Sagrada Familia
Towers
Sagrada Familia
Towers
view over barcelona
ALL ABOUT THE VISIT
Do you want to see Barcelona from above? Enjoy a beautiful view over the city? Why not from the (soon to be) tallest building in the city? The Sagrada Família!
Personally, when I go on a city trip, I love to get a glimpse of the city first. In Barcelona, there are different possibilities like the Santa Maria del Mar, the Montjuic or the Tibidabo. But the most impressive place for me is still that of the Sagrada Familia!
Especially if you choose the time around sunset for it, the whole thing is a lot more intense!
Sagrada Familia Towers
Tickets
THE VISIT of THE TOWERS
INFORMATION AND FACTS
If you visit the towers, you have to consider a few things before you can enjoy the view.
- You can no longer buy the tickets later on site, so here only the previous online purchase remains.
- You have to choose one of the sides at the official site of the Sagrada Familia: either towers of the Nativity facade or the Passion facade. At Tiqets there is usually only the Passion facade to choose from. Both sides have an equally beautiful view. Later more.
- You take an elevator to 65 meters, but that's not possible for everyone, depending on the weather.
- When can't you climb the towers: - younger than 6 years - younger than 16 years and travelling without parents - if you have physical limitations (wheelchair users, walking difficulties, visual impairments etc.) - if there is a storm or if the Sagrada Familia deems the visit dangerous.
- The descent is via stairs: including narrow spiral staircases. People with claustrophobia should keep that in mind. Also, sometimes there are no railings...
OPENING HOURS AND PRICES
OF THE TOWERS OF THE SAGRADA FAMILIA
The opening times of the towers are identical to the general opening times.
Non-Covid-times:
April – September: 9.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m
October: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m
November – February: 9.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m
March: 9.00 a.m. – 7.00 p.m
The tower can only be visited with a combined ticket: entrance + audio guide + a tower
You can do that directly via the Sagrada Famila – and choose the side of the tower there, or via me and Tiqets.
Usually, you get the page of the Passion facade here – you can find out what that means in the next point.
Prices:
EUR 46.80 for adults over 30 years
EUR 44.20 for young people under 30 + students
EUR 40.30 for adults over 65 years
free for children under 11 years old
THE OUTLOOK
FROM THE TOWERS
The view from the Nativity facade side shows the east of Barcelona. Here you can see, for example, the Torre Agbar (which is now called Torre Glories), the three chimneys of Badalona, the neighboring town I’ve now moved to… Not quite sooo much, but you can sort of feel the towers, the Gaudí itself has built.
The view from the Passion facade side shows the view to the west and therefore a little more. You can see Montjuic and thus the MNAC, the Castell de Montjuic and the lush green of the mountain. You also have a view of the old town and the many cathedrals there. You can see the Tibidabo and the Torre de Collserola.
From both sides you also have a view of the sea and the mountains in the background!
For me personally, the view to the west, i.e. the Passion facade, is the most beautiful, especially when the sun goes down there…
SAGRADA FAMILIA TOWERS
ARCHITECTURAL BACKGROUND
Antoni Gaudí is – as you probably know – the brains behind this grandiose building. And with the towers, of course, he also had a very specific program that he was pursuing.
Currently, you can see 9 finished and 5 half finished towers. The finished towers are the 8 apostle towers, 4 on each of the side aisles – above the Nativity facade and the Passion facade and since December 2021 the tower of Maria, which is 125 meters high. And currently work is being done on the 4 evangelists and the central Jesus tower in the middle.
The Apostle Towers:
The 4 towers of the respective facades are dedicated to the 12 apostles. So you can currently see 8 apostle towers – 4 are still missing. Because the main facade – the glory facade – is not yet finished, not even started…
The oldest apostle tower completed during Gaudí’s lifetime is that dedicated to Saint Barnabas the Apostle (November 30, 1925). This is on the Birth Facade page, far left.
How do you recognize the apostle towers? Quite simply, an apostle figure with a name is attached to each tower!
After Gaudi’s death, architect Sugrañes continued work on the other three towers.
Work on the Passion facade and its towers began much later and was completed in 1977.
These apostle towers have a height of 90 to 112 meters. They are the smallest of the 18 towers.
Their shape is reminiscent of a bishop’s crook, and they are crowned with tips that are just Gaudi: colorful and floral!
The evangelist towers:
4 other towers in the middle – at the corners of the crossing – are to be consecrated to the 4 evangelists. You can also discover the 4 evangelists in the interior!
The two main towers:
Between the evangelist towers, will be the highest tower – the tower of Jesus Christ. In the end it will measure 172 meters and would then be the tallest church tower in the world and the tallest building in Barcelona.
The second main tower is the tower of Maria mentioned above, which is above the crypt.
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2013 – 2022