view, but we saw plenty. We were just going to "pop in" for a short viewing and stayed for four hours. My sisters and I were completely fascinated. The stained glass reflecting on the pillars, the workers we saw below while we were up in bell towers waving and inviting us down , seeing the architects studying plans and all of the worker's gear lined up on hooks. It was amazing to be in the tower when the noon bells rang. We promised to come back in 20 years (yikes) when it's all finished. I'm sorry that everything was covered and blocked from view for you. I would have been upset too.

When we visited the Sagrada Familia 6 (or 7?) years ago there were constructions of the new part, but we could explore the old part, including an exhibit that explained a lot about Gaudi's architecture.
We were so impressed then, that we went back last summer. We were indeed disapointed as most of the old part was closed for restoration.
I can understand how you deel, Robin, but let it go and enjoy Barcelona.